DIY : Radar Detector Hardwire Install

[Chewy]

*NOTE*

i just did this mod with my beltronics...the wires on the plug are reversed. took me 1/2 an hour trying to figure out why it wasn't turning on. Checked the wiring, good voltages...looked at the original plug and its backwards of a standard phone jack, had to wire Red to Black, and Green to Pink.

Works now :-)

[CamaroSkooter]

*NOTE*

I just completed this mod with the Valentine 1. Anyone with a V1, if you attempt to use the T-tap that came in the packaging for your V1, the tap is not "small" enough to puncture the insulation on the pink wire shown in the OP's pictures. I had to trim the insulation off with a sharp knife and squeeze the cutting edges inside the tap a little closer together to get a solid positive connection.

Also, the V1 comes pre-wired for the ground to go to a screw, and none of the screws available in the opening shown are grounded, so I had to drill a hole and use a self-tapping sheet metal screw for the ground. There's plenty of metal to use that won't be puncturing through the roof

Hope this helps

[cntryman77]

I followed this & it worked great!! Nice write up. The only thing I did differently is add an inline fuse equal to the one for the lighter plug. At $2.69, it's a good insurance policy. I had a detector go bad once from hard wiring it & not putting the fuse in.

[Chad's ZL1]

will this only work with the passport. I have a diffrent detector so just wondering.

[spyderbuddy]

Originally Posted by Macamaro

Here is how I installed my Valentine 1 with some closer pics.

I used a Fuse Tap from Radioshack but had to trim and shape it a little to fit easier into the fuse slot. This thin piece of metal is easily shaped and clipped to fit. It looks like this:



The end of the fuse tap easily connects to a wire via a quick connect terminal shown here:



I started by connecting the ground wire to the frame and putting the velcro strip for the V1 connector on. Ground wire location and velcro location shown here:



This is what the V1 power outlet looks like (Red wire for + black for -. I've also got it connected here):



Once the shaping of the fuse tap was done and the ground wire connected, I put the fuse in the fuse tap and then put them both in the F17 slot which if you read previously controls the console. Shown here:



A couple of minutes later (zip ties and clean up) I came out looking like this:




This method tucks the wire neatly under the head liner and runs the cord down to the fuse box. And thats it! Now my detector only comes on with the key.

that the way i got power to my bell 995

i did not want to tap into any wires at the mirrow

[cntryman77]

Originally Posted by Chad's 2ss

will this only work with the passport. I have a diffrent detector so just wondering.

You could pretty much do this for any detector, as long as you have the proper copnnectors.

[Darth Martel]

I have an Escort 8500 and tried the 2 wire hookup going into the phone port and it wouldn't power on. Since that didn't work, I just took the 12V car adapter apart and I'm just going to wire that internal board up to the 12V and GND for the overhead air bag lamp. I soldered in a straight phone cord too so it'll look halfway decent. I even did a custom mount off of the vizor like we've seen posted. $30 is a bit much for a piece of metal so just fabricated one and bent it where it needed to so int contoured with the roof. I covered the metal with the fabric I pulled off of the door trim panels so, it blends into the roof, for the most part. I will post pics once I get it all squared away.

[Darth Martel]

OK got it all wired. The phone cord I used had the red and the green wires swapped compared to the Escort's cord. I ended up wiring the thing directly to the fuse panel as illustrated above. Running the wire inside the trim was actually very easy. It pushed right in and didn't require any tools. I left the wire taps in the overhead panel in case I want to do the homelink mod down the line. I would just have to plug into it. I'd post pics but really it looks like everybody else's here so, no need to clutter up the forum with extra pictures. Just want people to be aware of the wiring issue with the Escorts.

[Samson]

great instructions! i have a passport 8500 and i was able to disassemble the headliner unit in 20 minutes tops. tapped into the pink and black wires and ran out of time/sunlight (sucks living in an apartment) cause i broke one of connectors while i was crimping. and unfortunately it was my last one. will finish tomorrow morning after buying more connectors. and let you know how it goes. thanks again!

[Samson]

everything works perfectly. thanks again!

[Wild Bill]

There is a much easier way.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...rd#post1922562

It was $15 bucks for the invisicord and $75.00(more or less, don't remember) for a Blendmount . It took all of 10 minutes to install. It's a little pricey, but it works great and the Escort 9500ix looks like it's part of the mirror.

[themossman]

Originally Posted by Wild Bill

There is a much easier way.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...rd#post1922562

It was $15 bucks for the invisicord and $75.00(more or less, don't remember) for a Blendmount . It took all of 10 minutes to install. It's a little pricey, but it works great and the Escort 9500ix looks like it's part of the mirror.

Skinning a cat...there's plenty of ways to do it.

I *personally* would not want the blendmount as it takes up another 10-15% of already limited visibility between the 1 to 2 o'clock position...

[WayneBrady]

what is the purpose of a visible radar detector if a cop can see it too?

[POWERFREAK]

Originally Posted by Kraven Morehead

what is the purpose of a visible radar detector if a cop can see it too?

why? In most of the country, it's not illegal.