Radar Detector Mirror or sunroof switch power/ground tap

[Powerplay]

Good Morning,

couldn’t locate Gen 3 Expedition thread regarding radar detector install mirror tap, may be just as easy using fuse box?

Has anyone been successful using the front upper console dome light or the power sun roof/side window for power and ground? Replacing the console with sun roof option, while replacing I was going to tap into power and ground connection for either function and install mirror mounted Uniden R3. Any issues using these power/ ground options switched? Having no luck so far finding the wiring diagram. Besides using my volt meter, any idea which wire is switched ign power and ground in map lighting or power sun roof/side window?

can always run down headliner to passenger fuse panel as 2nd option using an add a circuit to 31. Thought I would save time and wiring tapping into roof console area. Haven’t check mirror for white and black wires yet: It’s a 2012 Ford Expedition EL with rain sensing option.

appreciate any ideas and feedback to wire up the Uniden R3 near mirror and upper map console area.

Thank you,
Brian

 

[Cyclone]

I just ran a power tap up from the fuse panel in the passenger side foot well for my Dash Cam that is mounted by the mirror. Not sure which wires you can tap into at the overhead console wiring.

 

[Langer]

MIRRORTAP POWER CORDS MirrorTap... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LBKR2SA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I got this to tap the auto-dim mirror. I have a cobra iRadar detector mounted there. I’ll take a picture of the tap points when I’m at the truck next, but I think I found the correct wires first or second try with a multimeter; you want to find the pins that turn off when the car is off so the detector doesn’t kill the battery.

 

[x46415]

I attempted a tap but ultimately just routed the wires down the door side console and used a 12v power outlet - unfortunately, they're 'always on' so you have to unplug it. What a pain...

 

[Powerplay]

Langer,

mirror color for power and ground would be great. Tried using volt meter at the mirror connector today and there isn’t much room in there for the terminals. Colored wiring you used would be great. Or even a quick picture would be helpful.

I did tap into the passenger side fuse panel for a dash cam.

Thanks for the help.

 

[762mm]

Radar?

Most LEO agencies use laser these days. They have for the past two decades.

Most highway safety codes in different jurisdictions still carry very heavy fines / penalties for having one attached to your car, however... (even though "radar detectors" are pretty useless in the 21st century).

I wouldn't bother, personally. Just don't drive more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit and you'll pretty much never get a speeding ticket.

 

[Powerplay]

If the LEO agency uses laser correctly, it is useless. Just let’s you know a ticket is coming. However, not all LEO use laser and radar detectors are legal in all states except VA and DC areas. I use the alarm to be cognitive of the speed.

thanks for sharing 7.62

 

[762mm]

If the LEO agency uses laser correctly, it is useless. Just let’s you know a ticket is coming. However, not all LEO don’t use laser and radar detectors are legal in 41 states. I use the alarm to be cognitive of the speed.

thanks for sharing 7.62

Well, they are trained to use them, so for sure they will use them correctly. The only "radar" speed traps in larger urban areas that I'm aware of are photo radar (automated speed cameras). If a cop still uses Doppler radar to give out speeding tickets, he or she definitely needs to transfer to a better financed / better paid department, lol!

The problem with Doppler radar is that it's contestable in court. Larger objects such as trucks near a target will falsify the reading and other nearby cars might too. Hence why most, if not all, LEO agencies have invested in laser speed guns + training : because it's a solid, hard to contest technology.

The only hold outs are the tiny agencies which cannot afford anything more than 1960's technology, lol. That said, I was not aware that this many States actually allow these "radar detectors"... probably because they don't consider them a serious problem anymore.


Anyway, you might also want to consider connecting it to a dome / map light wiring, if it doesn't draw much current.

 

[bloodhound]

I am a LEO, and I use both RADAR and LIDAR regularly. LIDAR is great for picking out the speed/distance of individual vehicles in a group, but you need a totally unobstructed view with the vehicle directly approaching you. RADAR is a more sloppy science, but is still very accurate. Better for roads where there are not multiple vehicles approaching at once. And as long as you are using an instant on RADAR, detectors are useless for that too. I always laugh when I stop a vehicle with a detector.

 

[chuck s]

Most LEO agencies use laser these days? Maybe in the Great White North.

41 states? To my knowledge radar detectors are legal in all states * and legal to use in 49 of them. Only prohibited in Virginia (and DC but DC ain't a state).

* Legal to own.

-- Chuck

 

[Powerplay]

Hi Chuck, your correct I edited the post to reflect all states radar is legal except for Va and DC areas. just don’t go there or get caught. LEN in all states uses’s many bands, (depending on budget)however K band is usually a nuisance alert like vehicle mounted collision sensors and business alarms....As LEO upgrade their tools so does the radar detector manufactures. Take a look at the new K40, very nice product if you have a heavy foot and money for upgrade. (Typically used by sports cars I assume) I see no reason to speed, use mine to be aware of my speed and not get in the “speed trap” scenario. We all know it happens. Had an officer jump out behind a pine tree in a 35mph zone which seems drastic. Just the presence of a cruiser can be a deterant. Anyway, this post was intended for tapping into a power source. Best choice is to wire direct to fuse box, will upgrade to the K40 as both sides evolve. Usually not going over 8-10mph over posted limit you’ll be fine. However, there are cars in OH that write tickets for as little as 3mph over. Technology will keep evolving in this area.

 

[JExpedition07]

You can buy laser detectors but many are over $1,000. In NY they still use radar.

 

[Langer]

@Powerplay
Black to black, red to grey with blue stripe. There’s a blue with grey stripe, so don’t get confused, as the picture shows, the two pins are in the same line with each other.

 

[bobmbx]

Well, they are trained to use them, so for sure they will use them correctly. The only "radar" speed traps in larger urban areas that I'm aware of are photo radar (automated speed cameras). If a cop still uses Doppler radar to give out speeding tickets, he or she definitely needs to transfer to a better financed / better paid department, lol!

The problem with Doppler radar is that it's contestable in court. Larger objects such as trucks near a target will falsify the reading and other nearby cars might too. Hence why most, if not all, LEO agencies have invested in laser speed guns + training : because it's a solid, hard to contest technology.

The only hold outs are the tiny agencies which cannot afford anything more than 1960's technology, lol. That said, I was not aware that this many States actually allow these "radar detectors"... probably because they don't consider them a serious problem anymore.


Anyway, you might also want to consider connecting it to a dome / map light wiring, if it doesn't draw much current.

Only two states ever outlawed radar detectors: VA and CT. CT finally relented a long time ago. DC has never allowed radar detectors.

 

[Cyclone]

I got busted with a detector in VA back in the 90s. I wasn't even speeding, just rolling down I-66 coming back from a Martinsville Race. Cop was on the median and pulled out. I unplugged it an stashed it under the passenger seat. He pulled me over and says I detected your detector. Busted.

I later went on to get pulled over by a Park Police cop on the GW parkway due to the green leds on my T-Birds night sensor rear view mirror. She thought it was a detector. She said sorry and sent me on my way.

 

[B-McD]

I don't remember which fuse mine is tapped into but we just ran the flat wire up the A-pillar and tucked into the headliner. It's connected to a switched fuse so the detector goes on and off with the ignition. As for the need of a detector, I'm not that big of a leadfoot - I just like the gadget aspect. And in suburban Chicago, Ka makes up about 90% of the alerts I get. A local motorcycle officer was sitting astride his bike near my house using K band! Couldn't believe that still existed.

 

[Goofy173]

Radar?

Most LEO agencies use laser these days. They have for the past two decades.

Most highway safety codes in different jurisdictions still carry very heavy fines / penalties for having one attached to your car, however... (even though "radar detectors" are pretty useless in the 21st century).

I wouldn't bother, personally. Just don't drive more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit and you'll pretty much never get a speeding ticket.

In my lifetime, I've only ever seen 2 confirmed laser detections that were police. Every agency in Indiana and KY use Ka mostly, and some K band. There are even a few X radars being used. Laser requires more LEO training and more concentration that radar, and the LEO driver cannot use it effectively while driving.

I'm a pretty good expert on detections and have never got caught when using a detector, but I don't use crap detectors either. I have 3 Passport Escort 8500's in my vehicles and use one front and rear when traveling out of state in my Expy. I've had detectors way back when they first came out, and started with a Fox detector with a remote detector antenna that mounted in the grill with just X band. I've used my Escorts in Virginia and never had a problem as Escorts are not detectable by radar detector detectors that VA state police have.

And as a last note, my brother was pulled over 10 years ago in St. Joe county in IN on the US20 bypass for 3 mph over! Several people he works with also go ticketed on a day they decided to get everybody. And yes he fought it and won. They knew most people would just pay it.

Because radar is inherently flawed, even though its rare I go over 9 mph over the limit, I still slow to the posted limit if I feel I get a valid detection.

 

[Goofy173]

I got busted with a detector in VA back in the 90s. I wasn't even speeding, just rolling down I-66 coming back from a Martinsville Race. Cop was on the median and pulled out. I unplugged it an stashed it under the passenger seat. He pulled me over and says I detected your detector. Busted.

That sux. When I did some Canadian travel I kept an old busted Cobra with me as I was told that US drivers in Canada, if pulled over from a detector detection, you just give them your detector and they'll smash it, and send you on your way, but I knew my Escort was not supposed to be detected, and I never had a problem.

Have you seen that semi driver on youtube that got pulled over in VA for a jammer and the cops search and search and never find it, even though the switch and the hold in his bumper for the jammer output are clearly visible?

 

[Goofy173]

I am a LEO, and I use both RADAR and LIDAR regularly. LIDAR is great for picking out the speed/distance of individual vehicles in a group, but you need a totally unobstructed view with the vehicle directly approaching you. RADAR is a more sloppy science, but is still very accurate. Better for roads where there are not multiple vehicles approaching at once. And as long as you are using an instant on RADAR, detectors are useless for that too. I always laugh when I stop a vehicle with a detector.

If I'm out alone on the highway, I keep my speed only 5 over, but my Escort will detect instant on as well as the other stuff as long as traffic is around, except I've turned off X band as so few have those anymore. But I still keep it under 10 mph over since in KY, the law states you have to be 10 mph over for speeding, and in a recent court ruling in a KY court, the law was thrown out as ambiguous, but doesn't apply to all parts of KY. https://landline.media/article/judge-rules-kentucky-speed-limit-law-unconstitutional/

 

[jeff kushner]

Careful, I swear that mine doesn't reach out as far with this glass in my '17!

Mine has saved my bacon many times, I'm an advocate. I've never had a sideways glance from an officer anywhere they are legal and after sealing the covers, I've used it ten years on a motorcycle.....so you know they are well-built.

Because I ride bikes long distance, I bought a 8500 x50 Escort and mounted it behind the wind screen on my Vstrom1000(that's it, under the non-removable front strap). It sounds worse than it is but typically at touring speed, I'm seeing three digits....which in the real world prob equates to 90, still a good need for a detector.

I used a windshield mount in my trucks and SLK & swapped it around.

Back is '07 when I bought it and for next 8 years or so it was fantastic. Now, there are too many false signals......I also use the "under 65/70" as needed in MD and as appropriate when I travel.


FWIW;

Ohio was the worst for radar followed by NC but Ohio was always a bitZ but mostly only on the major roads, lots of radar on the TP riding out to Vintage Days. On the PA TP, the damned thing always "saw" around the mountains! The Eastbound, right after the Allegheny tunnel, on the right.....I would "see" him 3/4-1 mile away from line-of-sight!, AROUND the rock "hill".

No sense in spending money for laser detection....as mentioned above......once you know the party is on, your already done and caught.

I also commuted from MD to Va every morning for 5 years. I did the "Oh crap, i'm in VA" as I disconnected it from the lighter plug and velcro & stuffed it into my pocket while crossing the Wilson bridge. Too many stories of the Va troopers wanting the owner to destroy the property......that would not be a good situation for me to be in. I'm sure our resident trooper(who gets all my respect) can appreciate my efforts to avoid placing myself in that situation knowing it really wouldn't make anyone's day better, especially mine! The reality is that only the officers on a Fairfax sidestreet are using the instant-on
in my experience, to catch soccer moms going 45 in a 40....most on the highways are there for their presence to be the guide, while the radar gun is simply the enforcer.....he usually isn't out to "get" anyone. Most professional Troopers? Maryland, by far....




jeff