Radar Detector Hard Wire Installation?

[SaratogaLefty]

I have a Dream on order and I’m curious if anyone has found a way to hard wire a radar detector? In my last car (Porsche Panamera) I had it hardwired from the fuse box (under dash) and then up the A Pillar and inside the headliner. Obviously this won’t work on the Dream but maybe there is a way to connect through the back of the rear view mirror?? I know this was possible on a number of other cars but don’t know about the Dream? Any thoughts?

 

[hydbob]

From what I was told by the service guys, there's a fuse cluster in the box behind the rear view mirror. Obviously, they advised against opening that up at all, so if you fully trust your tech doing the install, that would be your perogative.

 

[SaratogaLefty]

So after my test drive I have a plan for using the radar detector. I bought a converter on Amazon that provides a USB connection attached to a lighter socket accessory. I will have to mount the detector using the suction cups and run the provided coiled cord (which I was hoping to avoid with a hard wire installation) down to the center console USB connection point. Then when I park the car in public, I can just remove it from the windshield and place it under the lower screen in the "secret" compartment out of sight. Not the best solution, but workable.

 

[njg-agt]

SaratogaLefty, any update to report on how this has worked out? I hope to use the same approach with my Escort Redline 360c. I read on another thread that their Max 360c works, but that other detectors have failed to work due to window coatings.

 

[Bbamrah]

We ran a wire to the cigarette lighter in the trunk. It’s switched

 

[SaratogaLefty]

SaratogaLefty, any update to report on how this has worked out? I hope to use the same approach with my Escort Redline 360c. I read on another thread that their Max 360c works, but that other detectors have failed to work due to window coatings.

I was unable to get my Valentine Gen2 to work even from the small clear “window “ lower right on the windshield. Borski and hmp10 both did hard wire remote but I’m very reluctant to have someone tear my car apart. Saw that post about the Escort 360 but I’m very skeptical it actually works properly but then again maybe?? It was my intent to run a wire to the rear socket in the trunk but since it didn’t work anywhere on the windshield I gave up and sold the Valentine.

 

[hydbob]

We ran a wire to the cigarette lighter in the trunk. It’s switched

Does switched mean it goes off when the car is off and on when the car is on?

 

[Bbamrah]

Correct. Stealth install is the best. Certainly more money but dont have to deal with windshield. Escort, Stinger, ALP etc …

 

[borski]

I was unable to get my Valentine Gen2 to work even from the small clear “window “ lower right on the windshield. Borski and hmp10 both did hard wire remote but I’m very reluctant to have someone tear my car apart. Saw that post about the Escort 360 but I’m very skeptical it actually works properly but then again maybe?? It was my intent to run a wire to the rear socket in the trunk but since it didn’t work anywhere on the windshield I gave up and sold the Valentine.

If you use the guys at Sound Innovations you’ll be fine; they’re now experts since they tore mine apart. Honestly, it looks brand new. Not a single rattle or creak, and the system works fantastically.

I also have the Santa Monica fabric if you need it; I just shipped some off to someone else on the forum too haha

 

[SaratogaLefty]

If you use the guys at Sound Innovations you’ll be fine; they’re now experts since they tore mine apart. Honestly, it looks brand new. Not a single rattle or creak, and the system works fantastically.

I also have the Santa Monica fabric if you need it; I just shipped some off to someone else on the forum too haha

I will have to meet up with you again and have a look at the installation. Then maybe?? We still need to put together a group ride sometime soon. Wish I could have come up to Palo Alto today but just couldn't do it.

 

[SaratogaLefty]

I will have to meet up with you again and have a look at the installation. Then maybe?? We still need to put together a group ride sometime soon. Wish I could have come up to Palo Alto today but just couldn't do it.

Maybe we could meet up again at the Valley Fair charging station sometime later this week?

 

[borski]

Maybe we could meet up again at the Valley Fair charging station sometime later this week?

I can make that work! Text me.

 

[SaratogaLefty]

I'll hit you through Telegram once I know which day I'm planning to head over there.

 

[lwong]

If there is a fuse box behind the rear view mirror I wonder if you can use a "mirror tap"? Provided there is an ignition fuse back there or the mirror itself.

 

[lwong]

My Valentine V1 does not work and just ordered a Uniden R7. If that does not work guess I will get the Max 360 if it works in our cars. I for one cannot drive without a radar detector and am unwilling to pay 10k to have one installed. Although I can get the Escort custom installed at a decent price but read somewhere it does not work well due to the lidar, unless you don't install the laser jammers.

 

[SaratogaLefty]

So I am using the Valentine V1 Gen 2 with the USB adapter to cigarette lighter socket. I did have to turn off the laser detection feature and also shut down the K band detection. The Ka functions very well. Since K band is almost non existent in California and laser detection is essentially useless anyway, I am happy with using just Ka band.

 

[bobofat]

If there is a fuse box behind the rear view mirror I wonder if you can use a "mirror tap"? Provided there is an ignition fuse back there or the mirror itself.

I was wondering the same thing, if there is an adapter that can be tapped into. Would be a much cleaner install and much short wire needed to power the detector. I have the Uniden R8. Also trying to see if a mirror mount can be attached so I don't have to use a suction cup mount, but its a tight spot with little space between the mirror and the windshield.

 

[borski]

So I am using the Valentine V1 Gen 2 with the USB adapter to cigarette lighter socket. I did have to turn off the laser detection feature and also shut down the K band detection. The Ka functions very well. Since K band is almost non existent in California and laser detection is essentially useless anyway, I am happy with using just Ka band.

Laser detection isn’t useless if you also have jammers fitted, but you’d have to custom install that.

 

[lwong]

I get my car back from the PPF/tint shop tomorrow and will check it out. I use the blend mount and mirror tap on all my cars. Based on looking at the rear view mirror stock the blend mount could work as you need at least 1" of stock to attach the universal mount. As far as the fuse box dunno. I am having the service techs coming to the house this Friday and will pick their brain at that time and will report back. There has to be a way to do this. Unless, there just is no ignition wire which is hard to believe, my Tesla has even one. Worst case, I drag a wire from the rear 12 volt socket.

 

[bobofat]

I get my car back from the PPF/tint shop tomorrow and will check it out. I use the blend mount and mirror tap on all my cars. Based on looking at the rear view mirror stock the blend mount could work as you need at least 1" of stock to attach the universal mount. As far as the fuse box dunno. I am having the service techs coming to the house this Friday and will pick their brain at that time and will report back. There has to be a way to do this. Unless, there just is no ignition wire which is hard to believe, my Tesla has even one. Worst case, I drag a wire from the rear 12 volt socket.

I may have to get a blend mount. I've been using a no name brand in my other car, but the screws come up too high for me to use in the lucid. Let me know what you find out about a potential spot to tap into.