DIY Radar Detector Install

68301 Views 152 Replies 55 Participants Last post by MDLBC, 27 d ago

MakeitRain

Discussion Starter · Jul 23, 2017

Well I just finished wiring and installing my Escort 9500ix radar detector on the rear view mirror. Only took me about 30 mins 10 of which was trying to carefully remove the trim pieces. I purchased the power cord and mount from;
https://radarmount.com/collections/bracket-and-power-cord-bundles

It was $45.99 for the kit and well worth it. Thanks to MacGeek for helping out trying to determine which wire was switched power. I tied into the Electrochromic part of the mirror. As you can see in the picture the trim piece is only 4 spring clamps that you just pull straight down to remove. The radar detector powers on and off with the car. Make sure and place a towel over the center console just in case of falling pieces. I put the red radar detector wire into the blue mirror wire and the black radar detector wire into the black mirror wire. You do have to unplug the mirror wire to insert the radar detector wires.

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rumifaizer

· #2 · Jul 23, 2017

Nice job!

MakeitRain

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 23, 2017

rumifaizer said:
Nice job!

Thank you......

Reactions: 1

Alan

· #4 · Jul 23, 2017

Thanks for the info and pictures of the trim. I have a dash cam I want to install and this may be the info I need to make it work. Do the trim pieces come off in the order of your photographs, I ask because I really want to avoid breaking any of the clips. Is there any room inside the mirror cover, I'm wondering whether it may be possible to fit the camera inside the existing housing although there is clearly the issue of the blackout on the windshield.

MakeitRain

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 23, 2017

Alan said:
Thanks for the info and pictures of the trim. I have a dash cam I want to install and this may be the info I need to make it work. Do the trim pieces come off in the order of your photographs, I ask because I really want to avoid breaking any of the clips. Is there any room inside the mirror cover, I'm wondering whether it may be possible to fit the camera inside the existing housing although there is clearly the issue of the blackout on the windshield.

No the smaller trim piece comes off first you will see 2 small indentations to pop that piece off, then the bigger trim piece pulls off. Yes there is some room up there depending on how big the camera is.

Chipshot

· #6 · Jul 23, 2017

Alan said:
Thanks for the info and pictures of the trim. I have a dash cam I want to install and this may be the info I need to make it work. Do the trim pieces come off in the order of your photographs, I ask because I really want to avoid breaking any of the clips. Is there any room inside the mirror cover, I'm wondering whether it may be possible to fit the camera inside the existing housing although there is clearly the issue of the blackout on the windshield.

Please post your progress. I am thinking of same (although I continue to hope for a wire-free battery-powered camera).

Vailoce

· #7 · Jul 23, 2017

SWEET!... Actually, more like brilliant! This is WAY better than trying to run a power cord up from under the dash and behind all of the windshield trim.

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Bull

· #8 · Jul 24, 2017

Looks great, man! That looks way cleaner than dealing with running the cord through the headliner and down to the footwell like I did... I was pretty skiddish about all the electronics near the mirror. Thanks for posting!

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RipTek

· #9 · Jul 24, 2017

Thanks for the awesome write up, plan on using this for my dash cam!

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Chicago

· #10 · Jul 24, 2017

MakeitRain said:
I put the red radar detector wire into the blue mirror wire and the black radar detector wire into the black mirror wire. You do have to unplug the mirror wire to insert the radar detector wires.

This is awesome! Perfect timing - I just purchased a Uniden R3 and want to do a clean install - I take it there's no splicing that needs to be done (I've never done anything remotely like this so I ask) - is it just plug and play into the wire insert?

MakeitRain

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 24, 2017

Chicago said:
This is awesome! Perfect timing - I just purchased a Uniden R3 and want to do a clean install - I take it there's no splicing that needs to be done (I've never done anything remotely like this so I ask) - is it just plug and play into the wire insert?

Yes just plug in play very easy. Like I said the hardest part was trying to figure out how the trim came apart without damaging it. Then the second hardest part was finding the switch power. You just plug the leads from the radar detector power cord into the mirrors power socket connector.

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alfa908

· #12 · Jul 25, 2017

Does anyone know how much power the connection can supply? Can I power a V1 detector and a dashcam?

lockem

· #13 · Jul 25, 2017

alfa908 said:
Does anyone know how much power the connection can supply? Can I power a V1 detector and a dashcam?

You can measure the wire gauge and get an estimate from that. Also check the fuse and see if that is smaller than the wire gauge can support.

Here is a table of wire capacities:

https://xtronics.com/wiki/Wire-Gauge_Ampacity.html

Use the enclosed wiring numbers and don't push it since a large bundle of wires will get hotter than a single enclosed wire. A good rule of thumb is to use 1/2 of the number in the table.

I would suspect that the maximum temperature rating of the insulation on the wire in Giulia is 60C or 75C. 90C is for nylon re-enforced PVC. Cross Linked polyethylene (known as XHHW in house wiring) is good to 105C, but is usually only found in Hospital wiring due to it's low leakage current. Silicone insulation is good to about 200C, but is hard to work with and normally only found in cars on the ignition wires.

12V wiring currents can get pretty high quickly. Note that Watts/12 is amperage for the most part.

A dash cam consumes 2 to 6 watts. If it requires a power adapter, that adapter will draw more.

Radar detector power consumption is similar. The big unknown is how much the OEM equipment on Giulia already draws on the same wire.

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Taz

· #14 · Aug 4, 2017

I just installed that same kit, rather frustrating to re-install the plastic trim pieces around the mirror. While the cable plug-in is nice I think the cable could benefit from a couple more inches of length. The Mount itself puts the radar detector too far into the interior of the car for my taste. I plan to build a different mount.

MakeitRain

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 4, 2017

Taz said:
I just installed that same kit, rather frustrating to re-install the plastic trim pieces around the mirror. While the cable plug-in is nice I think the cable could benefit from a couple more inches of length. The Mount itself puts the radar detector too far into the interior of the car for my taste. I plan to build a different mount.

I know what you mean. The mirror neck/arm there's not much room for this bracket but it's a whole lot better than a cig cord stretching all the way back to the center console. Its also a lot better than having suction cup marks on the windshield. It's also fantastic not having to run wire all the way to the fuse box on passenger side. I will take the detector a little forward in the cabin over any of those hassles.......

boosted20v

· #16 · Aug 4, 2017

Just got it done, piece of cake. I pulled the wrong plug to tap at first but took a quick look at this thread again and found the right one. Thanks again Make It Rain!

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MakeitRain

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 4, 2017

boosted20v said:
Just got it done, piece of cake. I pulled the wrong plug to tap at first but took a quick look at this thread again and found the right one. Thanks again Make It Rain!

You are welcome, glad it helped....

Taz

· #18 · Aug 20, 2017

Arm Extension

MakeitRain said:
I know what you mean. The mirror neck/arm there's not much room for this bracket but it's a whole lot better than a cig cord stretching all the way back to the center console. Its also a lot better than having suction cup marks on the windshield. It's also fantastic not having to run wire all the way to the fuse box on passenger side. I will take the detector a little forward in the cabin over any of those hassles.......

Radar Mount offers a 3" double ball extension that I was able to add to place the radar detector closer to the windshield, not the most stylish of mounts, but it is a workable install.

The Radar Mount stock mount for the Escort Max doesn't lock in place, it is a friction fit, it fell off several times so I have a temporary mount that uses the Escort mount.

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lockem

· #19 · Aug 20, 2017

OK, I will ask the silly question:

Is it possible to screw the radar detector directly to the pod cover? I know that involves putting holes in the cover (I normally buy a spare when I do stuff like this, so that the setup can be restored if desired), but will the radar detector function properly in that position and not interfere with the mirror and other important bits?

Similarly, I wonder if it is possible to make a dash cam mount that lets the lens "peak around" or peak through the pod? That is going to be a bit more difficult since a dashcam has to be aimed and vertical, but some creative spacer installation should take care of that.

The objective being to minimize additional windshield clutter and to make things positively secure.

Taz

· #20 · Aug 22, 2017

lockem, I wouldn't recommend it, it is just plastic trim, nothing substantial.

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