Mounting / Wiring Radar Detector

[w1kedz]

There is no need to splice wires! Just purchase the power cord for the mirror. It works great! You will need the MICRO one for the 2011 Ford Explorer.

http://store.blendmount.com/mirrort...rd-with-inline-fuse-p361c117.aspx?Thread=True

This kind of depends on what radar detector you're using no?

 

[w1kedz]

There is no need to splice wires! Just purchase the power cord for the mirror. It works great! You will need the MICRO one for the 2011 Ford Explorer.

http://store.blendmount.com/mirrort...rd-with-inline-fuse-p361c117.aspx?Thread=True

This cord is 25$ plus shipping... a pack of solderless splice connectors is 2$ from radio shack (cheaper online) and requires no cutting, or alteration of the stock wiring. I'm confused on why this is a better option?

 

[jeeden]

drober30: He is talking about suitcase connectors, not technically splicing.

w1kedz: drober30's solution is a better option for the following reasons...

- No technical damage to original wires that can introduce a point of failure
- If you want to remove it, you don't have connectors left or technical damage to wiring
- Smaller, easier to hide
- Looks like factory install
- Easier to install (not that either way is a brute)

 

[w1kedz]

I don't see how the mirror tap works.. on the page linked above it says "Simply Insert the Two Prongs for +12 volt "Ignition" Power and Ground" ... insert the two prongs into where? That cord doesn't look very "factory installed" to me. Mine looks factory installed.

 

[BobWiersema]

Thanks guys! As soon as I get this mounted I'm going to be hitting 108mph every chance I get, causing untold accidents and doom! (just kidding, tons of studies have shown that speed is not the determining factor for the majority of accidents on highways).

I wouldn't go over 88mph, I remember seeing a movie about crazy things happening at that speed. May have been a different type of car, dont know if that matters.

 

[w1kedz]

I wouldn't go over 88mph, I remember seeing a movie about crazy things happening at that speed. May have been a different type of car, dont know if that matters.

It's all good as long as you remember to disable the flux capacitor. Plus even with it enabled, I'm not sure where you would get the 1.21 gigawatts required to power it

 

[drober30]

I don't see how the mirror tap works.. on the page linked above it says "Simply Insert the Two Prongs for +12 volt "Ignition" Power and Ground" ... insert the two prongs into where? That cord doesn't look very "factory installed" to me. Mine looks factory installed.

On the back of the auto dimming mirror, there is a factory harness that plugs in. You just squeeze each prong into the plastic connector and they make contact with the factory wire connector.

I agree that the cable is over priced but I'm very happy that this company offers it and it took me two minutes to install.

You can copy it and make your own for less but you cant get a better setup for all the reasons jeeden listed!

 

[pwscott]

Need Help Determining Which Pin in Dimming Mirror To 'Tap'

I need a little help here folks as to which pin/hole I need to insert the ends of this awesome cable from BlendMount

I have the mount for my Escort 9500ix, I need to insert the wires in the cable into Ground and 'Power' where the 'Power' line I grab is turned on and off with the ignition. I do have a multimeter but it's awful tight back there....anybody already determine this??

My Explorer is a 2012 Limited with the 301A package. The molex connector snaps out of the mirror very easily.

Any help appreciated thanks!!

On the back of the auto dimming mirror, there is a factory harness that plugs in. You just squeeze each prong into the plastic connector and they make contact with the factory wire connector.
....

 

[spitfisher]

The link I posted to the Blendmount, mounts the detector to the mirror, not the windshield. Just pointing that out as others read through this thread.

I used to have a simular set up with my radar detector in my saab, except I would mount it above the mirror-it would sit on top of the mirror. it was virtually invisable from the outside the car-including from the rear. Inside it was very conveniant.

 

[pwscott]

I used to have a simular set up with my radar detector in my saab, except I would mount it above the mirror-it would sit on top of the mirror. it was virtually invisable from the outside the car-including from the rear. Inside it was very conveniant.

That would conceal it better I suppose, but it has sensors front and rear and I'd rather have it below the mirror so it has as much 360 degree exposure as possible. In a dicey area I can always un-click the RJ-45 power and slide it off the metal mount and take it with or stash it in the car.

Thanks.

 

[jksanford]

I need a little help here folks as to which pin/hole I need to insert the ends of this awesome cable from BlendMount

I have the mount for my Escort 9500ix, I need to insert the wires in the cable into Ground and 'Power' where the 'Power' line I grab is turned on and off with the ignition. I do have a multimeter but it's awful tight back there....anybody already determine this??

My Explorer is a 2012 Limited with the 301A package. The molex connector snaps out of the mirror very easily.

Any help appreciated thanks!!

I just got a 2012 Limited with the 301A Package. Did you ever figure this out? I'd also like to install the Escort Laser Shifters, so I may just hide everything under the dash and run the wire towards the mirror instead of getting power up there...

 

[pwscott]

I just got a 2012 Limited with the 301A Package. Did you ever figure this out? I'd also like to install the Escort Laser Shifters, so I may just hide everything under the dash and run the wire towards the mirror instead of getting power up there...

I got the mount and cable listed above- love it- very high quality in all respects. I asked the dealer for a schematic of the mirror connector which he gave me but for an hour of shop time they made the connection at the back of the mirror. The mechanic said the Molex connector was very tight so he just scraped the correct two wires and soldered the detector cable on. Works great and no worry of it vibrating loose.

 

[travishamockery]

Does anyone who has used the molex connetor's how a picture to show which is 12+ and which is ground? I loaned out my multimeter and wanted to get this installed today. Thanks!

 

[pwscott]

I have the schematic from the Ford Dealer mechanic in the car. I will grab it and post a PDF of it in a minute. It's from my 2012 Explorer Limited with 301A.

 

[pwscott]

Unable to upload- Dropbox Link

So the forum doesn't let me upload a PDF despite being a paid member. I then tried a JPEG or a BMP file but it limits those to 800 x 800. Kind of ridiculous.

I put the PDF in a folder on Dropbox. Just click the link to grab it and then I will throw it away in Dropbox.com

Note that the first page is the schematic for the connector...I don't honestly know if the other page is even related- it says power mirrors but is real hard to read even ion paper. I have no other detail as I let the mechanic strip the wire in the harness and attach the radar detector cord and solder it since he said the connector was super tight to try and stick a pin into. Paid them one hour of labor for that.

Good luck- it was worth it- love my mount.

Schematic in Dropbox

 

[travishamockery]

So the forum doesn't let me upload a PDF despite being a paid member. I then tried a JPEG or a BMP file but it limits those to 800 x 800. Kind of ridiculous.

I put the PDF in a folder on Dropbox. Just click the link to grab it and then I will throw it away in Dropbox.com

Note that the first page is the schematic for the connector...I don't honestly know if the other page is even related- it says power mirrors but is real hard to read even ion paper. I have no other detail as I let the mechanic strip the wire in the harness and attach the radar detector cord and solder it since he said the connector was super tight to try and stick a pin into. Paid them one hour of labor for that.

Good luck- it was worth it- love my mount.

Schematic in Dropbox

Awesome, thanks so much, I really appreciate the help!

*edit* damn, it doesn't show which are ground and which are 12+. Guess I'll have to go steal my multimeter back. I do see what they mean about the connector being tight. They will fit though, just had to pull the casing down a bit and they pop in.

 

[Lhymes]

Awesome, thanks so much, I really appreciate the help!

*edit* damn, it doesn't show which are ground and which are 12+. Guess I'll have to go steal my multimeter back. I do see what they mean about the connector being tight. They will fit though, just had to pull the casing down a bit and they pop in.

According to that PDF, 1 is the 12v, 4 is the ground.

Thanks for the scan, pwscott! Big help, man.

 

[travishamockery]

According to that PDF, 1 is the 12v, 4 is the ground.

Thanks for the scan, pwscott! Big help, man.

Yeah, 1 is 12v and 4 is ground, except they are in use for the mirror which this is a diagram for. I'm trying to figure out, with no luck still since I'm without the multimeter, which of the unused ones are 12v and ground.

anyone who has used this connection, can you post a pic to show which you used? thanks and happy thanksgiving!

 

[Lhymes]

Yeah, 1 is 12v and 4 is ground, except they are in use for the mirror which this is a diagram for. I'm trying to figure out, with no luck still since I'm without the multimeter, which of the unused ones are 12v and ground.

anyone who has used this connection, can you post a pic to show which you used? thanks and happy thanksgiving!

It doesn't work that way. There should be enough amperage to power both the mirror and radar detector. As for grounds, you cand daisy-chain them till the cows come home.

 

[pwscott]

Yeah, 1 is 12v and 4 is ground, except they are in use for the mirror which this is a diagram for. I'm trying to figure out, with no luck still since I'm without the multimeter, which of the unused ones are 12v and ground.

anyone who has used this connection, can you post a pic to show which you used? thanks and happy thanksgiving!

The idea is to tap the power to the mirror...no big deal that it's in use already. When I remote start the radar detector isn't on and when I get in and tap the start/ignition switch twice it comes on. Very cool.