DIY: Radar Detector Hard Wire Installation - Always On
 

Below is my DIY for a Series 2 Radar Detector Hardwire Installation

First, you will need the following tools.

• Phillips Screw Driver
• Butter Knife or Smooth Narrow Edge
• Vampire Clip
• Pliers
• Socket Wrench Set
• Electrical Tape (only if you mess up)
• A BEvERage

Step 1 - Remove the Map Light Compartment
This is done by first removing the two Phillips screws. After they have been removed and placed to the side so you don't lose them you will need to work out the whole compartment. There are two metal clips holding it in. One on each side towards the rear of the compartment that can be pinched using a butter knife or other small smooth narrow edge. Be careful not to damage your compartment or trim.
Take your time and just slowly work out the compartment starting near the front (windshield) side and working your way back. It might not come easily but patience will pay off.

Attachment 241221


Step 2 - Disconnect the Map Light Harness
There is a simple quick connect harness to remove.
Attachment 241222

Step 3 - Prepare the Wires
Using some scissors carefully cut back the protective barrier around the four wires. This will give you room to work. You can re-tape this barrier with electrical tape later if you wish.
Attachment 241223

Step 4 - Attaching the Radar Detector Hot Wire
Use a vampire clip to connect your radar detector's hot (usually red) wire to the blue and red striped wire within the harness. This is where needle nosed pliers come in handy to ensure you get a fully paired set of wires within the vampire clip.
Attachment 241224

Step 5 - Add Ground Wire
Using a socket wrench remove one of the three bolts from within the compartment and attach your ground or neutral (usually black) wire. This is now a great time to test if your detector will work so power up your radar detector connecting the telephone wires to test.
Attachment 241225

Step 6 - Location Location Location
This is a personal choice step but I fed the telephone wire back through the map light compartment to the windshield side and ran down near the existing rear view mirror ensemble (lol I wanted to say ensemble so bad earlier). I then tucked all wires and additional telephone cord back into the overhead map light compartment area.
Attachment 241226
Attachment 241227

Step 7 - Re-assembly
Simply re-assemble all parts in the reverse order and mount the radar detector and plug it in.
Attachment 241228


**Note that this particular installation is for the Valentine One radar detector but it should be very similar for all telephone jack wired detectors.

Sub ref.

I like the DIY & I've always been curious about laser detectors and laser Jammers.

Mostly if it works.

radar detector is illegal in some states.

it's a nice DIY btw ;)

I've had the Valentine One for about six months. It's warned me of at least 10 speed traps that I've avoided when speeding. I have gotten one ticket with it from a pop laser radar trap. It warned me but not until I got hit with the laser.

I think it gives a more relaxed peace of mind while speeding. Less omg omg where are the cops omg follow someone kinda driving lol. Just cruise and do NOT ignore the little beeps.

Nice DIY

However, I think the V-one is the only radar detector that uses telephone jacks for power (& accessories) However, the V- one is still the best detector out there. period.

Yep, radar detectors are Illegal in some states, in DC, and in all military installations.

Laser detectors only tell you when you have already been tagged (But laser jammers can actually help, and MAY be legal in some places, unlike radar Jammers, which are federally prohibited by the FCC)

I would LOVE to get a V-one, but they are $$$

All detectors are illegal in Australia also..

What's with the new car Ash?

Well.................:)

I always wanted an MX-5 as a "summer car", and seeing Mazda had some issues with the Tsunami and lack of car sales, I thought I would do my share...lol

No, really, as I said always wanted one, my dad passed away last October and left me some money, Mazda just brought out the "Special Edition" around the world and with the extras here at no extra charge (Bilsteins, stiffer sway bars, a bit of extra interior chrome plastic, gray leather, and Dolphin Gray Mica paint only used on the CX-9)...only other two colours here were Sparkling Black (mica) and Silver...I will only buy Mica paint as Mazda puts and extra layer of clear coat to their normal solid or metallic paint which the Silver is.

So, I made my move about 3 months ago, I actually loathed this colour in the CX-9, but it REALLY suits the style of the MX-5...It has that classic look IMO, a really unusual mica color, a bit like the Stormy Blue mica, DG in the shade it looks green like, in the sun more silver gray, unusual.

You basically get the MX-5 (sports here) without the Recaro's and the extra $4K (here), Recaro's are really good in the 5, but, getting in and out is a task for this old bloke with a bad back.
Plus in Australia we only have the choice of Black interiors, again the Gray Leather is different, and only 75 sold here.

Only just got my camera working again, so others asked about a pic and here it is...
Still have my 8 (keeper IMO), this is my garage.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...8&d=1315699254

Sorry about your loss, Ash.

Damn you have a fantastic garage, it looks like a place where you could easily work on your cars. I'm envious actually.

Thanks and yeah it's not too bad, I cant open both doors full only about half, so depends on how you park car, move car over a foot and a door can open fully.

I did this a while back in my R3 and just for reference after getting my multimeter out and testing numerous wires I found that the black/yellow wire in the homelink harness is a 12v ignition wire so If you tap into that one it only turns the detector on when the car is on.

Excellent! I used this guide to provide permanent power for my GoPro. I got creative and soldered some wires to a 5V USB adapter that I salvaged, wrapped the whole thing in electrical tape and mounted the hacked 5V adapter to the underside of the roof.

I want to replace the GoPro with a different dedicated dash cam for daily driving and it will work sooooo much better with ignition power. Thank you sugarfree!

Dashcam hard wire.
 

Used this method (original post) to hard wire my Snooper DashCam. Awesome. Thanks for the post. 👍🏼

For cars it is now only illegal in Washington DC and Virginia. Many states have banned them for truckers. And even in DC and Virginia you must have the detector "on" when stopped by a cop to get a citation. Cops are not allowed to confiscate it.

For cars it is now only illegal in Washington DC and Virginia. But many states have banned radar detectors for truckers. And even in DC and Virginia you must have the detector "on" when stopped by a cop to get a citation. Cops are no longer allowed to confiscate it.

Separately ,nine states have state laws specifically banning laser jammers: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

I too love my Valentine One radar/laser detector and have never gotten a speeding ticket with it in use. (knock on wood !)

I know this is an old thread but wanted to add a bit of info for this install. Specifically related to the power source. I found that on a S2 GT there is an ignition on wire that leads to the map light / switch. It is the pink wire with the black stripe. This allows you to leave the radar detector on, and when you turn on the car, it too will turn on. And when you turn off the car, it too turns off. I've circled it in yellow so it's easy to see.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...659c7748e.jpeg

With some double sided velcro I was able to tuck it above the mirror and away from your field of view.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...1b616a4a4d.png
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...b65602d6b.jpeg