Dimmer/Illumination Wiring Help (Aftermarket Deck)
 

OK,

I got a pioneer deck and i was wondering what wire to use for the dimmer.

I searched and got mixed answers also someone said to splice into 1g or something so i wanted an answer from someone who has done it already.

Which wire goes to the orange wire coming from the AM HU. Dimmer or Illumination?

Also what does illumination do? I know the Dimmer makes the screen darker so its not so bright when its night out right?

Thanks for any help.

For the aftermarket headunit.....dimmer wire is usually orange/white. Illumination is solid orange.

Illumination is actually what you describe. When the headlights flip on, the screen will dim. The dimmer wire is tied directly to the cabin lighting dimmer (variable dimming of the dash lighting). Most cars do not support this dimming for the radio display, and therefore, don't have a factory dimmer wire.

As stupid as it sounds, there isn't a rule of thumb in this case. After installing more headunits than I could possibly count, I've seen these wires switch places. Sometimes I have to connect the orange/white (and actually labeled "dimmer") wire to the illumination wire in the vehicle for the radio display to dim with the headlights. I usually just use the solid orange to start with. If it doesn't work, snip the connection and resolder to the orange/white. I really don't remember what I used when I installed in the 8. It's been too long. Start with solid orange and tape off the unconnected wires. Test everything out before you reassemble the entire dash.