Okay I have bought a Valentine One Detector. I Now want to both mount and tap into the power of the Rear mirror. As any one actually done this, and what mount would you recommend, also send any pictures on how how you drilled holes in the mirror and the circuits you connect.

Cheers

Bollocks187

 

Ah come on and do it right!!

You have a Jag after all.

V1
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I had my 9500ix hardwired into the fuse panel with a fuse tap, because I wanted a non-permanent hardwired solution. The cable is run behind the dash, up the a-pillar and the detector is mounted with suction cups in the very top left of the windshield. I like the blendmounts / mirror mounts however I don't like having the detector in plain view in the middle of the windshield. I can put up some pics if you want to see it.

 

I didn't take any pics of the install, but I have the V1 mounted with clinging cups to the left of the rear view mirror and a dash cam mounted to the right. Both of them have their cables soldered into the rear view mirror power. I use an exacto knife to cut away enough of the insulation to solder the wires and then wrap with electric tape. I have done this on many cars for many years, and it's worked great. You'll have to use a volt meter to figure out which wires have 12v when the car is on. I didn't make a note of them.

You don't need to drill any holes. There is a hole at the top of the plastic clam that covers the mirror mount. You can feed wires up through that hole and into the headliner, and then back down to the V1. Extremely clean install.

I don't see the need to spend $500 on a V1 mirror because it messes with a perfectly good rear view mirror, and you need to mount the V1 high in the car to get better reception, so it's going to be up there on the windshield anyway right up against the mirror. Read their mirror FAQ. They are smoking something strong if they think it's a good idea to mount the radar in the headliner.

 

Thanks good advice

 

I ran the power to my Escort Passport Max up the A pillar from the fusebox. A bit of a long-winded solution but ended up being quite tidy.

 

With the fuse panel in the passenger kick panel it's very easy to tuck the wires under the roof liner and A-pillar. Besides, I believe the mirror is on a 5A fuse, which may not be ample enough to add a radar detector to without drawing more than 5 amps and blowing the fuse.

 

I'm using an Escort in my 2013 XJ. My normal approach has been to position the Escort on the dash and placed on a sticky, jell pad. Hardly ever moves and I can move it from car to car.


However, the 20133 XJ has nary a level spot on the dash to do this. Suction cups are not an option since there is a clear UV/heat reducing film applied. So what to do?


The Escort will just barely fit, way to the left corner of the dash, perched on the ledge at the bottom of the windshield. I know that higher is better, but this was the best place for me.


I purchased a "straight" power cord versus the "coiled" cord that came with the unit. I worked it in behind the dash, around the bottom of the "A" pillar, down between the door and the dash (attached with stick-on Velcro strips), under the dash, along the bottom and under the paneling of the center console and plugged (temporarily) into one of the power outlets.


My intent will be to have it "hard wired" at that point, later on.


Not very professional, but it seems to work for me. And, there are no visible wires.


Luck
King Fala

 

A couple of us here hardwired to the mirrror. Check out this thread that may give you some ideas:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...n-74089/page2/

Here's where I ordered my stealth cord from, http://www.safe-n-sound1.com/Valentine.html

 

You can also get your 12v from the driver's visor mirror light.

I see MANY pro installations using that.

 

Is that switched power?

 

I've never tried it, but could give it a shot tomorrow. Although if you have an XF, you can open the visor, shut the driver's door and lock the car. If the light goes out, it's switched.

I would think it would be, as I believe it's the same circuit as the roof console.

 

I just went out to my car to get something, and I checked the visors. It's not switched power.

Connecting a radar detector to full time power is not a "pro" install. But then again "pros" are often just people that do the wrong thing day in and day out and call themselves pros and charge for their mistakes.

For those that don't think the rear view mirror can handle a V1, I have a V1 AND a dash camera connected, and the fuse is just fine, thank you. And that's on both my XF's.

 

THAT looks cool!

 

Yes it does!
Too much money for me but it is a neat install.
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Am I missing something here or a lot of you creating a ton of work for yourselfs……maybe my install is too simple if your unit involves more than one piece of equipment. My install was to unclip the mirror clam shell and find the appropriate wires (shop manual shows them) and slip in straight wire, into existing bundle without detaching anything (mfg access. mentioned in previous message) and using RJ11 connector, attach to radar and use any of many compact mounts behind the mirror (most of the dimpled black on the windshield does cover 95% of the mounts base) and you have an easily removable radar unit when needed for storage.

 

Chuckh007..

That looks and sounds so simple and looks purrfect !

Since I like to copy what others have done before since it works What is the windshield suction cup ? Do you know where i can get a shop manual ?

 

What does "Connecting a radar detector to full time power is not a "pro" install" mean? You said your visor is full time power. Don't you just, uhhh, c l o s e it and it magically shuts off? Yes, some ppl would prefer it to come on every time they start their car and then shut off. I don't use either my V1 or 9500ix all the time as it's not needed. I have had one visor mounted and unswitched. I prefer it that way. But then again, I can figure out where the power button is. And yes, I've forgotten to turn it off on occasion. Strangely, most detectors don't draw a lot of current. I've attached the V1 manual. It draws 225ma at idle. I suspect it would take several weeks to kill a decent battery. My car started a week later when I got back from vacation.

If you've been successful with rear view mirror installs, more power to you. But just because you find B+ at a switched location and it works in real life doesn't make it a Pro install until you trace the logic of the circuit. Switched circuits aren't switched by a physical switch any more. Various logic modules supply power and ground, and are controlled through multiple networks. When you piggy back off a switched circuit, you stand a chance of backfeeding to multiple other ones. Yours may be doing it now, with no apparent consequence. Unless you've traced the wiring diagram, and I bet you haven't you are just "lucky," not "pro".

 

OK….finally, somebody is listening lol. The wiring accessory and the windshield mount were both obtained on E-Bay……do a search and you will find many mounts. I had to find one that would fold the right way so that the radar unit (9500 black) would just slip under the mirror snuggly without vibrating. The wire is about 12 inches long and has a RJ11 connector at one end for the radar unit and a very stiff, straight, slim and sharp exposed wire at the other end for slipping into the wiring bundles behind the mirror (inside of the plastic clam shell surrounding the mirror). The manual showed me the one that was 12V pos and the one that was negative. Yes, the power is ignition switch related and works beautifully.

 

Tell me what exactly you think you will be "backfeeding to multiple other ones" with a radar detector?

I have a EE degree, so this is going to be interesting and fun... LOL!

(oh, EE stands for Electrical Engineering)