animan430

I've been considering hardwiring my Escort Passport 8500 for sometime now and have been exhausting myself on researching the common methods for doing this. I've grown fond of tapping into the rear-view mirrors power cords like people do with their V1s but have a question.

Is there any reason why the V1s power adapter is needed?

Can one simply splice a telephone wire into the power wires utilized by people for the V1s adapter and then just directly plug the other end of the telephone wire into the radar for power?

Will this incur electrical problems or cause any issues?

Thanks for any advice!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I doubt you can use a telephone wire or we'd see more people doing it.
I purchased Escort's power adapter when I hardwired my 9500ix.

maybe try asking here: www.radardetector.net

firebirdude

iTrader: (3)

Most every high quality radar detector made within the last 4-5 years runs at 5VDC. Not 12VDC. Hence the need for the power ADAPTER.

However you can modify the included cig lighter plug to work. Also modify the actual casing of the cig lighter plug to squeeze in under the map light/sunglass holder. Did it with my Beltronics RX65. The nipple of the cig lighter plug is +12V positive input and both the side "pressure plates" are the ground. I unscrewed the casing on the plug, followed the small wires inside from those points to the circuit board inside. Soldered on my own wire, hacked off the part of the casing that actually sticks into the cig lighter but kept the casing around the circuit board. Wrapped the whole thing in electrical tape for good measure and presto.

Once you open up the cig lighter plug, it should all become obvious. If you're going to do it and need help, PM me.

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

If you buy the V1 all the stuff needed to hardwire comes with. I did it using an add-a-fuse. It works very well.

I'm sure you do, but you have to have the homelink mirror to do it.

But the fuse method works well. There are literally little compartments up the A-pillar the PERFECT size for storing the hard-wire adapter and excess cord. I would recommend doing it that way, and then getting a mirror mount, I did and it looks like it came that way out of the factory.

animan430

Remodeling the cig-plug like you're talking about is an awesome idea! That's really tight that you got that to work, however I'd prefer to keep a hold of my cig-plug simply for usage of the radar in different cars, if the hardwiring screws up, etc. But the passport direct wire kit looks really good, it mentions that it fits "neatly" into fuse panels but also comes with a wire splice, I think I'm probably going to go with purchasing this kit and installing it like that V1 guys did. Thanks for all the advice ya'll!

And yes, Alex you do desperately need a drop! haha this is Austin in case you didn't know ;-)