What you can do is connect a relay so it's coil is fed from the sidelights. When the relay is off the panel lights are fed from the full 12 volts going through the n/c contacts on the relay. When you switch the lights on the relay switches over to the n/o contacts which have either the 12 volts via a resistor - or preferably - through a voltage regulator of about 5 volts. Hey presto - bright lights during day time, dim lights as son as the side lights go on. Remember though that some panel lights eg handbrake warning lights are switched negative.
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