Surge Protection...

ES13Raven · 11-14-2005, 09:10 PM

Now that I have invested a couple hundred dollars in a quality detector, I want to protect my investment.

Is the in-line fuse that comes with the direct-wire kit good enough for surge protection?

I want to be able to turn the car on and have the RX65 turn on with the ignition, which is how I have been running it. When I turn off the car, the power to the detector turns off as well. I ran the direct wire kit to the radio fuse tap.

Are there any problems with running it this way? Does this lead to the Self Calibration or Service Required messages, or are those from the detector being in the heat for too long?

**aust3333** · 11-14-2005, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by ES13Raven

Now that I have invested a couple hundred dollars in a quality detector, I want to protect my investment.

Is the in-line fuse that comes with the direct-wire kit good enough for surge protection?

I want to be able to turn the car on and have the RX65 turn on with the ignition, which is how I have been running it. When I turn off the car, the power to the detector turns off as well. I ran the direct wire kit to the radio fuse tap.

Are there any problems with running it this way? Does this lead to the Self Calibration or Service Required messages, or are those from the detector being in the heat for too long?

I run the exact same setup but I try and not have power to the detector when the car is being started or turned off. There are many variations of voltage going through your car at startup and powering down in which I think is having an adverse affect on the Belscort products. Many have discussed this issue in the past, but most blame failures on Heat. This seems to be Bels only answer to the ongoing issues with their products (Heat). It can be a pain to power down and unplug your unit each time before you start or stop your car, but this is what I do in order to try an obtain longevity. I agree that this should not have to be done, but until Bel comes up with a concrete solution, this is the procedure I go through on a daily basis with of course the occassional slip up. I can't possible remember to do this every time, but I try and make it my daily routine.

ES13Raven · 11-15-2005, 10:49 AM

Well, I called Bel this morning and asked them the same thing.

They said that there is no problem with running it that way, and that it is actually the optimal way to run it.

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 11-15-2005, 11:49 AM

I turn off my detector as well as remove the power cord when not using

**squonk** · 11-15-2005, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by aust3333

Originally Posted by ES13Raven

Now that I have invested a couple hundred dollars in a quality detector, I want to protect my investment.

Is the in-line fuse that comes with the direct-wire kit good enough for surge protection?

I want to be able to turn the car on and have the RX65 turn on with the ignition, which is how I have been running it. When I turn off the car, the power to the detector turns off as well. I ran the direct wire kit to the radio fuse tap.

Are there any problems with running it this way? Does this lead to the Self Calibration or Service Required messages, or are those from the detector being in the heat for too long?

I run the exact same setup but I try and not have power to the detector when the car is being started or turned off. There are many variations of voltage going through your car at startup and powering down in which I think is having an adverse affect on the Belscort products. Many have discussed this issue in the past, but most blame failures on Heat. This seems to be Bels only answer to the ongoing issues with their products (Heat). It can be a pain to power down and unplug your unit each time before you start or stop your car, but this is what I do in order to try an obtain longevity. I agree that this should not have to be done, but until Bel comes up with a concrete solution, this is the procedure I go through on a daily basis with of course the occassional slip up. I can't possible remember to do this every time, but I try and make it my daily routine.

That is exactly what I do too. I actually get PO'd at myself when I forget and the thing powers on when I start my car. I have been getting better with it..........it is like a routine now when I start or stop my car. I think it is the only way to protect it. If we have anyone that is good with electronics it would be great if someone could design a voltage regulator circuit for the Beltronics/Escort products.

**aust3333** · 11-15-2005, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by ES13Raven

Well, I called Bel this morning and asked them the same thing.

They said that there is no problem with running it that way, and that it is actually the optimal way to run it.

To each is own ES13Raven, but Bel has said numerous things that I found to be questionable. Although running your detector the way that you do is ideal, I just don't feel comfortable doing so. With the other Belscort users in this forum using the power down and unplug method, It would be interesting to see how long we can go without receiving the dreaded "service required" message, and better yet if we receive the message at all. Good luck.

**stalker** · 11-15-2005, 10:45 PM

you will notice that the ACC power turns off when u start the car anyway....ive ran detectors like that for 6 years and never had a problem

**aust3333** · 11-15-2005, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by stalker

you will notice that the ACC power turns off when u start the car anyway....ive ran detectors like that for 6 years and never had a problem

Yeah but I don't think the ACC power cuts off completely. There are surges going through it at that time. I don't know but I think there is a problem with the newer Belscort products in this regard. If my memory serves me correctly, you had to send your RX65 back because of a service required message didn't you Stalker? This maybe something to think about.

**stalker** · 11-15-2005, 11:28 PM

yeah i did, but that was in my old car, i had that wired differently, It was only on when i turned it on, never whilst starting or turning off the motor...

I only really used that on country roads so it was never exposed to the surges experienced by starting the motor...

**aust3333** · 11-16-2005, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by stalker

yeah i did, but that was in my old car, i had that wired differently, It was only on when i turned it on, never whilst starting or turning off the motor...

I only really used that on country roads so it was never exposed to the surges experienced by starting the motor...

If the detector is plugged in but not powered on, while starting the car I have noticed a popping noise that comes from the RX65 so I am assuming that power is flowing through it.