This is a question for Passport 8500 users.

Ok, I need a little technical assistance on this one. I just bought a passport 8500 (I know, but it was on sale at Beast Buy for $200). It only comes with that thick spiral cigarette adapter "smart cord" that you'd have to stretch across the center console like a high tension wire to plug it in. I saw on the Escort website they sell a "direct wire smart cord" that you can wire into the fusebox (what I want to do), but it is an additional $29.99. I called Escort to see if there was a store that I could go buy it in and the lady "Rose" mentioned that Radio Shack might sell something, but it had to be 12v and have the phone cord end. She then proceeded to tell me (which she was hesitant to do) that she had heard of the Escort Tech support department walking people through a process to use a regular old 4-wire phone cord to hard wire the detector to power. I was excited by that news until she said that unfortunately the techs had gone home already for the day (They are back east so there is a 3 hour time difference). Ok... now that you all have the back story (aren't you happy), my question is "Has anyone done that sucessfully???" I have 4-wire phone cords coming out of my ears here at work, but I don't know which 2 wires to use? I assume that since there are 4 wires; one must be a ground and one must be power. The other two I assume are to operate the "Smart cord" functions on the end of the cigarette adapter. Obviously I would have to put a fuse inline somewhere, but that's not a problem. Can someone help me out? Possibly with pictures of how you did it? Thanks!!

-Chris

 

what do you mean "I know but it was only.$$$".... that is a badass radar detector.... the valentine is good but overrated also.

yes i have done it.. on my car and ihiustler's car....a regular phone cord is all you need...

the two middle wires are power and ground red and green...

BE CAREFULL!!.... phone cords are not symmetrical if that makes sense.. look at the two opposite ends next to eachother and you will see that the colors flip sides.....

this means depending which side you plug the cord into the radar... red may be power(12v) OR ground

SIMPLE SOLUTION: look at the 8500 cord and make sure the colors match up... then cut the cord, strip it and red will be your positive 12v and green will be your negative.

you might want to use larger gauge wire to solder or attach the cable to the power wires in your car as the phone line wires are hair thin....

does this make sense???

 

Toykilla,

Thanks for the info. I was able to figure out the wires and soldered a 3A fuse inline on the power wire then spliced into the fuse box. Worked like a charm and saved at least $10.00!! WOo HOo!!!!

-CHris