i am a newb! someone please give me detailed instructions for wiring to the fuse box, i already have the wire down to the fuse box (hidden), i just dont know how to EXACTLY go about splicing this wire and connecting it....where do i connect it to? how do i go about connecting it? anything i should know?


please i've done so much research but nothing is making any damn sense!

 

Wire it to the back of the radio...much easier! Look for a full write-up on Project ActiveTuning soon!

 

I'm going to order a radar detector soon and I'll probably wire it to my fuse box. I've read a few threads regarding the hardwiring of the detector. I think that this is what we should do:

Find a fuse that is turned on and off with the ignition (i.e. cigarette lighter or accessory). Remove the fuse. Place the "hot" wire into the fuse slot. Replace the fuse so that it holds the wire (and makes good contact). Screw in the "ground" wire to something metal.

Hopefully, someone else will verify this for us.

 

Why do some of you guys resort to such sloppy techniques? I cant stand it when i here someone say"Connect it to your wires behind your radio" or "Tap it straight to your fuse block". If wiring external devices to your fuse block was a safe and good thimg to do, than Nissan would have wired the car that way. Don't tap the wires from behind your radio, you may degrate the performance of your aftermarket head unit like Alpine's 913 and 915 head units that have their V-Drive amplifiers built into their recievers. I've said it once and i'll say it again, tapping your power source straight off of the 10 gauge ignition wire under your stearing wheel is what professionals do and they do that for a good reason. Of course, if you don/t care, then by all means disreguard all that i've just writin and knock yourselves out.

 

A few people on this site have hardwired their detectors into the power going to the Homelink mirror.

Be careful what you tap into, it can be possible to overload the current capacity of the wire, which can be a fire hazard.

 

If you want to be absolutely safe about putting it on the radio in terms of overloading the current, just put a fuse on it.

I agree though, ignition wires would be the best bet.

 

Thanks for the warning. I think that funtanillaa and I were considering wiring our radar detectors to the fuse box because all of the threads that I've read on the subject mention wiring to the fuse box or the HomeLink mirror. I thought that the fuse box would be easier. Since the radar detector power cord is basically telephone wire gauge (very small) I didn't think that there would be a problem.

Whistler's website provides directions for wiring to the fuse box:

http://www.whistlergroup.com/faq-detectors-answers.asp

Escort's website states, "The direct wire SmartCord is an optional accessory that allows you to connect the Passport 8500, Passport 7500S, or the Solo S2 directly to your FUSE BLOCK or other 12-volt source..."

How exactly should we tap power off of the 10 gauge ignition wire? I want to get my facts straight before my detector arrives.

Thanks!

 

I've had my V1 now for about 10 months and I still haven't hard wired it. Even thought I've read countless thread on how to do it in the fuse box or the Homelink mirror. I completely agree with 808_FairladyZ. I certainly don't want to risk anything that could be potentially a problem, no matter how insignificant it might be. If anyone has more info on how to tap power off the 10 gauge ignition wire please respond. Thanks.

 

It's quite a bit of work, but hey, having a hard wired radar detector looks so much better!

Basically, you will need to take the underdash down beneath the steering wheel. Then take the cover off (4 screws) on the bottom of the steering wheel column. There you'll see a loom, you'll want to take an exacto knife and cut it open to expose your ignition wires. You'll want to hook up the radar detector to your accessory wire, which is the white wire with black stripes. The way I would personally do it is to strip open the wire using spreaders, then connect the radar detector power wire to it, solder the wires, and then tape them back up, and put everything back together.

Here's a pic of the ignition wires if it helps:

 

AWESOME!!! Thank you very much.

 

I tapped the power from the cig lighter. After all, that's what that circuit is for: adding light load accessories.

See link in sig for pics.

 

Thanks for the information guys!