Please don't flame me. I have used search extensively over the past few days and can't find the info I am looking for. Maybe I used the wronk keywords or whatever and I'm willing to try again if I get flamed, but I hope someone can help.

I am pretty much a novice when it comes to my max's electrical systems. I can do basic stuff, but need a little help getting started. So, my question is, if I want to hardwire a radar detector into a wire that is only on when the car is on, which one should I use and is there an easy way to find it?

What I am basically asking is for those who have already hardwired their radar detectors in, which wire is a good one and do you have a pic or an easy way to tell which wire to use. Once I have that, the rest is easy, I think as I can tap it and all that junk.

Thanks in advance and I also apologize in advance if I didn't turn up the right search result for info already out there.

Matt

 

There are several you could tap into, but the one that comes to mind is the cig lighter. Plus that one is fused too.

-Shing

 

I believe the cig lighter is a switched wire, so you can probably use it. also you have a constant-on wire and a switched wire going to your stereo. you can use the switched wire on it also..
in order to find it, you just need a multimeter or test light..
just find a wire that's off when the key is off, then the light comes on when you turn the ignition on.

 

Thanks for the info - I will search for the cig lighter wire this weekend. I appreciate the info.

 

This is not the best way to do this... but in your fuse housing, you will find that there's a fuse for the sig lighter. You will be able to find the wire somewhere aroud there.... Also, run an inline fuse to your detector when yuo hardwire it.. safer that way.

-Shing

 

This is not the best way to do this... but in your fuse housing, you will find that there's a fuse for the sig lighter. You will be able to find the wire somewhere aroud there.... Also, run an inline fuse to your detector when yuo hardwire it.. safer that way.

-Shing

 

Thanks again, I appreciate all the quick responses - it will be my weekend project. I might even take pics now that I have the new digital cam.