View Full Version : Hard Wiring in a Radar Detector
btomlin85
09-06-2003, 09:20 PM
I just bought a Valentine One Radar Detector and I am trying to wire it directly to my cars electrical system. All I need is a 12 volt wire to connect the radar detector to. Does anyone know how to do this or has anyone installed any other kind of radar detector into a Cougar? Also, does anyone know where I can find a wiring diagram for a Cougar so that I have an idea of what wires I am looking at? If anyone can help please let me know.
Thanks,
btomlin85
'99 Laser Red Cougar ATX
I tapped into my radio wire. Just cut off your cigarette lighter plug and splice it into the radio wires. Your power wire is the only red one and the black is your ground. I'm pretty sure the wire from your radar detector that is striped is positive (red wire) and all black is negitive (black wire). The best part of hard wiring it there is when you shut your car off the radar detector shuts off and vice versa.
cwtIII
09-07-2003, 12:35 AM
I hard-wired a Cobra detector into my car...I bought the hard-wiring kit for radar detectors (it's a universal kit) from BestBuy for like $9 and it comes w/ different plugs for the power end of every different brand of detector so you don't have to cut up your stock detector power supply cord (not to mention it comes with an in-line fuse as well). I tapped into the power lead for my head unit. From there I ran the wiring behind the glove box and up the passenger side a-pillar, across the front of the headliner and down from the upper console to the detector (mounted up along the front top of the windshield).
http://www.fastcougar.com/forums/attachments/new_pic_interior_2.jpg
~CIII
SubNoiseRat
09-07-2003, 02:44 AM
yeah, same here, I just ran it along the window down the side of the door, under the steering wheel and right into the 12 volt power and black ground of my head unit, nice little switch inline. :hitit:
joshts0
09-07-2003, 07:53 AM
I used t-taps to splice it into my over head light and mounted it above my rear view mirror.
Nemesis
09-08-2003, 02:13 PM
i like having my cord :( lol
99CouGSweetRide
09-11-2003, 05:12 PM
I actually used a switch. I have a couple of wires coming into the cabin from the battery for all my little electrical goodies, and they're connected to a bunch of switches on my shift plate. I just grounded the detector, hooked the other wire up to the switch and voila. Here's a pic, the orange switch is for the detector.
Mike
Tygerr
09-11-2003, 08:25 PM
Sorry if it's a little off topic but, which detector did you guys all go with. I'm not caring about price as long as it works well enough to detect the cop before I'm busted. The ones with the arrows are nice.
Lukydogg
09-11-2003, 08:36 PM
Originally posted by: Tygerr
Sorry if it's a little off topic but, which detector did you guys all go with. I'm not caring about price as long as it works well enough to detect the cop before I'm busted. The ones with the arrows are nice.
Some use the V1 or Valentine 1, so far its one of the better detectors. There are many like it for a cheaper price, but you get what you pay for.
99CouGSweetRide
09-13-2003, 04:00 AM
Originally posted by: Lukydogg
Originally posted by: Tygerr
Sorry if it's a little off topic but, which detector did you guys all go with. I'm not caring about price as long as it works well enough to detect the cop before I'm busted. The ones with the arrows are nice.
Some use the V1 or Valentine 1, so far its one of the better detectors. There are many like it for a cheaper price, but you get what you pay for.
not necessarily. There was a cop on here once who said even the cheapest most basic radar is good enough. When you buy a Valentine 1, I think all you're paying for is the name, and those little fancy arrows. I have an $89 Cobra, the lowest model, and it works great. It warns me of any emergency vehicles in the area, and also has a little meter that goes up as I approach a radar gun. That's really all I need, because whenever I see anything come up on the detector, I slow down!
Mike
EricF
09-13-2003, 04:26 AM
Best bet, get a CB radio.. whoohoo
joshts0
09-16-2003, 12:16 AM
Originally posted by: Tygerr
Sorry if it's a little off topic but, which detector did you guys all go with. I'm not caring about price as long as it works well enough to detect the cop before I'm busted. The ones with the arrows are nice.
The best radar detector is your foot... if you dont press it too much.. you dont have to worry about getting a ticket :P
..
....
Nah jk (... well it is true) .. I have some crappy ol' cheap radar detector that was given to me that gives false alarms at the ass.. but thats ok.. it was free, and I would rather be safe then sorry...
On a side note my last ticket for 24 over got dismissed... :: bow lawyer :: (The speed limit was 55 on a two lane highway with no one on it)
Best bet, get a CB radio.. whoohoo
Yep.. that will save ya... now I just have to go buy one myself...
mmmm "..."s