DIY: Beltronics/Escort home-made hardwire and permanent mount - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SnowyCamaro · 01-31-2016, 05:22 PM

I have kindof a unique way of mounting my radar detector and i thought I'd share. Plus this will explain how you can use any house hold telephone wire for power.

(This works for my sti magnum, i cannot guarantee it will work or wont damage your detector)

First off here is a picture of the final product.

The first thing you will need to do is make your power harness. Take your standard telephone cable. Try to use a higher quality cable. The cheap ones are hard to strip cause the wires get really thin. There are 4 wires in most. You only need to use 2 of them. The 2 center pins are used for ground and power. And it is the opposite of what you think. Green is positive 14.4v switched power and red is the negative. This is just how it works out. MOST telephone cables should be similar. Double check the pin locations using the picture of my cable below.

I took this cable and added a spring to it that way i could tuck it away when i dont have the detector up. The reason being i dont use it in the city. I took a standard magnet you can pick up at just about any hardware store and stuck it to glass so i can lay the wire out of sight.

I then attached the "permanent mount" from ebay. I have these in both my cars and love em. They come with 3m tape and just stick onto the windsheild. The 3m tape comes off pretty easy and you can use a razor blade and goo gone to get rid of any residue. (I removed my last one from my old camaro).

Now run your cable inside the front of headliner over to the a pillar and down inside the weather stripping to the fuse panel. Where we will find switched power.

SnowyCamaro · 01-31-2016, 05:23 PM

Next finding switched power. First you will need a fuse tap and an appropriate fuse. I used 5Amp because i plan on running future lighting off this same circuit. But if you plan on using just your rd i would go with 1 or 2 amp.

I also like to wire this up with a switch for convenience, but that is up to you.

There is good switched power on the P18 circuit.

Remove the fuse and insert it into your fuse tap. Make sure the 20A fuse is still the main fuse for the circuit.

In order to fit the fuse tap into place you will need to remove the trunk relay and trim the plastic as shown. I used side cutters but whatever works for you.

Now install the fuse tap and then the relay back into place, you will have to bend the fuse tap a little bit. It's a snug fit.

Check with circuit tester for power.

I installed a switch under the dash by drilling a 1/2inch hole and mounted a rocker switch.

Then i used the large 13mm bolt as ground

Hook everything up and it should power your rd.

I like putting quick connects on everything including the telephone cable, then everything is clean if i have to take everything apart later. But thats just me.

grahak2 · 01-31-2016, 08:42 PM

Hi SnowyCamaro,

Real professional looking job! Thanks for the write up. I followed what you did but a little too much for me. I haven't ever drilled into the car or removed panels and messed with circuits. I envy the guys that can though.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to post this for those that want to give it a try. And still interesting for us non mechanical guys too.

Kevin

hazy · 02-01-2016, 08:26 AM

well done. I'm going to be stealing a few of these ideas.

Any reason you didn't just tap into the power on the mirror?

SnowyCamaro · 02-01-2016, 10:52 AM

Mainly because of how the wire hangs. It didnt look as clean to me. And adding a fuse up there is really ugly unless you have a nice little inline one. I was in need of power for lighting as well anyway and there should be lots of room on power socket circuits.

SnowyCamaro · 02-01-2016, 10:54 AM

It should be noted that on this install i had to make a ball of tape (similar to how you would tape a hockey stick) on the cable to essentially wedge the cable up in the head liner. Or else it would fall out. But i didnt have to do this on my 1lt. So its all dependant on how your headliner fits i guess.

macnroxy · 03-29-2017, 08:09 PM

I am installing amps in the trunk is there a good circuit to tap into (remote on/off) in the panel that's in the truck so I don't have to run the wire through the cabin?

SnowyCamaro · 09-03-2017, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macnroxy

I am installing amps in the trunk is there a good circuit to tap into (remote on/off) in the panel that's in the truck so I don't have to run the wire through the cabin?

Missed this, if you haven't done it yet. There is a fuse panel in trunk that you likely can find switch power. If I remember right the fuel control module circuit is like 25amp, should be able to tap a circuit off that maybe. I'd try to find a less "critical" circuit in there though.

The Boston acoustics stereo has an amp back there and there is a trigger wire you can use fed into that harness. Not sure about the non ba stereos.

Sent from my XT1563 using Tapatalk

01-31-2016, 05:22 PM	#1
SnowyCamaro Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1, 2006 Chevy Equinox Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 833	DIY: Beltronics/Escort home-made hardwire and permanent mount I have kindof a unique way of mounting my radar detector and i thought I'd share. Plus this will explain how you can use any house hold telephone wire for power. (This works for my sti magnum, i cannot guarantee it will work or wont damage your detector) First off here is a picture of the final product. The first thing you will need to do is make your power harness. Take your standard telephone cable. Try to use a higher quality cable. The cheap ones are hard to strip cause the wires get really thin. There are 4 wires in most. You only need to use 2 of them. The 2 center pins are used for ground and power. And it is the opposite of what you think. Green is positive 14.4v switched power and red is the negative. This is just how it works out. MOST telephone cables should be similar. Double check the pin locations using the picture of my cable below. I took this cable and added a spring to it that way i could tuck it away when i dont have the detector up. The reason being i dont use it in the city. I took a standard magnet you can pick up at just about any hardware store and stuck it to glass so i can lay the wire out of sight. I then attached the "permanent mount" from ebay. I have these in both my cars and love em. They come with 3m tape and just stick onto the windsheild. The 3m tape comes off pretty easy and you can use a razor blade and goo gone to get rid of any residue. (I removed my last one from my old camaro). Now run your cable inside the front of headliner over to the a pillar and down inside the weather stripping to the fuse panel. Where we will find switched power. __________________ Last edited by SnowyCamaro; 01-31-2016 at 10:18 PM.

01-31-2016, 05:23 PM	#2
SnowyCamaro Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1, 2006 Chevy Equinox Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 833	Next finding switched power. First you will need a fuse tap and an appropriate fuse. I used 5Amp because i plan on running future lighting off this same circuit. But if you plan on using just your rd i would go with 1 or 2 amp. I also like to wire this up with a switch for convenience, but that is up to you. There is good switched power on the P18 circuit. Remove the fuse and insert it into your fuse tap. Make sure the 20A fuse is still the main fuse for the circuit. In order to fit the fuse tap into place you will need to remove the trunk relay and trim the plastic as shown. I used side cutters but whatever works for you. Now install the fuse tap and then the relay back into place, you will have to bend the fuse tap a little bit. It's a snug fit. Check with circuit tester for power. I installed a switch under the dash by drilling a 1/2inch hole and mounted a rocker switch. Then i used the large 13mm bolt as ground Hook everything up and it should power your rd. I like putting quick connects on everything including the telephone cable, then everything is clean if i have to take everything apart later. But thats just me. __________________ Last edited by SnowyCamaro; 01-31-2016 at 05:39 PM.

02-01-2016, 10:52 AM	#5
SnowyCamaro Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1, 2006 Chevy Equinox Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 833	Mainly because of how the wire hangs. It didnt look as clean to me. And adding a fuse up there is really ugly unless you have a nice little inline one. I was in need of power for lighting as well anyway and there should be lots of room on power socket circuits. __________________

02-01-2016, 10:54 AM	#6
SnowyCamaro Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1, 2006 Chevy Equinox Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 833	It should be noted that on this install i had to make a ball of tape (similar to how you would tape a hockey stick) on the cable to essentially wedge the cable up in the head liner. Or else it would fall out. But i didnt have to do this on my 1lt. So its all dependant on how your headliner fits i guess. __________________

03-29-2017, 08:09 PM	#7
macnroxy Drives: 2015 2ss Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: fonddulac wisconsin Posts: 115	fuse panel in trunck I am installing amps in the trunk is there a good circuit to tap into (remote on/off) in the panel that's in the truck so I don't have to run the wire through the cabin?

01-31-2016, 08:42 PM	#3
grahak2 Drives: 2021 scatpack challenger 6spd cinna Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: AZ Posts: 427	Hi SnowyCamaro, Real professional looking job! Thanks for the write up. I followed what you did but a little too much for me. I haven't ever drilled into the car or removed panels and messed with circuits. I envy the guys that can though. Thanks a lot for taking the time to post this for those that want to give it a try. And still interesting for us non mechanical guys too. Kevin

02-01-2016, 08:26 AM	#4
hazy Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: H-Town Posts: 1,037	well done. I'm going to be stealing a few of these ideas. Any reason you didn't just tap into the power on the mirror?