Hardwiring

[coolkidd123]

Im about to get a radar detector soon, but I dont know how to hardwire. Ive searched through so many threads but I cant understand anything because i dont know anything about any that electrical stuff. Awww man I dont know what to do. If i just mount it low using the cigarette lighter, the dectector wont detect radar very well. Can someone please offer me a solution where no electrical knowledge is needed?

[TSi+WRX]

What vehicle is this for?



Many on-line support/enthusiast-community Forums/d-boards for your vehicle's specific model and even model-year can be of great benefit to you in this manner....they may even have step-by-step illustrated "walk-throughs."

Also, where are you located? You may have local/area hobbyists/enthusiasts who would be willing to help you either for no fee or for payment "in food."

[coolkidd123]

i have a 97 accord LX and I live in NJ

[TSi+WRX]

^ A Honda!

Cool, you should be able to get some good on-line support, then.

Search around on Google or another such database and see if there isn't a good support-forum for your car. My bet is that there will be.

Also, since this is a very popular vehicle, you should easily be able to find DIY "service manuals" in your local library - check with the reference librarian.

[FlyinZX-10R]

I bought a power connector from Autozone called "Add A Circuit" and used it to tap into my fusebox. You just unplug a fuse from your box, place the fuse from your car into the Add a Circuit, add a smaller (2 amp) fuse into the Add a Circuit for your radar detector, and then attach your RD's cord to the Add A Circuit... stash all your wiring and your done. I know there is another thread somewhere about hardwiring too.

[coolkidd123]

I bought a power connector from Autozone called "Add A Circuit" and used it to tap into my fusebox. You just unplug a fuse from your box, place the fuse from your car into the Add a Circuit, add a smaller (2 amp) fuse into the Add a Circuit for your radar detector, and then attach your RD's cord to the Add A Circuit... stash all your wiring and your done. I know there is another thread somewhere about hardwiring too.

thats exactly what i dont understand. i dont know what a fuse is, where it is, or anything of that sort.

[bauzer71487]

I bought a power connector from Autozone called "Add A Circuit" and used it to tap into my fusebox. You just unplug a fuse from your box, place the fuse from your car into the Add a Circuit, add a smaller (2 amp) fuse into the Add a Circuit for your radar detector, and then attach your RD's cord to the Add A Circuit... stash all your wiring and your done. I know there is another thread somewhere about hardwiring too.

thats exactly what i dont understand. i dont know what a fuse is, where it is, or anything of that sort.

Okay so you really are a rookie. But I don't know where they are for sure. But first place to look is your manual. Read it - Look in the index for "Fuses".

If we can - we'll get pictures and walk you through the WHOLE process.

If you aren't remotely comfortable doing any of this - just go to best buy or local car audio shop and ask them to hardwire it. Tell them you want it either on Ignition(this will turn on only when car is "on") or "Accessory"(gets power regardless of car status). They'll charge you probably 30-50 bucks. its an option.

[GoHawks63]

I bought a power connector from Autozone called "Add A Circuit" and used it to tap into my fusebox. You just unplug a fuse from your box, place the fuse from your car into the Add a Circuit, add a smaller (2 amp) fuse into the Add a Circuit for your radar detector, and then attach your RD's cord to the Add A Circuit... stash all your wiring and your done. I know there is another thread somewhere about hardwiring too.

thats exactly what i dont understand. i dont know what a fuse is, where it is, or anything of that sort.

If you don't know what a fuse is, then you have no business tapping into any part of your electrical system. Not meaning to be a jerk. It's really not that difficult, but if you don't have at least a basic understanding of a car's electrical system, with the electronics in today's cars you could really mess things up.

I've heard of people shorting out the wrong wires and deploying their airbags.

Funny story. When I was a young kid, my first car was an old FIAT. I installed fog lights and tapped the the power into the parking lights so that the fogs would go on when I turned on the parking lights.

I kept blowing fuses, so not knowing any better, I replaced it with a larger amp fuse. Sure enough one day I notice smoke coming out from under the dash. Turned off the fogs and figured out what I did wrong.

Doesn't end there. For the next couple of weeks, I would notice that on occasion, when I would go out to the car, the parking lights would be on, even though the switch was off. If I flick the switch, it would eventually go off. One day I decided to trace the parking light lead and found that the wire had melted and was shorting out against other wires on the main harness.

I had my whole dash torn apart as I was replacing wires that had melted together. Lessoned learned by an ignorant kid. Now this was on an old 1976 FIAT. I can't imagine what would have happened if it was a modern day car.

[ahmadr]

I bought a power connector from Autozone called "Add A Circuit" and used it to tap into my fusebox. You just unplug a fuse from your box, place the fuse from your car into the Add a Circuit, add a smaller (2 amp) fuse into the Add a Circuit for your radar detector, and then attach your RD's cord to the Add A Circuit... stash all your wiring and your done. I know there is another thread somewhere about hardwiring too.

thats exactly what i dont understand. i dont know what a fuse is, where it is, or anything of that sort.

Maybe you should not mess with them then. You can probably get it done, but you could also possibly fry things. Either have someone do it, or just don't hardwire it.

[Orbital75]

Here you go, got some photos for ya...... This should help....

First buy a Smart HardWire Kit From Escort or Roy.
Then purchase an "Add a Circuit" from your local Advanced Auto.

HardWire Kit


"Add A Circuit" Choose which type your car has either the
(Big fuse or Small fuse ).



Now tuck the Wire into your Ceiling headboard using a small
flat Head Screw Driver. Go down the A-pillar doing the same.

Install



After that Find the Fuse Box, connect the Power Wire part
of the HardWire to your "Add a Circuit" and Clamp it. Now Stick
your "Add a Circuit" into your ACC Fuse Slot ( Cigarette Lighter ).
As for the Ground Wire, find a bolt on your fire wall and use it to
ground the wire.



Now you'll need to find a nice place for your Mute button. Any place will do,
just route the wire some where convenient for you to push while driving.
I put mine right in front of my shifter.