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?

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

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.

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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.

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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?

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:

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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:

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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

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

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.

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.

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)

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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Originally Posted by Vegas_Matt

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.

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I had thought about using an extension for my direct wire, were you able to find it in black? Not a huge deal but black would be better...

I did find a patch cord in black, a 7' one fit perfectly from my detector, to passenger side tucked into headliner, behind trim along the windshield, and just below the dash. I found it at a local electronics store (Fry's), but I'm not sure how commom RJ-11 couplers are at retailers like Best Buy and such. The coupler is white, but it is hidden out of sight, so no big deal there. Good Luck!

Matt

Passport X50 (Red)

Thanks for the info :D

I am going to make up a custom cigarette plug with a push button on it for the mute and one for the power so if i get a signal i just pust the button to kill the detector....as the BEL smartplug is to obvious to a cop that i have one....and thats a no no...

I'll be getting my DirectWire-Smartcord and my external speaker for the X50 on Tuesday from Roy. So now I have to find two power sources (speaker and detector). I figure I'll definitely use the power from the cigarette lighter for the detector. But, would it be problematic if I use the same source for the speaker? Or do I have to find another power source that's constantly on when the ignition is on?

Other than letting you reach the mute button does the "smart" cord actually do anything? Doesn't the detector already automute? Whats the point of keeping this "display?"

Automute just turns down the volume after a certain number of beeps, it doesn't shut if off.

I like the smartcord display because when I'm driving at night with the X50 in dark mode I can see when the detector is picking up a faint signal and holding onto it.

As the signal gets stronger, the beeps become more rapid. However, when the signal is weak, the beeps are far apart and there are times when I'm not sure if I'm still getting a signal or exactly when it dies out. Heck, there are times when it dies out, and then comes back.

Also, if my wife is sleeping in the seat next to me, I can turn the volume all the way down and just use the visual alert on the smartcord when the X50 is in dark mode.