I'm installing my Valentine 1 (radar detector) tomorrow and I'm going to mount it on the middle of the windshield under the mirror and use the power for the mirror as the direct source. I know the red wire is the power one i should tap, but i also need a ground. There are two blacks - one with a grey circle around the end part, and one just all plain black...

Which is ground??


Here are the directions from V1...

Valentine One works only with negative ground electrical systems. If your car is old, or is an unusual brand of import, make sure it's negative ground.

1.) Select a "switched" wire, i.e., one that's off when the ignition is switched off, and has 12 volts when the ignition is switched on.
*the mirror is switched because its off when the cars off... *
2.) Position wiring-harness connector around "switched" wire and squeeze with pliers to install. Plug red wire from Direct-Wire Power Adapter into wiring-harness connector. *this would be clamped around the red wire i assume*

3.) Make ground connection by clamping the end of the black wire under any grounded screw. *heres the problem, no grounded screws on my windshield lol... im sure one of those black wires is though*

4.)Plug power cord from Valentine One into the modular jack labeled "Main Unit" on the Direct-Wire Power Adapter.

 

Is there any way to just extend the power cord and route it through to either of the +12V sockets and tap into them?

CM.

 

There has to be a grounded screw there somewhere. Else how would the power in the mirror get to ground?

Of course, you could route a separate power cable up from the lighter, through the pillar, through the liner into where the mirror is at.

 

I'd guess solid black is ground.

 

Any photos of the install?