Author Topic: Hard wiring your Radar Detector to Rear View Mirror (Read 3892 times)

bluedevil · « **on:** January 27, 2008, 01:25:19 PM »

So i took this idea from another topic. http://www.invisicord.com/ offers this kit but is not available to Whistler units.

Whenever you decide to get rid of the AV,just pull the plugs and no harm done to the mirror.

I decided to take a ride to Radio Shack and experiment my own version.

I picked up a set of of:

-Heat-Shrink Tubing PN#278-1610
-Crimp-Type D-Sub Connector PN#276-1429

Total Cost = $6.44

Opened and enlarged picture of the pins

The idea is to cut those pins off the connectors. Use whatever i need out of them,crimp them to the radar detector power cord and push them into the rear view mirror power source behind it.

Im in the process of doing this mod at the moment so ill check back later with illustrated and how-to pics.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2008, 01:27:37 PM »

rear view mirror power source?? Now I gotta go look at mine.

boilers94 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2008, 01:52:31 PM »

Good idea, BD!! Can't wait to see the final product!!

bluedevil · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2008, 02:40:16 PM »

Installation How-To

Locate desired position of your radar detector. I placed mine here cuz here is where i want it.

Cut Power Cord to desired lenght. I cut mine 8" long. Thats all i need.

Strip jacket 2" and strip pos & neg atleast 1"

Break off 2 pins. Thas all youre going to need for the surgery. (these pins are used on computers and such)

Crimp down the connectors to the power cord leads.

Why not. Place some Heat_Shrink tubing and heat it to shrink but dont burn it. ( Sure beats using tape.)

Now the easy part starts here: Pull the plug off the rear view mirror. You might want to move the mirror away for better access. I performed this from the passenger side.
Insert Black Pin to Black lead source in the plug and insert Red to Yellow lead source in the plug. Push firmly.

Insert the plug back to the mirror

Plug the power cord to the radar detector and start vehicle. Wolla!

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2008, 02:49:59 PM »

Blue, that's awesome..RadioShack here i come.

bluedevil · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2008, 02:51:48 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 27, 2008, 02:49:59 PM

Blue, that's awesome..RadioShack here i come.

Thanx. My wife liked it so much that she want hers done on the minivan

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2008, 02:53:07 PM »

Hmmm...Minivan with a radar detector.....

bluedevil · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2008, 02:54:44 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 27, 2008, 02:53:07 PM

Hmmm...Minivan with a radar detector.....

Is my wife we're talking here. She has a foot of steel

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2008, 03:04:26 PM »

Mine has an Odyssey and that thing will fly. Twiggy (my wife and newest member) likes to push it sometimes but not too bad.

boilers94 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2008, 03:11:47 PM »

BD, that looks nice!! Excellent write up as well!!!

bluedevil · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2008, 09:11:39 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 27, 2008, 02:49:59 PM

Blue, that's awesome..RadioShack here i come.

Well?....did you get them?

bluedevil · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2008, 04:07:34 PM »

Well.....i have to say that it worked today from the location it is on. (Cop with a radar gun on school zone).

Im happy with the results.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:11:42 PM »

YUP! Thanks again

bluedevil · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:20:36 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 28, 2008, 05:11:42 PM

YUP! Thanks again

lol....very cool obb.

bluedevil · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:22:43 PM »

OK...wheres Peggy? I want to spend her money

bluedevil · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:23:24 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 28, 2008, 05:11:42 PM

YUP! Thanks again

What pins did you use? The same ones i posted?

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:26:30 PM »

Quote from: BlueDevil on January 28, 2008, 05:23:24 PM

What pins did you use? The same ones i posted?

Yep, and I probably had something in the back of my work van I could have scavaged. LOL. It was only $3. I thought I had some shrink wrap at home but it was too big to I taped them. I did have to go at that plug with a test light though. the pix doesn't show real clear which + pin you used.

bluedevil · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:30:02 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 28, 2008, 05:26:30 PM

Yep, and I probably had something in the back of my work van I could have scavaged. LOL. It was only $3. I thought I had some shrink wrap at home but it was too big to I taped them. I did have to go at that plug with a test light though. the pix doesn't show real clear which + pin you used.

That cuz you didnt read it

NEG to Black,POS to Yellow lead.

boilers94 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:31:04 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 28, 2008, 05:11:42 PM

YUP! Thanks again

Looks good, OBB!!

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:32:15 PM »

funny thing blue... there's TWO yeller wires up there.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:33:54 PM »

oh sure. add that last pix after I post that shows the 2 yeller wires.

bluedevil · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:36:10 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 28, 2008, 05:33:54 PM

oh sure. add that last pix after I post that shows the 2 yeller wires.

Its in my post. Look for the image and how-to right above it in page 1.

boilers94 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:37:22 PM »

Sound like somebody needs some....... :cool:

RoarinRow · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2008, 05:40:05 PM »

Hard wire is the best!

Tanner · « **Reply #24 on:** March 05, 2009, 10:45:44 PM »

Awesome write up BD!

I was contemplating where and how I was going to do this, and you took all the guesswork away. Thanks!

P.S. -- If your detector is 360*, have you noticed if it works for radars coming from behind you? Just wondering if the overhead console got in the way.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #25 on:** March 06, 2009, 05:20:45 AM »

Quote from: Tanner on March 05, 2009, 10:45:44 PM

Awesome write up BD!
I was contemplating where and how I was going to do this, and you took all the guesswork away. Thanks!

P.S. -- If your detector is 360*, have you noticed if it works for radars coming from behind you? Just wondering if the overhead console got in the way.

My whistler was a 360 and my new cobra is also. Mine is mounted up high which will cut down on the range from the rear a little but I still get signals to it.

bluedevil · « **Reply #26 on:** March 06, 2009, 06:11:07 AM »

Very cool Tanner. Im glad you like the little mod. My radar setup works perfect

Darren · « **Reply #27 on:** March 06, 2009, 09:30:45 AM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on March 06, 2009, 05:20:45 AM

My whistler was a 360 and my new cobra is also. Mine is mounted up high which will cut down on the range from the rear a little but I still get signals to it.

It also depends on the quality of detector as well. If you are using a high end such as Escort or Valentine you will be able to pickup 360.

Tanner · « **Reply #28 on:** March 06, 2009, 01:36:53 PM »

Just got mine hooked up, works like a charm. Although my connector on the mirror was a lot different than yours, but I figured out where to put the pins. I'll post pics later as soon as I get the chance.

bluedevil · « **Reply #29 on:** March 14, 2009, 01:30:22 PM »

This mod is a hit

Look who else done it by this writeup.

http://www.truckforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8988

http://forums.pickuptrucks.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=564522&page=1

tdybr27 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 14, 2009, 01:52:15 PM »

Told ya we'd be popular soon enough.