How to power a radar detector

[bobframe]

Considering buying a Passport 8500. It appears that Escort expects you to power it with a 12V cigarette lighter adapter. Is there not a more elegant solution than this?

How did you power your radar detector? Did you need a special cable to accomodate your situation? How did you do this?

If I add a Honda Quartet Harness does one of the power outlets specifically support a radar detector...specifically an Escort?

Thanks!!

 

[st1300r]

This should direct wire it to your accesory fuse block or quartet harness.
https://www.escortradar.com/store/direct-wire-cord.html

 

[wjbertrand]

This should direct wire it to your accesory fuse block or quartet harness.
https://www.escortradar.com/store/direct-wire-cord.html

That's what I did, except I made up my own power cord with some telephone cable and swage-on plugs you can get at any electronics or hardware store. The two inner contacts are for power and the outer two feed signals back to the smart plug which you can ignore. Check the polarity on your smart plug before wiring up your own cord.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Like Jeff, I use an RJ11 phone cord on all three of my ST1100s. Just get the hot and ground sorted out (red/green on the phone wire) and you are good to go. If you are using the 'headset' option into an audio system, you will need an isolation audio cord which is pretty pricey.

 

[roginoz]

I attached the "direct wire" cord that came with my Escort to a right angle (http://www.powerlet.com/product/right-angle-plug/278) PowerLet plug. I have a couple of panel top PowerLet sockets (http://www.powerlet.com/product/panel-top-powerlet-socket/284) on my dash shelf. It makes it easier to detach the radar detector and unplug the power when I have to stow the detector (yeah, there are a few places in Kansas where they'll steal your stuff...) The phone type plug that goes into the Escort doesn't look as suitable for continued plugging and unplugging as the PowerLet plug.

 

[Uncle Phil]

I have my Passport 8500s 'buried' on the bike, so I don't plug and unplug. But you are right - the RJ11 plug won't take much plugging and unplugging.

 

[kieth]

I hide my 8500 escort in the top of my tank bag, I make escort power leads out of phone cords. Or you can purchase a permanent car power cord from escort if you want.....Kieth

 

[ksievers]

there is no way our windshields impinge on the radar sensitivity, right? I have mine velcro'd to the dash, pretty close to the windshield. thanks

 

[wjbertrand]

there is no way our windshields impinge on the radar sensitivity, right? I have mine velcro'd to the dash, pretty close to the windshield. thanks

I think if you stick the detector right behind the metal windscreen support you could have some effect.

 

[ST-Traveler]

I put my Beltronics V955 in a "Radar Box" on my dash shelf behind the windscreen. No issue at all getting a signal, it is actually very sensitive. I could not be happier with my Beltronics. I powered it with a special power cord to -switched power- I got with the detector.

Greg

 

[NorCalBusa]

Radar (microwaves) will pass right through acrylic- all your tupperware and windshield material.

 

[ksievers]

so if I hide it in the left glove box it works just fine?

 

[NorCalBusa]

That depends on the angle from which the radar beam is coming, while the fiberglass won't block the beam, metal and your body could to varying degrees. Microwave also reflects off objects, so while the engine or you could be directly in the line of the beam- the detector could still get enough signal to warn you.

 

[pepollock]

The only drawback to "hiding" the RD is that you lose the LIDAR ("laser") detection, since that relies on light, not radio waves. My opinion is that laser detection is almost worthless anyway and mostly tells you when you've just been measured.

I wired my Escort directly to a switched wire in the Quartet Harness, clipping said wire and installing a small plug from Radio Shack. Same for my after-market grip heaters. Wasn't planning on using the harness anyway, but it could be easily re-constructed.

BTW, my Escort was mounted on a wedge-shaped piece of wood, centered on the dash. Painted flat black, the wood looks almost OE and the windshield protects the Escort from bugs, grit, etc. but not rain.

pete

 

[ksievers]

how did you attach the wood to the dash, and the RD to the wood?? just curious. I have simply velcro'd my RD to the dash. So far so good - in fact it's hard to get it off there so I doubt it will fall off.. but it's not real elegant I'll admit.

thanks -

 

[st1300r]

so if I hide it in the left glove box it works just fine?

The pp compartment, abs cowling and polycarbonate wind screen shouldn't be an issue with picking up the radar.

 

[pepollock]

Ksievers, I used Velcro to stick the block to the dash and the RD to the block. I wanted to get the RD level and pointing straight ahead, which is why I bothered making the wedge. I added a Marc Parnes LED display (available at Aerostich) which sticks on top of the RD and is bright enough to get my attention when the RD goes off.

All that, and slowing down as I get older, has saved me a number of times.

pete

 

[riderguy57]

I powered mine through the accessory terminal, so that it goes on/off with the key. I also have it mounted using a Migsel mount and a RAM radar detector magnetic mount.

 

[ksievers]

Ksievers, I used Velcro to stick the block to the dash and the RD to the block. I wanted to get the RD level and pointing straight ahead, which is why I bothered making the wedge. I added a Marc Parnes LED display (available at Aerostich) which sticks on top of the RD and is bright enough to get my attention when the RD goes off.

All that, and slowing down as I get older, has saved me a number of times.

pete

excellent - that helps! thanks - K.