radar detector

[tomk17]

Just reposting this as it was buried in another tread I started about radar detectors that some folks could care less about but this could be useful. After some voltmeter work I finally found a switched 12 V connection suitable for my radar detector. It's not a V1 or Escort that has the RJ-11 4 wire plug where they are probably using 1 wire for 12V, 1 for ground, and another 1 or 2 for that smart mute feature where you can mute the sound via a button on the cigarette plug.

I just needed a 2 wire connection (+12V and ground connection) for my older but highly rated BEL 985 Vector. I connected the hot 12V white striped wire to the fuse slot and ground (the other wire) to a nearby chassis ground lug (I used a chassis bolt up under the clutch area, make sure it's metal to metal not a scre into plastic).

Fuse box ROW D, FUSE SLOT #4 is empty on my 2006 987 car and will provide 12V only when switched on by the key. There is about a 5-8 min delay after the key is shut off before the 12V goes away - typical of a lot of the cars electronics. This fuse slot is shown as a blank in the little book so I imagine that regardless of the options on your car, this looks to always be a spare empty port that is only hot when the key is on.

Granted, my info here is out the window if you get a V1 or detector with the 4 wire plug / connection. You would need to figure out which of the 4 conductors need 12V and ground, maybe a V1 manal shows that.

FAB if you are not real good with electrical stuff and don't have a voltmeter you could always wheel it into one of those car stereo / car electronics places and they could probally do it in 30 min for $25 or so. I just ran the wire up to dash level (to the left of the steering wheel) and terminated it there. I got one of the black gel tacky pads (office supply store) put it on the dash, and plop the detector on the pad - it does not move. No windshield mount needed!