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[justboatonic]

Sorry, couldnt find anywhere else suitable for this question.

OK, leds with resistors in line, wire a number up inside the superstructure and a couple on outside bulkheads etc. I then want to be able to vary the brightness of these leds via a rotary switch. The leds will run off a 12v supply but I want to be able to vary the voltage and hence brightness in the range of about 3v to around 9v. Yes, I could just use a toggle switch to change the supply voltage between the two but would like a bit more control to eye ball the brightness to just the right level for the daylight conditions.

Anyone know what type of rotary switch I need to search for and where to buy? TIA.

[bfgstew]

I use these for most of my components.


https://www.bitsbox.co.uk.....hope it helps.

[roycv]

Hi have you tried using an ESC to see if that works?  If it does you can buy a cheap forwards only one for a few quid on ebay.  I am assuming you want to do it by remote control.
regards Roy

[inertia]

Use a voltage reducer. Plenty here https://www.componentshop.co.uk/power-supplies.html
DM

[canabus]

Banggood Frsky Taranis X9E 6  position switch part No. 1043146.
I removed the circuit board to change a vari pot into a 6 switch setup.
Note the first position is normal on, so I got a 5 position switch setup on my Turnigy/ Flysky I6 transmitter.
1 Wheelhouse lights.
2 Forward cabin lights.
3 Aft cabin lights.
4 Nav ,mast and stern lights.
5 Searchlight.

Canabus

[roycv]

Hi Canabus, very interesting but I think according to the thread that what was wanted was a way of varying the brightness of the leds.
regards Roy

[McGherkin]

Essentially you’re after a potentiometer? Most electrical suppliers will sell them, you just need to work out the resistance required

[malcolmfrary]

Essentially you’re after a potentiometer? Most electrical suppliers will sell them, you just need to work out the resistance required

LEDs need around 20mA.  This will fry the track on most pots. 
To reduce the brightness you need to reduce the current.  Two ways to this, either keep the same voltage but introduce more resistance, or keep the same resistance, but reduce the supply voltage.
A forward only ESC will combine both, can be worked from a spare channel or a servo tester.
Rotary switches (used to be called Yaxley Switches way back) could be got in various combinations of 12 - 3 pole 4 position, 4 pole 3 position etc.  Not having needed one for years, I would need to look again.  But a cheap Forward only ESC plus maybe a servo tester is probably the simplest and cheapest way to do it.  Might need a voltage dropper to supply off the 12 volts, though, depending on the ESC.

[chas]

I use an old wire wound potentiometer,  if memory serves me it's only a few ohms. It has been working well for years.
Chas