Running a hardwire for Radar Detector

[BrianZ32]

Hey fellas, on here for a bit of advice and see your guys' input.

A few months ago, my brother gave me an Escort Passport Radar Detector, cost him like $400. He claims that i can put in more use with it. So i have been pushing it off for quite some time now, but i really want to hook it up. Only reason why i pushed it off so much was because i didnt like running a cord straight down the middle of my car to the cigarette lighter connector. He had it plugged into his Tacoma via the mirror tap so it was highly convenient for him, but not for me. I was able to find how others hardwired their radar detectors on other cars, best and easiest option i see it using an add-a-circuit fuse tap. My question to you guys is, how safe, and or recommended is this? And which fuse box can i tap into it for best outcome? If you are against this, what other ways can i hard wire it to? I am open to wiring it anyway, just so i can get it plugged in and not alter any other of my electrical components. Thanks!

[centralcoaster33]

Hey, I think you want a power source that is in your headliner, but one that is on when your car accessory items are on. So, if you had a power sunroof, that would be ideal. Convenience lights with a switch could work. I don't think the dome light is good because it involves the door sensors, but it could work. I've done it with the add a circuit and fuse tapped into the sunroof power and ground (which was on/ into the chassis). You don't add it into a fuse box, you create a fuse box (it's just an inline fuse and wire) and quick tap that onto the hot wire (check voltage first). Then run the ground wire and get those both to a connector that plugs up with your radar detector. You can stash any extra wire into the roof liner and mount the detector close to your mirror so the wire isn't really seen much at all.

Sorry for the 'paragraph'. It looks pretty dense!

[Ace2cool]

Lol no sunroofs on Z32's, central! OP, you're pretty much gonna have to tap a fuse or something along those lines because there's nothing in the roof that turns on with the key, apart from the climate control sensor, in the headliner, and you don't really want to tap into anything to do with the CC, because it is a highly advanced and super intricate system for its time. Super finicky.

[itsa300zx]

Hey fellas, on here for a bit of advice and see your guys' input.

A few months ago, my brother gave me an Escort Passport Radar Detector, cost him like $400. He claims that i can put in more use with it. So i have been pushing it off for quite some time now, but i really want to hook it up. Only reason why i pushed it off so much was because i didnt like running a cord straight down the middle of my car to the cigarette lighter connector. He had it plugged into his Tacoma via the mirror tap so it was highly convenient for him, but not for me. I was able to find how others hardwired their radar detectors on other cars, best and easiest option i see it using an add-a-circuit fuse tap. My question to you guys is, how safe, and or recommended is this? And which fuse box can i tap into it for best outcome? If you are against this, what other ways can i hard wire it to? I am open to wiring it anyway, just so i can get it plugged in and not alter any other of my electrical components. Thanks!

Those add a circuit fuse taps are great and easy to use. I have a couple in my Z32, they are safe as long as you use the original amp rating for the original circuit and I recommend using a lower rating for the added circuit.
For my radar, I tapped into the cig lighter fuse and used a 5amp fuse for the new radar circuit.

Hope that helps.

[BrianZ32]

Hey fellas, on here for a bit of advice and see your guys' input.

A few months ago, my brother gave me an Escort Passport Radar Detector, cost him like $400. He claims that i can put in more use with it. So i have been pushing it off for quite some time now, but i really want to hook it up. Only reason why i pushed it off so much was because i didnt like running a cord straight down the middle of my car to the cigarette lighter connector. He had it plugged into his Tacoma via the mirror tap so it was highly convenient for him, but not for me. I was able to find how others hardwired their radar detectors on other cars, best and easiest option i see it using an add-a-circuit fuse tap. My question to you guys is, how safe, and or recommended is this? And which fuse box can i tap into it for best outcome? If you are against this, what other ways can i hard wire it to? I am open to wiring it anyway, just so i can get it plugged in and not alter any other of my electrical components. Thanks!

Those add a circuit fuse taps are great and easy to use. I have a couple in my Z32, they are safe as long as you use the original amp rating for the original circuit and I recommend using a lower rating for the added circuit.
For my radar, I tapped into the cig lighter fuse and used a 5amp fuse for the new radar circuit.

Hope that helps.

Im gunna have to try out those add-a-circuits, thanks! Last question, if i have already been experiencing electrical issues, is it a smart idea to add the radar detector? Or wait until i fix my electrical issues? I am almost certain it is my alternator because i had a bad PS leak that damaged the alternator. Issues i have been are my headlights bounce around from one light being on, to the other being off and so far. Whenever i flash my high beams and turn them off, so do my headlights and lastly, my lights from my dash (odometer) flicker from being bright to getting very light. I know im going to have to replace my alternator, i just dont have the money at the moment.

[Ace2cool]

As far as the headlights go, check your relays and fuses. Low beams are supposed to turn off when you go to high beams unless you've modded the wiring to keep them on (For HID ballasts). Could be the relay sticking being the reason your lows don't turn back on.

Have you checked your voltage at the battery terminals while running? You may be getting 14.2V and not need an alternator. Just because your PS was leaking doesn't mean that your alternator is bad. If your Air Bag light, your Battery light, and ABS <? light aren't on, then more than likely your alternator is good.

Adding a circuit, as long as it's done correctly, won't interfere with anything though. Just take your symptoms and troubleshoot one thing at a time.

[Zinprogress]

As what Ace said, i would first verify that the alternator is charging then go from there. I have had plenty of alternator failures on other z's with the help of leaking power steering pumps, but ive also had them not fail and be constantly drenched. Check for voltage while car is running, should be around 14 volts. If you have that, id start by checking relays and switches.

If it was my car, id first sort out current electrical problems before adding any circuits.

[BrianZ32]

As far as the headlights go, check your relays and fuses. Low beams are supposed to turn off when you go to high beams unless you've modded the wiring to keep them on (For HID ballasts). Could be the relay sticking being the reason your lows don't turn back on.

Have you checked your voltage at the battery terminals while running? You may be getting 14.2V and not need an alternator. Just because your PS was leaking doesn't mean that your alternator is bad. If your Air Bag light, your Battery light, and ABS <? light aren't on, then more than likely your alternator is good.

Adding a circuit, as long as it's done correctly, won't interfere with anything though. Just take your symptoms and troubleshoot one thing at a time.

I will definitely have to check it out the voltage at the battery. I had gone to autozone and they tested both my battery and alternator and they claimed they were both perfectly fine so i may have to check my relays. None of the air bag, ABS nor battery lights are on so hopefully thats a good sign.

[David_VG30DETT]

Run the power off the courtesy light in between the front area of the T-tops -simple

[Ace2cool]

^ that's not switched power

[NoahSmith20]

Tapping a fuse is perfectly safe as long as you do it correctly. The only thing to keep in mind when choosing a power source is which wires have power all the time and which wires have power only when the vehicle is turned on.