Pickup power dirver's side
 

Installing a GPS based radar/laser detector - going OK - but i want to pickup power (hardwired) somewhere around (behind) the centre console/steering wheel (or possibly drivers seat)

Can anyone point me in the right direction - I cant see how to get into the center console/accessory socket at all - and don't want to hurt my new baby.

Thanks In Advance

PS. Should have mentioned its an RHD (UK) car

nickax

Here are some ideas. I'm sure there are many more that you can search for on this forum. There are some great pixs is you search around.

1 - The cigarette lighter is a possible location for 12V on the console.

2 - The connectors on the rear of the radio have the 12V B+ (always hot), ACC (key switched power) and ground (or you can ground to chassis metal)

3 - You can pick up power from the front of the fuse panel at the drivers foot (US vehicles) using those handy little fuse clips from Radio Shack or a car parts outlets (some people don't use these because they slightly spread/weaken the receptive pin in the fuse panel). Page 8-41 of the owner’s manual lists the fuse # and function. You will find always hot 12 volts there as well as key switched (ACC) 12 volts. I assume your radar detector requires the ACC connection that goes ON/OFF with the key unless it has some additional functions that require an always on source too.

4 - Likewise, you can also pick up power BEHIND the fuse panel at the driver’s foot (US vehicles). You have to remove the footrest (easy, just two nuts) and the front side trim scuff plate to obtain access to the wires going to the back of the fuse panel You can simply use a vampire clip to tap onto the wire.

5 - The 54 pin connector located a few inches behind the fuse panel also has the points you need.
Note: If you install the Mazda foot lamp option, the Mazda instructions direct you to you use vampire clips (supplied) to pick up B+ from the Blue/Red wire going to the 54 pin connector and the Black/Blue wire happens to be the door switch wire.

6 - Some people drill through the firewall to pick up power from the fuse panel in the engine compartment near the battery. The fuses in this panel are detailed on page 8-39 of the owner's manual. I think I saw a post on this within the past couple days.

7 - I don't know if adapters are available (yet) for this car but for ease of installation (and sometimes to avoid warrantee issues) many professional installers (e.g. SAT Radio, Cell Phone hand free, etc.) like to use adapter cables. You just unplug the OEM connector from the back of the radio and plug the adapter cable between the radio and the OEM cable (think extension cord here). Now you can solder or attach vampire clips to the new wires in the adapter cable instead of connecting to OEM wiring. This doesn't always avoid warrantee issues if the service manager wants to be a jerk but it helps.

What is a "GPS based radar/laser detector?" It somehow uses positioning satellite to avoid police?

I would use the fues in the fues box that is dedicated to adding accessories. It's there for this purpose. I'll add a pic from the V1 hard wire thread.

i too would like to know more abou the GPS radar detector. Is it strictly a combination unit with both a GPS and a radar detector? Or did someone finally come up with a memory in a radar detector using a GPS to store places where radar typically goes off and only notify if the situation changes. this would greatly reduce false alarms in know areas. The V1 does a great job reducing false alarms with the three settings it has, but still could be better. Like with the addition of what I described here. :) Doubt it's the case, but would certinaly like to know more.

Clikc here for image on V1 post.


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Anyonw know why I can't use the https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?postid=186825 tages to pic up a pic that was added to a post?
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GPS radar detectors use a simple GPS unit and memory in a radar detector to keep track of the particular signature of radar in a particular location. If it receives the same signal in the same location too often, it considers it a false (automatic door, etc.). That's about it.

---jps

Sputnik - Mine doesn't work quite like that
It has no radar detector as such (sorry if i created confusion) - There is a GPS reciever - and a small box of tricks (with LCD display memory and serial port) that can be removed and plugged into your PC to update the internal database of fixed camera locations.
Very accurate - no false alarms but obviously needs to be kept up to date - subscription to downloads for the UK database is £60.
The unit has a laser detector for mobile traps - and can support a radar detector and a laser diffuser. Probably overkill for me - don't really drive like a nutter - but I can't resist a gadget.

The units called Origin B2 - shouldn't take much finding on Google if you're interested

Whealy - thanks for that pic
The fuse box is passenger side on a RHD (UK) car - probably still the best place to tap in - just not sure how i get it accross the tunnel (its dark, cold and wet out there now - and i'm not going out to look)

nickax,

No problem. I assume a moderator adjusted my post for the link. As for a RHD, sorry no point of reference to help out. Just be sure and tie it up or when it sags down, it will find the shoe of the next passenger pulling itself loose for sure.

Good luck.

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******MODERATOR QUESTION ************************
Anyonw know why I can't use the https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?postid=186825 tages to pic up a pic that was added to a post?
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Not sure why, but try using it with URL ..../URL tags instead. The URL seems to work when I copy it to the browser address line.

bobclevenger,

Yeah. I beleive that's what a moderator did to my original post as I didn't haev the link. It works, but doesn't display the picture as I would like. Oh well, it will work for now.

Thanks for the info.