# Dimmer switches

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/dimmer-switches/49609>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 30, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dimmer-switches/49609 "2010-05-30T19:06:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lakecasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/58f4c7/32.png) [@lakecasa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lakecasa)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dimmer-switches/49609/1 "2010-05-30T19:06:33Z")

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Why were dimmer switches moved from the floorboard to the steering column?

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dimmer-switches/49609/2 "2010-05-30T19:27:14Z")

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I would guess they proved safer and/or more convenient and possible with the advent of reliable relays.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dimmer-switches/49609/3 "2010-05-30T19:30:34Z")

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1. Cheaper - Instead of a separate part, the switch is now part of a multifunction assembly.
2. It was the popular thing to do to show that your car was more modern.
3. It works better for one-legged people or those with a manual transmission.
4. Specifically just to annoy you.
5. Some other reason altogether.