Hard wiring radar detector

[jigga_x]

Title says it all...does anybody have any experience wiring the radar to the car cause the phukin cigarette lighter thing is annoying the he!! out of me. I heard something that it needs a resistor in the path or it will fry the radar if I connect it directly to a power source, but the resistor is inside the cigarette adapter. Anybody know anything about this???

[Aaron]

I have a V1 hardwired in my STi.

Do you have an overhead console or dimming mirror in your car?

What detector did you buy?

[Dreck]

I put a Passport in my car and a Cobra in a friend's Benz...both times I fed a wire into a fuse that is switched on with the car.

No fuss, no muss.

[kef]

If the Cig adaptor does any kind of conversion (12v->6v) you will need to keep it. It's also a nice idea to have it because they contain a fuse. Either way, You will simply need an switch 12v line, and ground. I usually keep the adaptor and solder two leads of wire onto it, then either heatshrink it or wrap the crud out of it with electrical tape.

FYI: The plug on the top of the adaptor is the 12volt, the butterflys on the side are ground.

Good places for switched 12volt: Back of radio or Fusebox.

[jigga_x]

I have a Cobra Radar...can't tell u the exact model, I'd have to look at it. The one that doesn't talk. I was planning to run it straight from the battery cause I already have a switch wired to the battery with an inline fuse.

So I can just cut the wire and run the power line to the switch and ground it?

[kef]

Just so long as the power plug says 12V DC -> 12V DC. Sure. The only reason I mention it is that some do 12 -> 6.

It's just electricity. However, if you run it to the battery you need to remember to turn it off every time you get out of the car, because the battery is constant power.

I just run it into the RADIO fuse inside the car if you want to cut wires.

[jigga_x]

Thanks! Now my weekend is gonna have meaning...LOL :banana:

[criz]

I have a V1 hardwired in my STi.

Do you have an overhead console or dimming mirror in your car?

What detector did you buy?

hey, are you going to the meet tomorrow night? I thought about hardwiring mine to my car, but not sure if I wanted to... i want to see your set up if I can :rock:

[alachua]

Its also not a bad idea to use a relay if you are wiring something in, especially if you are doing it directly to the battery.

you can run a dedicated power line into the relay, then use a feed of a switched fused line to kick the relay on, this way you don't have to worry about exceeding the fuse output of a stock line. If you run a line from the battery, put a fuse within 18 inches of the battery, before it enters the cabin of the car.

on the side of the radar detector, where it plugs in, it will usually have the power rating, usually saying 12vDC, or something similar. As long as its 12vDC, you are fine.

-Cliff

[Aaron]

I'll be there but not in the STi :(

[jigga_x]

I'll be trying it out this weekend, I'll let y ou guys know how it goes...or better yet I will see you guys on Sunday at Tyler State Park!

[JerzeySlowpra]

just plice is into the wires behind the cigarette lighter

[joe tom]

i have a whilster in my rex, you can buy a hard wiring kit, for your cobra, it takes like five minutes to install. if you want to go the less expensive route, i think you will need an in-line fuse coming from your power wire.

[jigga_x]

My radar is now hard-wired...i did use an in-line fuse. Works with no problems...no more wires across the floor of my car and no more cigarette plug-in...woohoo

Thanks for all the tips! :banana:

[the mike]

I'll be trying it out this weekend, I'll let y ou guys know how it goes...or better yet I will see you guys on Sunday at Tyler State Park!

SATURDAY!!!!! at Tyler. ;)