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Steal Power From Rearview Mirror for Radar?

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Old 04-06-2007, 04:57 AM
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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?
Old 04-06-2007, 05:11 AM
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That is how I have it:



The factory shop manual has the wiring for the mirror.
Old 04-06-2007, 05:13 AM
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Don't suppose you have a copy? :-)
Old 04-06-2007, 05:19 AM
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On my site.
Old 04-06-2007, 05:26 AM
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OK can i have the "password"? Or can you just send me the pdf?
Old 04-06-2007, 06:56 AM
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http://rotaryinsider.com/rx8-60.html
Old 04-06-2007, 10:48 AM
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(subscribing)

If you tap the home link power, will the radar detector only be on when the car is on?
Old 04-06-2007, 10:49 AM
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you didn't read the DIY link...
Old 04-06-2007, 10:55 AM
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I can't...it's filtered by my work as "adult content" so hence why I had to ask a stupid questoin.
Old 04-06-2007, 11:09 AM
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i tap into the wire that only powers when the car is powered up
Old 04-06-2007, 12:07 PM
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^^ Yes.
Old 04-06-2007, 01:41 PM
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Very nice DIY mysql101!!!
Old 05-19-2007, 06:22 PM
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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?
Old 05-19-2007, 07:20 PM
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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.
Old 05-19-2007, 07:37 PM
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Cool 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
Old 05-19-2007, 08:39 PM
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yeah... laser detection is worthless. Get a jammer if you want some protection in that arena
Old 05-19-2007, 09:08 PM
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Great DIY, I'll be doing this as soon as mine is out of the shop.
Old 08-15-2007, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by StealthTL
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
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.
Old 08-15-2007, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by firebirdude
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.
Old 08-19-2007, 10:58 PM
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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 ??
Old 08-19-2007, 11:55 PM
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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
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