Advice for custom hardwire

[LookOut4TheYeti]

Alright, I finally picked up the hardwire kit for my x50. I want to take it apart so its nothing but the internal board with the led's and mute button, and drill 3 holes somewhere in my interior and have the circuit board behind it. The hard part is for me to decide where I want to have this. The harder part, and the reason I'm posting is this:

How exactly should I go about securing the circuit board behind the interior/dash panel? It needs to be fairly sturdy so that it won't move when repeatedly pressing the mute button from day to day. Maybe I'm having a brain fart, but I can't really think of any logical way to support/mount it. Any tips from others who have done a similar install?


EDIT: Also, I want to put a switch on it so I can turn it on and off when I want. I will give it power from a source that is only on when the car is on, but I want to still be able to turn it off while the car is on if I want to. Should I put the switch on the power or the ground cable? The power cable is fused if it makes a difference.

[dpatel01]

Im a little confused...do you want something like a remote install? If so then get a true remote RD although it'll be more pricey. I personally wouldnt take apart the RD and stick the internals in the dash somewhere because it wouldn't have anywhere to look out of to scan for signals. Maybe I misinterpreted your question...If so, please give some more details of what you're trying to do.

[REBinc]

^^ I think you mis-interpreted, what I got is he wants to take apart the display on the hardwire.

I don't a type of Escort that can use this kit, but from what I learned with my V1, its not always convenient to have the lights and the mute next to each other. You want the lights to be in your vision, but the mute to be close at hand. I ended up putting the display (lights) right by my speedometer, and the mute right by my shifter.

If you take it apart, I would also recommend separating the mute switch. If you do this, you could buy a through-hole type momentary switch that would probably be easier to mount.

As for your kill switch, either would work I believe, but it would be safer to have it on the power so it doesn't find anywhere else to ground.

[dpatel01]

Thanks for clearing that up, REB.

LookOut4TheYeti,
Sorry for not understanding your question the first time. Looking at the internal circuit board inside the smartcord, there doesnt seem to be much space to run screws through it. The orientation of the board relative to the LEDs and mute button seems awkward but maybe you can rotate the LEDs so the circuit board is in a parallel plane to the mounting surface, which would make it easier to mount.
If you haven't taken the smartcord apart yet, here are pictures of the circuit board http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=13383 along with a schematic which shows how the mute button fits in if you really want to start taking things apart. As for the kill switch, I'd recommended putting it on the power side as REB said.

[CJR238]

You may be able to keep the hard wire mute/light casing in tact and add a small switch to it or just add the switch to the board. You can than use the switch mounting screw or bracket to hold it in place.

[LookOut4TheYeti]

Thanks for clearing that up, REB.

LookOut4TheYeti,
Sorry for not understanding your question the first time. Looking at the internal circuit board inside the smartcord, there doesnt seem to be much space to run screws through it. The orientation of the board relative to the LEDs and mute button seems awkward but maybe you can rotate the LEDs so the circuit board is in a parallel plane to the mounting surface, which would make it easier to mount.
If you haven't taken the smartcord apart yet, here are pictures of the circuit board http://www.radardetector.net/viewtopic.php?t=13383 along with a schematic which shows how the mute button fits in if you really want to start taking things apart. As for the kill switch, I'd recommended putting it on the power side as REB said.

Yea I took it apart the other day and looked at it, and I too thought about turning the leds and mounting everything parallel. I think I'm gonna dig around in my car a little more today and see what I can come up with.

[LookOut4TheYeti]

You may be able to keep the hard wire mute/light casing in tact and add a small switch to it or just add the switch to the board. You can than use the switch mounting screw or bracket to hold it in place.

From the link in your sig



Thats what I want to do with mine, but I don't want to make a plate for it like that. I want it to look clean, and stock. How did you go about securing the circuit board behind the metal plate?

[REBinc]

lacning74 has the best version of this, if i can find his thread I'll link it.



http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...ht=mini+cooper





He had a devoted thread before, can't find it now though.

Also, for me, a crap load of silicon is a good solution for any problem

[CJR238]

You may be able to keep the hard wire mute/light casing in tact and add a small switch to it or just add the switch to the board. You can than use the switch mounting screw or bracket to hold it in place.

From the link in your sig



Thats what I want to do with mine, but I don't want to make a plate for it like that. I want it to look clean, and stock. How did you go about securing the circuit board behind the metal plate?

There was actually a empty switch plate that had a bracket behind it. I totally butchered it, so i put a plate in front of it. The plate actually helped because the mute button was sticking out too far.
Do you have any empty switches with a cosmetic plate covering it?

Im working on a new one from a new cosmetic plate.

[fire65]

Finally got my custom install done on my 06 GMC pickup. Installed 4 rocker switches for my CB, RD and scanner. I will hopefully put up the pics tomorrow. Whats the best way to show 8 or 10 pics?