vt_hokie2008

Just a tip, in VA, the state police have radar detector detectors. My brother is a cop and loves pulling people over for speeding and then seeing the dumb look on their face when he asks for the detector and takes it. Just wanted to warn anyone traveling in VA.

Hard 8

I hear they're illegal only in VA and DC, right? I also hear that V1s leak a lot less radiation than most; they MAY be invisible to the police; I'm not sure. I know they have a nice, beefy magnesium case.

Abracadabra

WHealy...nice installation...am getting an escort and wish to mount it where inspection sticker would usually go (none here in FL). Was the removal of the trim above fuse box difficult? how was it achieved? tnx

Hard 8

If I'm understanding your question, you don't need to remove anything but the cover of the fuse panel to do the job. There's already an opening behind the panel through which you can feed the wire.

Abracadabra

Thanks so mcuh for that tip Hard8...that sounds like an elegant solution. I'm rather opposed to doing any drilling cutting etc. not from an expertise standpoint but from a purist one. Do you think that the escort 8500 xp50 is a good choice? Do you think my mounting location is viable (performance wise)? I've not owned a detector, don't overly speed, but am concerned mostly when traffic is moving along at 80 in a 65 on the FL tpk and I just don't want to be the unlucky one. PS...they don't use laser I'm told in FL. Thanks again

Artzy8

I installed my V1 yesterday evening and even in the dark this DIY made it a breeze. I also placed the the pwr box in the headliner but I was able to run the RJ11 cable through the wire channel in the mirror. Looks very clean...

Thanks for this great post!!!

jkeown

Thanks to Hard 8 for the find on the fuse adapter. I had no idea such a thing existed. I couldn't find these at Advance Auto, but did find them at Pep Boys as Hard 8 had mentioned.

I had a little trouble finding what I was looking for (since I wasn't sure what they looked like).

Attached are some pics of the packaging card (didn't think about taking the pics until it was already installed).

Hope this helps.

PS - I think Mazda had hard wiring radar detectors in mind with the way they aligned the trim along the path between the fuse box and rear view mirror...the Valentine power cord slipped right in there.

jkeown

You gotta drill through your baby, but it fits in there nicely. The remote display fits in there so well, I don't have anything mounting it. Sits in the ash tray like it was designed for it...

jenkins-crew

Nice, very consealable! :D

dwynne

I did that on my 'vette - put the remote display in the ashtray then it was conceled by closing the lid. I found in practice it was way too far from line of sight, however.

Your detector goes off and your eyes naturally jump to the speedo - if you mount the remote display on top of the column or somewhere close by you can check your speed AND access the threat with a single glance. Having to check the speed, glance down, look back up, look back down - not as nice.

Better (stealthy) place to put the display, but worse (usability) location. IMHO.

Dennis

~)(

Great DIY! I installed mine a couple days ago, and now it looks excellent. I didn't have to buy anything extra; I used alsmost everything that came with the V1. There's enough room up there to stuff the super long black telephone cable. I routed the telephone cable behind the powermirror's connector, and it looks like a million bucks. I set the V1 above the powermirror. The powermirror is double jointed, so lower it a little and set the V1 on the dotted area. Placement is perfect for peripheral vision of the V1 display, so is access to the unit, and the black dots don't seem to affect detection range.

nijelSC

I installed my V1 above the rear view mirror and the concealed display in the HU trim plate. It was OK but during the night I couldn't see the mute button and had hard time identifying which band led is active. So I came up with this-installed a couple of blue LED's covered with fabricated reflector. Works great and matches the instrument cluster blue LED's to.
Night
Day

Cynic10508

Clever. The LED shroud looks like a drawer handle from a hardware store. Or did you fabricate that yourself?

nijelSC

Cut it from a light switch wallplate.

Olorin2

iTrader: (6)

Hey guys,

I didn't see anyone post pics of an X50 directwire install with the smartcord, so I thought I'd post a couple pics of mine (the exception being the guy who installed it under the volume ****). I've included a shot of the smartcord placement, and one showing the wire routing. This was really the only place I could see to mount it without cutting into the dash or removing a lot of dash pieces, and also so you wouldn't be able to see wires. As others have done, I used a fuse adapter which worked great.

Olorin2

iTrader: (6)

And here are two pics of the detector placement. I was thinking of putting it up near the rearview, but I'm not quite sure yet if I want it way up there. The wire coming up from the dash isn't the cleanest, but it really doesn't look too bad... especially when the NAV screen is up.

rotor_man

Olorin, what did you use to attach the smart cord to the dash?

Olorin2

iTrader: (6)

rotor_man: Sorry for the late reply. I just used a piece of the velcro that came with the smartcord. I'd like to use something different, because the velcro is too flexible on the small surface area and the thing moves around a lot.

Btw, I've since moved my detector up to just under the rearview mirror. It was very easy to run the cable up the weather stripping, A-pillar and across the roof lining. Plus, I get a little better radar detection now.

LiL BenNy

Direct-Wire Power Adapter Kit
Item 00030

Direct-wire power adapter (Item 20305) and a Straight power cord (Item 20311) together at a reduced price.

is this the right thing to get if i want to hardwire like the DIY states?

dwynne

This is for a Valetine V1?

A new V1 should come with both of these items - the direct power tap and a couple of non-coiled cords. Did you not get these with yours?

That is what you use to hard-wire a V1, but you should not have to pay extra for them - unless you are hard-wiring more than one car. You need the remote display ($39 and includes another 8' cord and a 3" cord) as well to really make the install slick. Mine is Velcro'd on top of the steering column where I can glance an it easily.

Dennis

LiL BenNy

i got my used and only came with cig liter so i just want to doubt check if thats teh right item before i purchase it

heres the parts list link
https://store.valentine1.com/store/d...gory=partsdept

i just recieved my radar today so i wanna get this installed asap so once im positive of the parts i need im gonig to place my order.

dwynne

As long as you have a fairly current V1, then that is what you need. Get that kit (hard wire adapter and 8' cable) and then go ahead at spend the $39 for the remote display. That is what makes it sweet!

Direct-Wire Power Adapter Kit
Item 00030

Mount the V1 up above the mirror and it about can't be seen from behind and will be totally dark (with the remote display). You can also drop down the sunglass holder door to completely concel the detector (but would block rear laser).

Dennis

cLLcLe

I messed up >.<
Anyone know where to get that blue quick splice clip? I looked all over the place and I couldn't find it....

PPMouze

Radioshack?

zenmoused

Hey guys, I have a Uniden radar detector that was given to me, and I can't really justify getting a V1. Currently it is powered by the curly cord that came with it, which plugs in with a standard round connector to the unit. I have it suction-cupped to the winsheild under the mirror, with the cord tucked around the center console plastic, and eventually into the cig lighter. It's really ugly, and requires that my lighter door is partway open all the time. Any ideas on how to get this hooked up to some power in a less hideous way?