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  1. #1
    Good Citizen
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    Default Mounting with the DirectWire SmartCord - X50

    I want to mount my X50 high on my windshield and more permanently but I still want to keep the Smartcord display. I'm looking to hardwire the DirectWire Smartcord into my car via my dome light and put the smart cord display around the dash area. Is this possible with the way it's sold or do I need to do some splicing to the wire when I get it? Only reason I ask is because it seems like the hardwire end of the DirectWire and the SmartCord end would need to go in opposite directions when I'm doing the setup. Anyone done this yet?

  2. #2
    Advanced Member
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    Default

    judgeing from the kit I have seen ut should be easy enough

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    Radar Detectors-V1 & BEL v995
    Laser Jammer-Laser Interceptor Quad
    GPS Camera Locator-Cheetah C100
    GPS Nav-Garmin nuvi w/Trapster
    CB Radio-Galaxy DX-949 w/Wilson 500
    Scanner-RS Pro-96

  3. #3
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    Default

    The kit comes with a 18-22Ga wire splice... stupid me I went and bought a fuse tap but the cord is like 6" too short to reach my fusebox from where I want to mount the display... so now I have to buy some wire...

    If I were you, I'd prolly splice into the lighter socket if you were putting the 'remote display" in the dash anywhere... I initially thought the fuse box was a great idea then when I got to ripping into the dash I was like... what the hell is wrong with me, the 12V lighter socket is RIGHT HERE!!

    Oh well.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kai445
    The kit comes with a 18-22Ga wire splice... stupid me I went and bought a fuse tap but the cord is like 6" too short to reach my fusebox from where I want to mount the display... so now I have to buy some wire...

    If I were you, I'd prolly splice into the lighter socket if you were putting the 'remote display" in the dash anywhere... I initially thought the fuse box was a great idea then when I got to ripping into the dash I was like... what the hell is wrong with me, the 12V lighter socket is RIGHT HERE!!

    Oh well.
    Problem with this is that I'm QUITE electronically challenged. I've never hardwired anything into my car before...or anywhere for that matter. Only reason I was choosing the dome light was because I heard others say that it already has a power wire AND a ground wire. Does the lighter socket have the same thing? Also, if I want to use the lighter socket as a power source for something else (anything, doesn't really matter) will that compromise the amount of power going to the detector, or the other accessory?

  5. #5
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    Default

    I don't think you'd have any power problems using the lighter socket since detectors don't draw all that much current. It will have 12V+ and ground, so if it's easy to get to I'd say go for it.

    My first electrical work ever was a new head unit in my first car. If I can make that work I'm sure you'll be able to this. If you're not careful you'll turn into me, always looking for something to mess with! :twisted:

  6. #6
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by brick
    I don't think you'd have any power problems using the lighter socket since detectors don't draw all that much current. It will have 12V+ and ground, so if it's easy to get to I'd say go for it.

    My first electrical work ever was a new head unit in my first car. If I can make that work I'm sure you'll be able to this. If you're not careful you'll turn into me, always looking for something to mess with! :twisted:
    Having you trying to explain how to get the power in the S70 seems advanced and head units are a walk in the park for me

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    Radar Detectors-V1 & BEL v995
    Laser Jammer-Laser Interceptor Quad
    GPS Camera Locator-Cheetah C100
    GPS Nav-Garmin nuvi w/Trapster
    CB Radio-Galaxy DX-949 w/Wilson 500
    Scanner-RS Pro-96

  7. #7
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    Default

    Head units on P1 Volvos are so easy...there's little finger handles on the stock stereo! For easy theft!

    Is hard-wiring from a dome light that hard with, say, the V1 kit? I'm not an electrical genius and I wouldn't want to hurt the car.

  8. #8
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    Depends on how hard it is to get to the wires...never tried the dome light myself. The positive wire on the V1 kit has a simple wire tap, so you just clamp it onto the correct wire and go. The ground wire is just a wire, though, I guess because they expect you to ground it to a bolt or something. You could either find a way to solder it in or perhaps radioshack would have another wire tap for you.

  9. #9
    Good Citizen
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    Default

    Yeah I found a screw under my dash that was perfectly suitable as a ground (I used the meter, touched red to fuse tap, black to screw and bam! 14.1v)

  10. #10

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    The only thing I can think of is make sure you don't tie in to the dome light circuit which is switched by opening/closing a door. A map light circuit, on the other hand, should have power all the time.

    Just my newbie 2 cents

    Me, personally, I bought a telephone patch cable and a coupler, and tucked it into the headliner of my truck, ran it down a trimpiece, and used the included SmartCord from my X50 in the cigarette lighter. Works like a charm, and the mute button is in an easy-to-reach place right by my shifter.

    Matt

    Escort Passport 8500 X50 (Red)

 

 

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