Hello--I intend to hardwire my trusty Valentine 1 into my MY05 S2k. Valentine says that if you are not experienced with auto electrical system, it mgith be best o have an expert do it. I am too uncomfoprtable with such projects, but don't want to end up inadvertently (stupidly) causing damage. What, if any, are the things to watch out for? What is the hardest or trickiest part of hardwiring the unit? shoudl I just pay someone to do it? Thanks for your help

 

Take it by an audio shop. Should cost you no more than $30 to do this.

 

many people on here have done it....I think the most popular thing is to mount it to the windscreen / hidden compartment and to tap into the 12V power supply in that console.

John

 

It is not that hard, but if you are not comfortable with it then paying someone to do it is not a bad idea.

Are you going to mount the detector on the front glass?
To make it easy to do, you could pick up a LittleFuse "Add-a-circuit" as shown in this link:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.c...tnumber=071-580

Remove the "knee pad" on the driver's side (little odd shaped "pad" on the side of the dash) to expose an easy to use ground screw. This "pad" comes off with a single screw and some easy to pop off clips.

I ran the wire from the detector under the liner, popper the a pillar trim off and ran it under that, then down and under the dash to the wired power tap. I have the remote display on top of the steering column with Velcro. On my 01 I had it on the right side of the dash, but could not do it on the 05 due to the defroster switch.

Dennis

 

Thanks, John and Dennis, for your tips. Please don't think me too much the ignoramus. but how does one "tap into" the 12 volt power supply. Do you think it preferable to mount on windshield back by the screen? Also, Dennis, what liner are you referring to? I will have to check the link later when I get home from work. Thanks again, guys.

Louis

 

John is talking about mounting the detector in the hidden compartment out of sight and using the remote display. If you do that, you can access the wires going to the cig lighter plug to the power.

I have mine on the glass so I can get the best "signal" and laser warning (not that they do much good). So the wire for that is run under what would be the "headliner" in another car over to the a-pillar, then under that down.

Dennis

 

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=121061

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32749

these should help. it truly is a simple thing to do. just be sure that there is a fuse inline to the detector.

 

Hi Dennis. Just checked out the "Little Fuse/Add a Circuit". What a great idea. I ordered a couple of them. Thanks!

 

I have used the "poor man's" version of this - which is a little tap that slides under one leg of the existing fuse and has a quick disconnect for the new circuit. It is not NEARLY as nice as the LittleFuse gadget. Ordering them mail order is a good deal, since these locally can run $20 or more.

Dennis

 

The second of the two links that PJK3 kindly provided show how to use the accessory plugs in the fuse box to do this hardwire, with an in-line fuse for the detector (my V1's hardwire cable came with one). This makes it the easiest, cleanest hardwire I've had in several cars. This piggyback and in-line taps are seriously kludgey by comparison.

Go with those instructions and you can't go wrong. HPH