Wiring a radar dector to the battery

[ViperRider]

I have a radar detector but instead of plugging it into my cigarette lighter could I wire it get get power some other way? I've seen it before but since I suck with wiring I have no clue how to proceed on doing this.

[ssms5411]

Re: Wiring a radar dector to the battery

You just need a ground and a 12volt ign. on only when the key is turned. I would use 12ga. wire. you could just use a ground from up under the steering wheel and power from your fuse box on the drivers side.

[blindeyed]

Re: Wiring a radar dector to the battery

I've seen it before but since I suck with wiring I have no clue how to proceed on doing this.

No offense intended at all... But if you suck at wiring, then I would suggest you either don't do this; have someone more experienced help you out; or just leave it as it is and use the cig lighter.

It's a very simple thing to do, but if you don't know what you're doing you could easily create a short somewhere, or even worse yet, start a fire.

Otherwise, what ssms said is the way to do it. Just need some spade connectors. I would just tap the ground wire into the ground for the cig lighter, and run the positive to the fuse box. There's an empty slot there that says IGN, just crimp a spade connector on the end of the positive wire and push it in there.

I would use 12ga. wire.

12ga is overkill. 16ga or 18ga would be just fine for a radar detector.

[96firebird311]

Re: Wiring a radar dector to the battery

ATTENTION!!!

One thing EXTREMELY commonly overlooked is the voltage that the detector runs at. Some run off 12V and some off 5V. Most any of the newer or higher end units will run off 5V. They plug into the 12V cig lighter and are then bumped down to 5V inside the cig adapter. So DO NOT just hack off the cig lighter plug and use the two wires to hardwire your detector.

It usually says something right on the cig lighter adapter as to input and output. If it says 5V, you can solder the negative ground wire to the two push plates on the sides and the positive 12V ignition wire to the top nipple. Then hide the whole deal in the dash somewhere. 12V will run into the adapter and 5V will run out and to your detector.

Oh and PS.... 22ga wire is even plenty. Ever taken a look at the actual wires inside that coiled power cord that it comes with? TINY.

[blindeyed]

Re: Wiring a radar dector to the battery

ATTENTION!!!

One thing EXTREMELY commonly overlooked is the voltage that the detector runs at. Some run off 12V and some off 5V. Most any of the newer or higher end units will run off 5V. They plug into the 12V cig lighter and are then bumped down to 5V inside the cig adapter. So DO NOT just hack off the cig lighter plug and use the two wires to hardwire your detector.

It usually says something right on the cig lighter adapter as to input and output. If it says 5V, you can solder the negative ground wire to the two push plates on the sides and the positive 12V ignition wire to the top nipple. Then hide the whole deal in the dash somewhere. 12V will run into the adapter and 5V will run out and to your detector.

Oh and PS.... 22ga wire is even plenty. Ever taken a look at the actual wires inside that coiled power cord that it comes with? TINY.

Completely forgot about that! Good job pointing that out!

[lookout4theyeti]

Re: Wiring a radar dector to the battery

What kind of detector is it? If its an x50, then you can do like I did :cool: