Hard Wired Radar Detector

[Deuce]

Hey All...

Was just wondering if anyone has attempted to permanently hard wire their radar detector into their ride. I have an older Whistler 1490 that I would like to install permanently just above the rear view mirror.

If anyone has attempted or done this already, pictures of your install and how you did it would be much appreciated.

Cheers...

[Smartiepants]

Check out the vortex forums, tons of people there have done it.

[Fluidic Digital]

Or... you can talk with me.

My Valentine-1 is hard-wired. Very easy install. If you are local -- I'll do it for you. :thumbsup:

Peter

[Deuce]

Hey Fluidic,

Did you have a hardwire kit for your Valentine 1? ...or did you just McGyver it? I'm trying to figure out if I need to purchase the Whistler hardwire kit or not. Looks like others have just spliced into their existing cables to patch it to the fuse box.

Anyhow, let me know how you went about it.

Cheers...

P.S. How's that V-1 treatin' ya? I've always wanted to pick one of those up. My Whistler 1490 hasn't failed me yet though, so I can't bring myself to dispose of it just yet.

[Fluidic Digital]

Yep... my V1 came with a hard-wire kit... even if you don't have one, super easy to install -- 15min MAX.

I love my V1... it works great... saved my ass a few times driving back from Ed-Town this afternoon. And for the people who know me -- I don't drive slow.

Peter

[Deuce]

Hey FD,

Is there any way that you know of that you can hook up the detector to one of the existing manual switches in a GTi? Sorry if this is a dumb idea, but I was wondering if I could somehow disconnect the hazard light relay or whatever and use the hazard light switch as an on/off switch for the radar?! Somebody on the vortex wired theirs up to one of the reading light switches and took out the said bulb.

On second thought... any way I can make use of those unused "heated seats" button locations?

Thanks in advance for your guys help!
:urspecial

[Smartiepants]

It might be hard to make the heated thing look good would be the problem.

[Fluidic Digital]

Originally posted by Deuce
Hey FD,

Is there any way that you know of that you can hook up the detector to one of the existing manual switches in a GTi? Sorry if this is a dumb idea, but I was wondering if I could somehow disconnect the hazard light relay or whatever and use the hazard light switch as an on/off switch for the radar?! Somebody on the vortex wired theirs up to one of the reading light switches and took out the said bulb.

On second thought... any way I can make use of those unused "heated seats" button locations?

Thanks in advance for your guys help!
:urspecial

Why would you want to do this? When I wire things up... I wire it to switched power. When you turn the car on... the radar detector fires up.

Peter

[Simon]

maybe he wants to have an on/off switch so he doesnt have the random beeps from going around downtown from motion sensitive doors and stuff.

and yes you could use a switch in one of the un-used pods where the heated seats are, just gotta get a switch. i had a switch put in their for my different lights on my old golf.

[Deuce]

Thanks for the reply Simon,

Yeah, that's exactly it. My radar works great on Deerfoot and other trails in Calgary however, when I'm driving around downtown and stuff, the false's would drive me crazy. Anyhow, where do you suggest I pick up a spare button... dealer? Concept-1?

Not sure if I have the tech know-how to wire up a button so might need some expertise there.

Cheers...

[QuA]

Peter has a good setup!

QuA

[Fluidic Digital]

I'll help you Deuce -- we can wire up a switch and all that jazz. It will take a while -- but it can be done.

Peter

[HappyFunBoater]

Re: Hard Wired Radar Detector

Why would you want to do this? When I wire things up... I wire it to switched power. When you turn the car on... the radar detector fires up.

Peter

Where did you find switched power? Is it in the overhead console, I hope?

TT