Hardwiring Radar Detector

[Crazed98Camaro]

I'm in the process of hardwiring my radar dector.

I have it set up on top of my rear view mirror, and the cord runs along the headliner, then the A-Pillar.

This stems my first question.

1.) How the hell do you get the wire through the dash pad?
I had my skinny *** arms though the bottom of the dash looking for the spot where the corner of the pad meets the windshield, found nothing!

And my second is one dealing with power to the dector.
I believe my dector runs off of 12 volts.
The cigarette adapter said nothing about 5v.
I took it apart, only thing in there is a 2 amp fuse.

2.) Does this 2 amp fuse mean that it runs off of 5v?

If it is true that it does run off of 12v then I can just run it to IGN in the fuse block, but if its not, then I'm not sure what to do.


Thanks in advance!

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

Sorry for anyone who wasted their time reading this, I just had a brain fart.

I took off the A-Pillar. Then ran the wire to the fuse box, so easy.

Then I just bought an inline fuse holder, spliced that into the power wire.

Perfect! Turn the key and voila! Radar detector is on. :)

[96firebird311]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

Geez... what a waste of my time....:banana:;)

[Sean_99_3.8]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

pics?

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

Yeap, just took one tonight.

The power is ran to the IGN port in the fuse block, so it turns on with the car.

The level is perfect for me. I am about 6'. :)

[kala]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

Is that too high? I hardwired mine and installed it right below the rear view mirror so that I can catch the radar from behind too.





:)

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

I did contemplate putting it below it, but I thought that would obstruct my view too much.

I do have the 360* dectection thing, but I figured I can live without it.
I check my rearview about every 20 seconds as it is.

[96firebird311]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

For anyone reading this, I bought a mount from here and it's da shizzey. Don't be jealous. :naughty:
http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/350Z/valentinemount.htm

*Click to enlarge*

[kala]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

For anyone reading this, I bought a mount from here and it's da shizzey. Don't be jealous.
http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/350Z/valentinemount.htm

I just wanna make sure you got the Z version of the radar mount on your RX-8. That would've given you 49 needed HP to run with the Z...





:)

[lookout4theyeti]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

Looks good. Above the rvm is fine, so long as you don't have a metallic tint strip.

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

Looks good. Above the rvm is fine, so long as you don't have a metallic tint strip.

Thanks!
Yeah, just got the stock blue strip thing.

Still works like a charm!

[FastRidesOnly.com]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

i got one and i wanna do this

my detector has 2 wires coming out if it.
which wire goes to the fuse block and where does the other one go?
do they both go to the fuse block?

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

First you need to take apart the cigarette adapter, find out which one is power and which is ground.
The two push plates on the sides are grounds, the nipple is power.

You most likely have a fuse within the adapter.

You need to buy a fuse holder for the fuse and splice it into the power wire. Unless your are ABSOLUTLY positive that it runs off of 12v.
Then run that wire to the fuse block, by taking off the A-Pillar and running it down there.
You will see a hole right above the fuse block. Fish it through here and it will come out near the fuse block. You might need some tweasers for this.

You will need to crimp on a spade connector for the fuse block. Then just push it in the port you want.
IGN for ignition (on with car)
BAT for battery (constant on, need a switch to turn off)
or RAP for Retained Accessory Power (power that stays on after you turn the car off, until you open the door.)

The other wire (ground) just goes to any bolt on the car that is metal to metal. I chose a bolt under the drive side kick panel that looked like it was for a brace.
The main thing here is to make sure its metal to metal.

These wires are all really really small. It was a tough time cutting and splicing the wires, but it just takes patience.

[96firebird311]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

I just wanna make sure you got the Z version of the radar mount on your RX-8. That would've given you 49 needed HP to run with the Z...

LOL. Maybe not, but I can still keep up on the AutoX track. And with the money I saved versus buying the Z, I bought a freakin Ford Focus.






....I kid.

EDIT: And it looks like you figured it out Crazed98? The power adapter nearly ALWAYS says output voltage on it. If not, is it just a skinny little adapter or does it get larger at the end, like a balloon? The skinny ones with just the fuse inside are 12V and the bubble shaped ones are almost always 5V. Instruction manual doesn't say? Check out the manufacturers website. And no. Fuze size does not dictate voltage.

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: Hardwiring Radar Detector

EDIT: And it looks like you figured it out Crazed98? The power adapter nearly ALWAYS says output voltage on it. If not, is it just a skinny little adapter or does it get larger at the end, like a balloon? The skinny ones with just the fuse inside are 12V and the bubble shaped ones are almost always 5V. Instruction manual doesn't say? Check out the manufacturers website. And no. Fuze size does not dictate voltage.

Yeap, figured it out!
It was just a straight connecter. I am 90% sure it is a 12v connector, the online manual said something about it.

But just to be safe I put a fuse holder in there with the fuse in it.
Works perfect!!!