Two levels of brightness for LED-illuminated switch

Question

I'm thinking of using a switch in my car. The switch has 5 leads: +, -, C, NO, and NC. 12 V to the + and - light the LED (brightly). What I would like it to do is light up the LED dimly when the dash lights are on AND light it more brightly when the switch is on.

How would I do this?

Or would it be simpler to have it light up dimly when the switch is off using a resistor between NC and +, and then brightly when the switch is on (direct wire from NO and +)?

I'm thinking this could be a problem because since the device I want to turn off and on will be wired to NO; it will get power from NC (through +) when the switch is off. This wouldn't be good! Is there a way to prevent this? Or perhaps a better way to go about the whole thing (apart from having a switch with 2 LEDs)?

Answer 1

It would be easiest to start with the dimmed and switch in a parallel resistance with the NO contact for the brighter current. This assumes the 12V supply is also switched on when the key is turned to the on position.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}