DIY: radar detector hard wire

[civicblack33]

Thank you for all the posts on here...I just hardwired a passport x50 straight to the fuse box on my 08 sedan and it worked perfect. Put an add a circuit on the #8 fuse and grounded the other wire to the bolt that holds the fuse box in place. I also ran the wire along the headliner and down under the stripping along the A Pillar. Great write up

[g1sk8terz]

Thanks for the diy!! The pics helped. I have a 06 sedan and wired my detector to the map lights. Love it!

[HFPCivic]

Excellent DIY.. Hands Down! Never would have thought about that.. But on the Laser not being detected part.. The thing about Laser Radar is... You don't have even a split second of time when it hits you.. when your radar detected senses a Lazer Alert the officer already has your speed. Laser guns are very accurate and fast and work from up to 1000 ft away.. So having your radar vs Laser.. You would lose. And you would 99% of the time get a ticket. Now for K band and KA band you have usually a 3 - 5 sec range before they get your speed. Because K band and KA band usually bounce off obejects and thats what sets your radar off. Your detector catches small frequency waves of it. And it sets it off. Laser doesn't bounce nore send frequency waves. It's a straight shot. Hints why sometimes you see motorcycle cops aiming the radar gun.. And your radar detector doesn't go off. He's not making it look like he's shooting radar. He actually is. And he just doesn't have it aimed at your car. Only reason I know this is I am going through Police acadamy and you learn everything about them. Also this might help. Police officers radar guns have to be recalibrated atleast once every 6 months. And a slight drop of the gun can knock the calibration off. This can sometimes get you out of tickets. Depending on the last time the officer had his gun recalibrated. Also you do have the right to see the radar gun. And actually see what he clocked you at. Just ask him to see the gun. If he tells you no.. Thats an automatic dismissal of your fine.

[bchinfoon]

Are there any local stores that sell https://www.escortradar.com/store/direct-wire-cord.html? I'm picking up an 8500 from another user on the forums tomorrow and I want to try and hardwire it over the weekend.

[krazed1er]

do these things even work now they have laser radar

[krazed1er]

and cops use gaydar

[07civiclx2]

Originally Posted by HFPCivic

Excellent DIY.. Hands Down! Never would have thought about that.. But on the Laser not being detected part.. The thing about Laser Radar is... You don't have even a split second of time when it hits you.. when your radar detected senses a Lazer Alert the officer already has your speed. Laser guns are very accurate and fast and work from up to 1000 ft away.. So having your radar vs Laser.. You would lose. And you would 99% of the time get a ticket. Now for K band and KA band you have usually a 3 - 5 sec range before they get your speed. Because K band and KA band usually bounce off obejects and thats what sets your radar off. Your detector catches small frequency waves of it. And it sets it off. Laser doesn't bounce nore send frequency waves. It's a straight shot. Hints why sometimes you see motorcycle cops aiming the radar gun.. And your radar detector doesn't go off. He's not making it look like he's shooting radar. He actually is. And he just doesn't have it aimed at your car. Only reason I know this is I am going through Police acadamy and you learn everything about them. Also this might help. Police officers radar guns have to be recalibrated atleast once every 6 months. And a slight drop of the gun can knock the calibration off. This can sometimes get you out of tickets. Depending on the last time the officer had his gun recalibrated. Also you do have the right to see the radar gun. And actually see what he clocked you at. Just ask him to see the gun. If he tells you no.. Thats an automatic dismissal of your fine.

Thank you...you are a beast!

[vlad]

Originally Posted by HFPCivic

Excellent DIY.. Hands Down! Never would have thought about that.. But on the Laser not being detected part.. The thing about Laser Radar is... You don't have even a split second of time when it hits you.. when your radar detected senses a Lazer Alert the officer already has your speed. Laser guns are very accurate and fast and work from up to 1000 ft away.. So having your radar vs Laser.. You would lose. And you would 99% of the time get a ticket. Now for K band and KA band you have usually a 3 - 5 sec range before they get your speed. Because K band and KA band usually bounce off obejects and thats what sets your radar off. Your detector catches small frequency waves of it. And it sets it off. Laser doesn't bounce nore send frequency waves. It's a straight shot. Hints why sometimes you see motorcycle cops aiming the radar gun.. And your radar detector doesn't go off. He's not making it look like he's shooting radar. He actually is. And he just doesn't have it aimed at your car. Only reason I know this is I am going through Police acadamy and you learn everything about them. Also this might help. Police officers radar guns have to be recalibrated atleast once every 6 months. And a slight drop of the gun can knock the calibration off. This can sometimes get you out of tickets. Depending on the last time the officer had his gun recalibrated. Also you do have the right to see the radar gun. And actually see what he clocked you at. Just ask him to see the gun. If he tells you no.. Thats an automatic dismissal of your fine.

i think that varies state to state. i've heard stories where the cop wouldn't show the radar gun, and the guy still had to pay the ticket.

[07civiclx2]

Well he's in austin, and I'm in houston...So I'm pretty sure if a houston cop isn't being a dick, then he will show it. I'll ask my cousin that is a sheriff in sugar land to see what the official rule is here.

[rmfa]

Originally Posted by vlad

how to wire it so the detector turns off with the car: http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/civic...-detector.html

Mine turns off when I open the door..

[JnLFG2]

cops don't shoot the lasers at your roof. They shoot lasers/radar at your front bumper license plate. Radar detectors are suppose to be mounted low on the windsheild, not all the way up there.

[HC08!]

Originally Posted by JnLFG2

cops don't shoot the lasers at your roof. They shoot lasers/radar at your front bumper license plate. Radar detectors are suppose to be mounted low on the windsheild, not all the way up there.

Sorry bro, but im going to have to disagree with you....once laser gots you, no radar can save you, regardless where its mounted.....the radar technology has yet to catch up to laser in order to warn you in time....i have my beltronics sti driver with a visor bracket so it can get the k,ka band much better...well here in northern cali. I actually turned off x band, as my beltronics beeps with ka only and police are always near me. I should turn off k band too but not for ready just yet.

[pookeye]

Alright, I'm going to be hard wiring a valentine 1 on to my Civic 08 sedan. I got the add a circuit (mini fuse) and since #8 doesnt have a fuse in it, what Fuse should I use? 10A? 5A ??? since it has 2 fuse slots in it, do i need to use any of it since #8 doesnt have a fuse at all?

[HC08!]

yea, i used #8 as well.....i added the 5a fuse...even tho there are 2 slots with the add a circuit, i just used the 5a,.....plug it in, and ur set.

[RanEnRui]

Originally Posted by JnLFG2

cops don't shoot the lasers at your roof. They shoot lasers/radar at your front bumper license plate. Radar detectors are suppose to be mounted low on the windsheild, not all the way up there.

Correct. They also shoot at your headlights and taillights. These are the only spots laser will usually work. It takes much more accurate aim than traditional radar.

Originally Posted by HC08!

Sorry bro, but im going to have to disagree with you....once laser gots you, no radar can save you, regardless where its mounted.....the radar technology has yet to catch up to laser in order to warn you in time....i have my beltronics sti driver with a visor bracket so it can get the k,ka band much better...well here in northern cali. I actually turned off x band, as my beltronics beeps with ka only and police are always near me. I should turn off k band too but not for ready just yet.

Turning of X in California is alright. Do not turn of K, that's just foolish no matter where you are. Do turn off POP. If you don't like getting K alerts all the time from falses, think about investing in the 9500ci from Escort, it uses GPS to remember falses by location and frequency.

You are correct about laser hits, they aren't too helpful to know about unless you're getting the splash from the officer targeting someone else than yourself, giving you time to slow down. If he was targeting you, you're probably done for -- if you even get the alert beforehand at all.

But alas, there are ways to fight laser. First and foremost, laser jammers are legal in most states, but not all. Since lasers use light, not radio waves, it is regulated by the FDA, not the FCC (which radar jamming is highly illegal if not very difficult alone). Laser Interceptor is probably the best jammer on the market right now, being nearly flawless (always jamming to gun).

Darker colors also absorb light, hence laser, making them harder targets than lighter colors. Contours and other irregular surfaces make reflecting light also harder, as you know angle of incident is the angle of reflection. All in all, the 8th gen Civic is a good car for fighting laser, namely in NHBP.

If you want a cheaper countermeasure, check into VEIL and the Laser Shield cover (I use this).

Originally Posted by pookeye

Alright, I'm going to be hard wiring a valentine 1 on to my Civic 08 sedan. I got the add a circuit (mini fuse) and since #8 doesnt have a fuse in it, what Fuse should I use? 10A? 5A ??? since it has 2 fuse slots in it, do i need to use any of it since #8 doesnt have a fuse at all?

I used one of the fuses that was marked "Unused" in the owner's manual. It just so happened to be wired to ignition so when I turn off the car it turns off this fuse as well, which is what you want.

[RanEnRui]

Originally Posted by JnLFG2

cops don't shoot the lasers at your roof. They shoot lasers/radar at your front bumper license plate. Radar detectors are suppose to be mounted low on the windsheild, not all the way up there.

Since I can't edit my post.. I'll make a slight addendum here.

The only spots laser can target are your front and rear license plates, your headlights, and your taillights. Those are the only spots. In a very, very, extremely rare case, they might try for the emblem but with the way our car is, I doubt it.

As for mounting radar detectors, please, please everyone with a radar detector read the following:

I am tired of seeing people with their radar detectors (typically Cobra brand -- buy a real detector please) mounted and facing the sky. That is a major fault.

Radar detectors can be mounted low, close to the dash, or up high, near the rear view mirror. Both will function there just fine, but please make sure that your detector is level with the ground. Your detector should NOT be at some 30-45 degree angle.

Mounting them higher gives them slightly better range on detecting radar. Mounting them low gives them a slightly better chance at picking up laser hits, as those are targeted at your headlights, front plates, rear plates, and taillights. Personally, I mount mine high because I feel like getting a laser hit isn't going to help, nor does NC use laser in my area. I'll take the radar benefit.

Radar waves can get very wide over a short distance. Laser is very concentrated and even while targeting you from about 1000 feet, it'll only be about 3x3 feet of a box. Radar can get over 85 feet wide of a wave at half that distance. Get the picture?

[benmunger]

laser gets wider after hitting the windshield of a car in front of you.

Also, not sure if its true but, I someone told me that if a cop is using laser he has to hit you twice for it to hold up in court.

If you read laser you still have a chance.

[ajb7895]

dude reguardless of what rights you may thik you have...IN COURT the COP HAS THE UPPER HAND....honestly think about it is a judge going to belive some young adult/adult over an officer of the law???

[08_Royal_Si]

does anyone know which wire to tap into on an 08 si

[mechandi1]

in for info about anyone who can confirm they did it and it works with 08 si coupe