Hardwire Escort Radar Detector

[MBrockman5]

I'm going to be using the SmartCord™ to hardwire my Escort Passport™ 8500 (X50) radar detector to my 07 RT soon.

 

I was wondering, regarding the power supply... Can I tap into the hot wire on one of the little corner/marker lights inside of the headlight assembly? 

 

If there are other ideas you folks might have, feel free to share. 

 

Thank you

[dirtrider]

10 hours ago, MBrockman5 said:

I'm going to be using the SmartCord™ to hardwire my Escort Passport™ 8500 (X50) radar detector to my 07 RT soon.

 

I was wondering, regarding the power supply... Can I tap into the hot wire on one of the little corner/marker lights inside of the headlight assembly? 

 

If there are other ideas you folks might have, feel free to share. 

 

Thank you

 

Morning MBrockman5

 

You can use either the side marker light (key-on) power or use the low beam headlight wire (engine running) power.

 

But, in both cases they should ONLY be used as a trigger circuit for a fused (battery direct) power relay. (do not power accessory  directly from the side light or low beam circuit).

 

Some do power from the power outlet wire but that is not the best choice for a radar detector as that circuit remains 'on' for period after key-off and you don't want your detector chirping & blinking as the LEO is approaching you as that will just about guarantee you a full value ticket. 

 

I quit using a radar  detector long ago as they are  fairly useless against  VASCAR & Lidar (two most used speed enforcement devices in my area).

 

[MBrockman5]

Ok. The wire I'm using has an online fuse preinstalled. And I'm planning on using a T-tap connector. 

 

I don't necessarily use my Escort RD "because" I'm speeding. I usually use it to just make sure I'm paying attention. I commute from north of Sacramento down to San Francisco a couple days a week, and CHP is all over the place. 

[dirtrider]

9 hours ago, MBrockman5 said:

Ok. The wire I'm using has an online fuse preinstalled. And I'm planning on using a T-tap connector. 

 

I don't necessarily use my Escort RD "because" I'm speeding. I usually use it to just make sure I'm paying attention. I commute from north of Sacramento down to San Francisco a couple days a week, and CHP is all over the place. 

 

Morning MBrockman5

 

With JUST a fused wire & T-tap connector your choices are limited as you don't have a power relay to take the circuit load off of the computer controlled side light or computer controlled low beam headlight circuit.

 

You m-i-g-h-t get away with just tapping into the side light or low beam headlight wire but I definitely  don't recommend doing it that way. 

 

If you don't want to add a (fused) power relay then you might be better off just hooking your fused detector wires directly to the battery  then turning the detector off when you park the bike.

 

OR,  connecting to the bike's existing front power outlet wires as those come on with the key/engine start & go off a few minutes after key-off.   

[MBrockman5]

Ok, Coolio. Unplugging/removing it isn't a problem. I always remove everything when I park for longer then a few minutes as to prevent things from getting stolen. 

[MBrockman5]

Got the wiring done. I tapped into the rear aux. power plug and ran the wire up to the dash. 

 

 

 

(Don't mind the background mess. My garage is in the middle of a organizational crisis...)