355 interior LED intensity problems / what's on the dimmer?

There are 3 lights that light up all the elements in the HVAC panel except the
STOP" and "REC" buttons. These 3 lights are tied together and are on the dash dimmer control and are only on when the car lights are on. If the car lights are off, they are off. My question is about the other 2 lights that are inside the "STOP" and "REC" buttons. My car is all apart right now so I can't check for myself. Hopefully one of you can help me.

I believe these 2 lights are both off in the up position and come on only when the buttons are pushed. Is this correct? Do the car's lights have to be on for them to work or do they work regardless of whether the car lights are on or not? In other words, as long as the key is on they work and are independent of the car's lights. Is this correct?

Here's what this is all about. Much of the interior lights in my '96 355 Spider have been replaced with LEDs. But there's a problem with the intensities. When the dash lights are full up on the dimmer, they are too bright. That's easily fixed by turning them down. But when I do, the HVAC lights are way too dim since they are on the same dimmer. I have the Hill Engineering HVAC overlay. The 3 general lights in my HVAC panel have been replaced with single element LEDs but all my dash lights have been replaced with 3 element LEDs. That's because the 2 types of LEDs fit the OEM sockets that way. The lights inside the "STOP" and "REC" buttons are very tiny incandescent bulbs and can't be changed to LEDs due to their size and shape.

Here's my plan to fix this. None of the other center console lights are on the dimmer. Just the HVAC panel lights. When the dimmer is full up, the HVAC panel lights then match the other console lights in intensity perfectly. Since I see no reason why they need to be dimmer controlled any more than the other console lights, I plan to take them off the dimmer and put them on a constant 12 volt circuit that is switched with the car's lights just like the rest of the console lights. This would also be reversible if ever needed.

So back to my questions. I'm trying to figure out what circuit might work for my purpose. It needs to be a constant un-dimmed 12 volt circuit and be switched with the car's lights. If the "STOP" and "REC" button circuit feed is not on the dimmer and is also switched with the car's lights, then this should work and would be convenient since its on the same circuit board. If not, another possible candidate might be the ash tray light but it would have to be tied in. Not a problem, just not as convenient.

So, can one of you guys help me with this?

 

You say "should be". Can you confirm the lights inside the STOP and REC buttons are activated by the ignition switch and do not require the lights to be on for them to be on? IE, they are independent of both the light switch and dimmer and only turn on when pushed down?

 

Thanks Grant.