The j-fet source is at the bottom of the symbol. The mosfet source is at the top of the symbol.
The j-fet is n-channel and the mosfet is p-channel. The work kind of like an npn and a pnp except their gates are very different, the logic is the same.
The voltage at the bottom of the j-fet must change as you move the dimmer.
The 10 k resistors just center everything for the benefit of the op-amp working in the center of the voltage supply.

Hello #12 measured the voltage change while varying the dimmer pot on my prototype. The voltage at - or pin two of the 1st opamp does not vary much 6.5 to 6.45 volts. I assume Vcc is the battery voltage. I measure 13 volts on the battery. How does one get Vcc -10% at position "I" on this circuit? Thanks Ed

 

Hello # 12 in this current configuration the voltage at S on the JFet is always around 9.5 volts and lights are off. When I disconnect the JFet from the 4.3 k resistors the voltage going to 2nd op amp dropped to 4.2 volts and the lights came on, so it seams like the back have of the circuit is ok. I have a 390 Ohm resistor in series with the 0 to 4 ohm dimmer control. Maybe I need to change that?

 

You need to include the "@" signal to summon a user such as @#12 to your post.

 

I have a 390 Ohm resistor in series with the 0 to 4 ohm dimmer control. Maybe I need to change that?

Probably, the control is only changing the total series resistance by 1%.

But before we speculate, are we working off a schematic? Sorry if I missed it.

 

Probably, the control is only changing the total series resistance by 1%.

But before we speculate, are we working off a schematic? Sorry if I missed it.

Hello Wayneh

Am working off @#12 ‘s latest schematic in the old thread. ( thread 27). He mentions that fixed resistor should be 99 x (thread 36) the dimmer pot and my GMC has a 0 - 4 ohm dimmer wire wound rheostat.

I think we may need to fiddle with some of this resistors to get that 1st opamp to react.



Appreciate any advice on this.

 

Well I'd divide and conquer. The timer and the the 2nd op-amp LM358 are controlling the brightness in response to the voltage applied to the "+" pin of the LM358. You should be able to apply your own reference voltages there and see the result. It appears designed to operate in the range of ~4-8V there.

If that's working, I'd turn my attention to getting that voltage range from turning the rheostat. I pretty-well follow what @#12 has done there but without it in from of me, it's hard to tell where you may have a problem. You mentioned a 390Ω resistor - is that instead of the 560Ω shown in the schematic?

 

The voltage at - or pin two of the 1st opamp does not vary much 6.5 to 6.45 volts.

I'm beginning to catch up to you. That voltage range is roughly what you'd expect, half of the battery voltage and varying ~1% full scale in response to the rheostat. But your FET is turned full "on", and that means the gate voltage is too high, or the FET is not oriented properly. Check the voltage on both pins of the first op-amp.

You may be suffering from imprecision of the 10K resistors. If they're a few percent off, you could get thrown out of range.

 

Well I'd divide and conquer. The timer and the the 2nd op-amp LM358 are controlling the brightness in response to the voltage applied to the "+" pin of the LM358. You should be able to apply your own reference voltages there and see the result. It appears designed to operate in the range of ~4-8V there.

If that's working, I'd turn my attention to getting that voltage range from turning the rheostat. I pretty-well follow what @#12 has done there but without it in from of me, it's hard to tell where you may have a problem. You mentioned a 390Ω resistor - is that instead of the 560Ω shown in the schematic?

I’ve got a Drok Buck Converter with variable output, I can use to test 2nd opamp and timer section I’ll try that out with 4 to 8 volts.

Yes. Trying a 390 in place of the 560 ohm resistor

 

Hello # 12 in this current configuration the voltage at S on the JFet is always around 9.5 volts and lights are off. When I disconnect the JFet from the 4.3 k resistors the voltage going to 2nd op amp dropped to 4.2 volts and the lights came on, so it seams like the back have of the circuit is ok. I have a 390 Ohm resistor in series with the 0 to 4 ohm dimmer control. Maybe I need to change that?

You are correct about using a 390 ohm resistor. Your problem is in the first stage. Yes, the input to the op-amp only changes by about 500 millivolts, but the op-amp error rating is about 5 millivolts. It thinks 500 millivolts is a big deal. If it doesn't, something is wrong in your circuit or the op-amp is broken. I sure hope you included the 100 ohms and the zener so alternator unloading spikes don't kill the op-amp. It only takes once.