Thread: Dash lights

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  1. #1
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    Dash lights

    Anyone know how to turn off the lights in the gauges? Ran after dark last weekend and was blinded by dash lights.

  2. Member
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    #2
    My 2011 has no way to turn off the gauge lighting, they are on when the key is in the on position. That said, they the gauge lights are all daisy chained together, wouldn't be too difficult to add a switch or dimmer to the 12v lead that feeds them.
    2011 Tracker PT 175 TF
    2011 Merc 60 ELPT 4S

  3. Member
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    #3
    you can take the bulbs out and color them so they wont be so bright

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    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by wayne72472 View Post
    you can take the bulbs out and color them so they wont be so bright
    or replace them with low wattage red led bulbs..
    1989 Coleman Crawdad
    55 lb Minn Kota Endura Max

  5. iNCORRECT pOLITICALLY
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    #5
    That's something I need to see about doing this winter. Not even sure why you'd need to see the gauges at night in the first place as long as you know you're good on gas and the voltage is displayed on the graph that's in night mode as dim as you can stand it. That acc switch would be perfect for a light switch if you don't have anything connected to it.
    2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO and Powertech NRS4 21p
    8" Bob's Action Jack
    Garmin Echomap 12, 10, 9, and LVS34 networked with Netgear Switch
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    The school of hard knocks is a rough way to be educated!

  6. Banned
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    #6
    If they daisy chained the light wires I'm just going to cut it. I don't need or want them lit up. I would do it this afternoon but the boat is soaked I just got done washing it.

  7. iNCORRECT pOLITICALLY
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    #7
    If you don't mind would you post a tutorial on how you go about doing this?
    2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO and Powertech NRS4 21p
    8" Bob's Action Jack
    Garmin Echomap 12, 10, 9, and LVS34 networked with Netgear Switch
    Ultrex
    Trick Steps and Ramp N Clamp
    Pulled by a 2016 single cab HEMI Ram

    The school of hard knocks is a rough way to be educated!

  8. Member
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    #8
    2001 Tracker 185 XT

    Mine are hooked up on the courtesy/running light switch. Middle everything is off, courtesy turns on the dash and one little glow light on the side of the console, running turns on the running and the dash. I don't know if that is factory but that's how I got it used..

  9. Banned
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    #9
    TrackerWiringColors.jpg

    Ok found the wiring diagram for Tracker boats. So someone tell me if I am thinking right or not. On the bottom list (wires off fuseblock) courtesy lights unswitched blue/white wire should be the wire feeding the lights in the gauges???

    Now being a dumb ass welder I know little to nothing about boat/automotive wiring. I am assuming that the gauges will operate properly without power to the lights?

    I wanted to get under the dash and find this wire to see if I can just pull a fuse. But my carpet is still wet washed the boat 3 days ago figured it would have been dry yesterday.

  10. Member
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    #10
    Its been a while since I had the gauge cluster off (I seem to remember them being all daisy chained, though I could also be mistaken, been too long). The only "factory original" gauge I have left at this point, is fuel (removed voltage for trim, tach for stereo, spedo for Mercmonitor). Unfortunately I don't have a good picture of the back of the cluster to see the wiring clearly. I do have a couple pics of the console torn apart pre swap, appears to be a purple wire, and there is a distinct possibility that it could also be tied in with the +12v for the gauge itself (if that is the case, simple fuse removal would not be a good solution).
    2011 Tracker PT 175 TF
    2011 Merc 60 ELPT 4S

  11. Member
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    #11
    The gauges will work with out the lights. I would guess either the blue or blue/ white wire is the one you want. Just unplug them one at a time, when you get the right one put a toggle switch in it..

    Maybe these will help

    185 SWITCH PANEL WIRING.pdf

    185 SWITCH PANEL & INST. WIRING.pdf

  12. iNCORRECT pOLITICALLY
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    #12
    Looks like blue/white to me. Would be nice if you could just pull a fuse and be done with it.
    2023 Xpress H18 with 115 SHO and Powertech NRS4 21p
    8" Bob's Action Jack
    Garmin Echomap 12, 10, 9, and LVS34 networked with Netgear Switch
    Ultrex
    Trick Steps and Ramp N Clamp
    Pulled by a 2016 single cab HEMI Ram

    The school of hard knocks is a rough way to be educated!

  13. Banned
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    #13
    I'm in hopes that I will have time after work today to get under there and see what I can do.