wiring a radar detector

[bayanrabbani]

anyone have any experience doing it? i was thinking about doing mine, but wasn't sure how difficult it is

 

[Cellerator]

It's not too hard if your detector comes with a wiring kit.

steps:
1. Unplug battery and drain whatever is left over using the brake pedal
2. Pull off panels nearest to your gas pedal, same goes for the passenger side
3. Connect your ground first, Should be a black wire going to a metal brace.
4. connect your wiring kit, and run the wires just below the dash, pull up through the side and run it to the bottom of your windshield or top.

It takes maybe a couple hrs. It took me a couple hours because I had a hard time reaching the cigarrette lighter wires but other than that, it was quick.

 

[Skywlkr]

It's not too hard if your detector comes with a wiring kit.

steps:
1. Unplug battery and drain whatever is left over using the brake pedal
2. Pull off panels nearest to your gas pedal, same goes for the passenger side
3. Connect your ground first, Should be a black wire going to a metal brace.
4. connect your wiring kit, and run the wires just below the dash, pull up through the side and run it to the bottom of your windshield or top.

It takes maybe a couple hrs. It took me a couple hours because I had a hard time reaching the cigarrette lighter wires but other than that, it was quick.

You can also wire it to a fuse in your fuse box. I wired it to the radio fuse since my radio is always on. Radio shack has a fuse clip that makes it easy. It also saves you from having to find the cigarete ligther wires and is easier to remove if you have to. The cobra radar detector website has instructions about it if you are interested.

http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=corporate/faqdetail&id=1&faq_id=180

 

[midrange]

i have always wondered how these work.. do they scramble his radar.. or does it beep at you when it detects radar??? info would be great from someone who has one.. also are they detectable and is it very accurate?

I know on a lot of porsches i work on have them installed, but never seen em actually work.

 

[B1GHAM]

i have always wondered how these work.. do they scramble his radar.. or does it beep at you when it detects radar??? info would be great from someone who has one.. also are they detectable and is it very accurate?

I know on a lot of porsches i work on have them installed, but never seen em actually work.

A Radar DETECTOR is designed to do just that - detect radar signals from police. A Radar JAMMER is designed to jam the Police radar and send a seperate signal (IE youre doing 120, but the cops radar reads 40). Radar Jammers however are illegal.

Laser jammers, because laser are controled by the FDA and not FCC are not illegal. Also, since Laser is more accurate, laser jammers are worth the money.

There are a lot of differences and I could write a book telling you about them (such as the bands, X, K, and KA) however I would direct you to howstuffworks.com as well as checking out websites to the two top rated units. Escort who makes the Passport 8500 (my fav) and Valentine1.com which make the Valentine 1 unit, reportedly the best money can buy.

definately worth the money, however having one does not give you the right away to speed, you still have to be smart with it. Think of it more as a second sense for cops rather than the ability to speed 100% of the time.

EDIT: to answer you quick questions as well -

- The unit will beep once it senses a radar signal in its line of sight
- yes they are detectable, but certain units help protect against that - read up on the websites I gave ya
- accurate? yes and no. Yes they can be, but not every unit is made equally. Spending the money for a better unit will net you better range and accuracy.

 

[RatLabGuy]

A laser jammer? That's new to me. How? Laser works at the speed of light and with the same level of detail, how the hell do you block that?

Oh and FYI, even detectors are illegal in many states (VA for sure I know) so plan ahead on where you go with it.

Re: installation - yes, very very easy. I nfact, many of them come w/ a cig lighter adapter if you're really lazy. But of course that just looks like crap. Just get a spade fuse adapter, find a fuse you like, connect that to your hot line. keep in mind which side of the fuse you put it on, that eitehr will or will not have the fuse also covering your detector (which will prob have its own fuse inside it). Connect the ground to a good solid ground.
Disconnecting the battery is the *safe* thing to do... but I never do, it's just 12v, come on... and FWIW if there's juice connected *always* connect the hot line first, then ground it. Other way is dangerous, as you're encouraging an arc.

 

[Kansei]

You can also wire it to a fuse in your fuse box. I wired it to the radio fuse since my radio is always on. Radio shack has a fuse clip that makes it easy. It also saves you from having to find the cigarete ligther wires and is easier to remove if you have to. The cobra radar detector website has instructions about it if you are interested.

http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=corporate/faqdetail&id=1&faq_id=180

yeah that's how I have mine.. it sounds like a ghetto way to do it, but it's such low draw that it's ok. mine is a hardwire kit so it has it's own fuse built into it anyway, it's totally safe. I forget what fuse I wired into, but it's one that is only on when the engine is running. I had it hardwired to the battery previously, but wanted to clean up wiring in the bay.

 

[Kansei]

A laser jammer? That's new to me. How? Laser works at the speed of light and with the same level of detail, how the hell do you block that?

Oh and FYI, even detectors are illegal in many states (VA for sure I know) so plan ahead on where you go with it.

Re: installation - yes, very very easy. I nfact, many of them come w/ a cig lighter adapter if you're really lazy. But of course that just looks like crap. Just get a spade fuse adapter, find a fuse you like, connect that to your hot line. keep in mind which side of the fuse you put it on, that eitehr will or will not have the fuse also covering your detector (which will prob have its own fuse inside it). Connect the ground to a good solid ground.
Disconnecting the battery is the *safe* thing to do... but I never do, it's just 12v, come on... and FWIW if there's juice connected *always* connect the hot line first, then ground it. Other way is dangerous, as you're encouraging an arc.

Laser Jammer - sends back a modified signal to confuse the gun (instead of the normal reflection)

 

[Canecreekfreak]

Radar detectors are only illegal in VA and DC- they're legal every where else in the continential US. They are not legal anywhere in Canada, nor in Hawaii (I believe). If you're in the 48 states, and not in VA or DC, you're all set.

I hard wired mine into the sunroof controls. It took me a few efforts to get it correct, but it works fine for me. Of course you have to have a sunroof (or lights in the headliner) for that to work. But it was rather easy with some of those blue wire taps from Radio Shack, and a little time.

 

[Cellerator]

actually, if you were to invest in a radar detector, there's a big difference between those that are 100 or 400, I've had both and I just saved myself possible jail time if caught yesterday. Don't skimp if you are to get one, a $100 radar detector is not very reliable and although my $400 radar detector does give me some false alerts, I get a much further range and as to where they are coming from.

 

[P-Funk!]

Don't most poilice use laser now?

A good spoof technique is to buy a clear license plate cover and 'lightly scuff' with a green scouring pad. Police aim for the license plate - because it is reflective. It will 'help' not prevent being caught - be smart, eh?

'Never be the fastest car on the road. Be the second fastest'.

 

[Kansei]

Don't most poilice use laser now?

A good spoof technique is to buy a clear license plate cover and 'lightly scuff' with a green scouring pad. Police aim for the license plate - because it is reflective. It will 'help' not prevent being caught - be smart, eh?

'Never be the fastest car on the road. Be the second fastest'.

Both good tips.. though I'd advise to just have no front plate, or at least have it bent AND angled down. I had mine curved to fit into the lower grille opening, and got hit by laser when I was doing over 80 in a 65 zone.. I was the only car on the road, not smart at all. I didn't get pulled over

And no, most police don't use laser.. because they actually have to work to use it. It isn't just raking in the dough like just sitting there running a radar gun does

 

[B1GHAM]

Both good tips.. though I'd advise to just have no front plate, or at least have it bent AND angled down. I had mine curved to fit into the lower grille opening, and got hit by laser when I was doing over 80 in a 65 zone.. I was the only car on the road, not smart at all. I didn't get pulled over

And no, most police don't use laser.. because they actually have to work to use it. It isn't just raking in the dough like just sitting there running a radar gun does

that and laser guns are still pretty expensive... most states cant afford them

DONT WORRY THOUGH!! Insurance companies, such as Geico, donate them all the time to police stations.

Seems like a conflict of interest if you ask me (rofl)

 

[Kansei]

that and laser guns are still pretty expensive... most states cant afford them

DONT WORRY THOUGH!! Insurance companies, such as Geico, donate them all the time to police stations.

Seems like a conflict of interest if you ask me (rofl)

My town has FIVE.. in a town of 6k people.

I don't understand my town's police departent at all, they CLEARLY get way too much funding... they have a Viper, and almost all the patrol cops ride around in Durango R/Ts (the previous gen ones)

ugggghhhhhh

 

[Drake13]

Okay guys .. i got this from another form on here and it was so good I decided to save it to my computer.. This is answer any and ALL questions

See attached

 

[bayanrabbani]

thanks for all the advice. i have an escort passport 8500 (red led version. it matches better). i'll give it a whirl this weekend and let you know how it goes

 

[tomsprotege5]

In Canada they are legal in certain provinces (British Columbia, Alberta..)

Radar detectors are only illegal in VA and DC- they're legal every where else in the continential US. They are not legal anywhere in Canada, nor in Hawaii (I believe). If you're in the 48 states, and not in VA or DC, you're all set.

I hard wired mine into the sunroof controls. It took me a few efforts to get it correct, but it works fine for me. Of course you have to have a sunroof (or lights in the headliner) for that to work. But it was rather easy with some of those blue wire taps from Radio Shack, and a little time.