radar detectors
#1
08-30-2009 | 04:34 PM
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24
radar detectors
i was looking at a new radar detector because the cheap cobra i have now doesnt work well, but i was wondering how i could hardwire it to the battery or to something so it doesnt use my cig lighter so i could use it for something els. thanks!
#7
08-31-2009 | 01:31 PM
Recognized HCF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,203
From: Brownsburg, IN 46112
yep. just take apart the cig lighter plug and label both wires, power and ground, the center wire is power, and the side wire is ground. then simply wire it to the fuse boxs ignition source.
JUST DONT WIRE IT DIRECTLY!!! if you just wire it up it will not be fused and if you have a short in that wire well.... fire=BAD!!!!!!!
so be sure to also get a INLINE FUSE holder. or if your cheap... 2 female spade crimp terminals, a regular size fuse, not the minis. and some electrical tape... simply crimp the terminal onto the power wire and wrap it really good with electrical tape so nothing on the ends can touch anything, then do another wire short enough to go from it to the fuse box, and do the same crimp and tape it up fully, then stick the fuse 2.5-5amp will be enough juice for it. and then tape up all over the fuse as well so it cannt short out on anything even over the top since it has 2 open metal spots. and its a cheap inline fuse that is safe! ive done it quite a few times myself and as long as its taped up good youll be fine cheaping out. but if the fuse ever does blow then you gotta untape the top fuse to replace it. but if your just powering the radar unless you have a real short it should never blow.
i typically hardwire up every radar detector that way. only one i havent done yet is on my truck because im to lazy right now. and i also have 3 factory cig plugs.
JUST DONT WIRE IT DIRECTLY!!! if you just wire it up it will not be fused and if you have a short in that wire well.... fire=BAD!!!!!!!
so be sure to also get a INLINE FUSE holder. or if your cheap... 2 female spade crimp terminals, a regular size fuse, not the minis. and some electrical tape... simply crimp the terminal onto the power wire and wrap it really good with electrical tape so nothing on the ends can touch anything, then do another wire short enough to go from it to the fuse box, and do the same crimp and tape it up fully, then stick the fuse 2.5-5amp will be enough juice for it. and then tape up all over the fuse as well so it cannt short out on anything even over the top since it has 2 open metal spots. and its a cheap inline fuse that is safe! ive done it quite a few times myself and as long as its taped up good youll be fine cheaping out. but if the fuse ever does blow then you gotta untape the top fuse to replace it. but if your just powering the radar unless you have a real short it should never blow.
i typically hardwire up every radar detector that way. only one i havent done yet is on my truck because im to lazy right now. and i also have 3 factory cig plugs.
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