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Has anyone hard-wired a power connection for a radar detector? I'm hesitant to tap into the circuitry of these new-fangled computers acting like cars. I know I would have to turn off all the telemetry to avoid interference. It would be used on long mountainous highway runs.
I've just begun studying how to install my Valentine One in my RX 350h, from my RAV4. There are issues.
I don't want to do a mirror tap because, when I tried it in my RAV, I fried some wiring. I wound up going from an engine bay fuse box, on the outside of the passenger A pillar, into the car, and under the headliner. the V1 was attached to the mirror with a Blendmount. There was almost zero space to put in the Blendmount. It worked reliably for years. I notice that there is a similarly placed fuse box on the passenger side of the engine bay of my RX. I could do the same thing but it was kind of inelegant.
On the RX, I'd like to place the V1 on top of the infotainment screen with this mount, or similar. These are made for a Tesla screen back.
The next issue is power for the V1. It would be easier if the RX had a cigarette lighter plug somewhere in the console or, like I've heard that Subaru does, under the dash and near the glove box. Then, how to run a phone cord to the V1.
I made my own mirror mounts and would love to be able to use a hardwire kit in the headliner to power it. But I might just use a cord rather than risk the electrical system.
Removing the upholstered part of the right console turned out to be easy. It just pulled off.
The V1, having a phone cord (with plug) needs a ½" hole. I first drilled a 1/32" pilot hole, just to be sure where it was going. I then plugged in a suitably long black phone cord that went into the V1 cigarette plug and into the V1.
I tested it and it worked only to discover that my 1st Gen V1 gave a constant Laser alarm. So, then I programmed Laser out.
I pushed the phone cord into the seams, all the way to behind the screen.
There is only about ¾" of exposed phone cord visible. The dash is black so it's pretty unobtrusive.
Now I need to find a suitable support (phone type) to prop up the V1 slightly above and behind the screen.
Last edited by Klamalama; Apr 9, 2023 at 07:05 PM.
I'd love to post pics but I can't figure out how to do it on this board. Copy and paste into a message doesn't seem to work. Is there a tutorial somewhere?
This photo shows the V1 power adaptor. The phone cord has to be placed this way because there is zero room on the other side.
The cord then runs into a 1/2" hole drilled from the other side (after popping off the right side upholstered trim piece).
The other cord is for data to/from the iPhone and for charging. I keep the sliding door closed and my phone above. There are other USB-C cords for guests.
There are many mounts at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GodspeedDesigns But what intrigues me is the pinned power connectors for the mirror. Anyone know if those pinouts exist on the current mirrors?
Hard-wiring a Radar Detector?
