Steal Power From Rearview Mirror for Radar?
 

My car has the homelink buttons in the rear view mirror (do all RX-8s these days, i don't even know?). I'm wondering if I can splice into the wires and power my radar detector, so I don't have the power cable hanging all over my dashboard? Preferably without hurting/disabling the homelink buttons themselves?

That is how I have it:

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/images/rx...s/displays.jpg

The factory shop manual has the wiring for the mirror.

Don't suppose you have a copy? :-)

On my site.

OK can i have the "password"? Or can you just send me the pdf?

(subscribing)

If you tap the home link power, will the radar detector only be on when the car is on?

you didn't read the DIY link...

I can't...it's filtered by my work as "adult content" so hence why I had to ask a stupid questoin. :(

i tap into the wire that only powers when the car is powered up

^^ Yes.

Very nice DIY mysql101!!!

So I have a question. I haven't actually done this mod yet but I probably will soon. In the DIY article linked to above, they place the detector behind the black spotted stuff on the windshield, up above the rear view mirror. How does this effect its performance vs putting it below the rear view mirror, and behind plain clear glass like most people put it?

I wouldn't be able to tell you without having a radar gun to detect and moving the detector above and below the line.

Perhaps you can test yourself by going to a store that has the automatic doors that can trigger false alarms, raise and lower the detector and see if it hampers the signal.

I haven't noticed any issues though.

No radar issue.....
 

There is no difference caused by the black stuff, and the higher position gets it out of the way, with better performance when cresting a hill.

HOWEVER, the laser reception will be poor-to-none up there. I don't use it for laser, works for me.:)

S

yeah... laser detection is worthless. Get a jammer if you want some protection in that arena :)

Great DIY, I'll be doing this as soon as mine is out of the shop.

I wondered about the black stuff as well. How could performance NOT be degraded? And how is just laser reception poor? Sorry for the noob questions I guess. Maybe I'd be better just mounting it below the mirror.

Radar is a radio signal that will easily pass through materials that you can't see through. There may be a 1 or 2 dB degradation, but nothing significant.

what do i do with my valentine 1. The power supply uses a phone like jack that has 3 wires.. wich ones do i use ??

I put a V1 on my GF's MS3 and it was a breeze. It came with all the connectors and the installation couldn't have been simpler, a wire for ground and power. I have my radar of f to the side of the left side of the mirror