I treated myself this Christmas to an installation of my Alpine cassette head unit and CD changer that I purchased a while back for my now-totalled 90 Acura Integra. The round coax speakers (I think) don't fit my car :(

I had a $100 gift certificate (thanks to my wife) so it cost me about $11 out of pocket. I asked the installer if there were any extra parts left over when he was done, and he replied "just the stock [Becker] head unit" :) Anyway, a pretty good deal I figure.

What I wonder is, does the old Becker head unit have a provision for "always-on" power to keep clock memory alive, and is there a dimmed lighting connection? The green Alpine illumination is a bit brighter than the dash lighting, and I wish I could turn it down.

Robert:

If you call Becker of North America, toll free, at 1.888.423.3537, extension 200, you can speak to the most knowledgable people about your unit. These guys are good, they have seen hundreds more of Beckers than anyone on this Forum, and they should have an answer for you, gratis.

Give them a try!.........Andras

Which part of the Alpine illumination do you mean? The buttons or the LCD read out? The LCD readout should be dimmable (not a default setting, you need to change it) if your headunit has this provision of course....which model is it? Let me know and I'll speak to Alpine.

As for the button illumination, these do not dim. I solved the problem myself today as a matter of fact. VERY easy. Open the fascia up (probably just a couple of screws and a few clips)... and using a pencil / marker pen, shade over the light bulbs / leds. ;-)

Crackpot idea, but it works. I also changed my red power LED to a really sexy blue one... which was tricky as the old one was surface mount, and the new one was a standard 3mm blue LED....nothing a drill wouldnt sort tho <grin>

Bri




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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

Brian:

I thought your idea was great. Very often, we search for a high-tech solution, when a low-tech one will work even better. Imight have recommended using a magic marker on the outside, and then Robert would not have had to open anything up at all. After all, this is a small light, and a "screen" of the outside of the light would dim it just as well. And since MagicMarker is permanent, and the button is small, the chance of swiping off the MagicMarker in the future is slight.

Robert, did you have any luck with the people at Becker?..........Andras