Hey everybody! I was wanting to wire my radar detector to turn on and off with my truck, and didnt want to use my uppfitter switches, does anybody know witch wire will work best to splice into for this? thanks for the help.

 

Just get a multi-meter and see which fuses are hot with ignition, then then use a fuse tap. Most radar detectors do not require a very high amperage draw, so that is the easiest way to do it. Otherwise you can just crawl under the dash and hunt around until you find something that's hot on ignition. Another option would be to run the feed through a relay that's tapped off ignition power.

 

Basically it says the white/lt blue for 2005-7, and purple for 2008. Don't have for previous years.

Upfitter Customer Access Wires
F250 / 350 / 450 / 550
_Description of the PCM Pin or Circuit's Function_ Name Tag PCM Pin Circuit No. Wire Color Name Tag PCM Pin Circuit No. Wire Color
General Pass-Thru
Pass-Thru Wires (blunt-cut at both ends) Pass-Thru n/a 1353 Red Pass-Thru n/a CAC09 Brown / White
Pass-Thru Wires (blunt-cut at both ends) Pass-Thru n/a 1487 Dark Blue Pass-Thru n/a CAC10 White
Pass-Thru Wires (blunt-cut at both ends) Pass-Thru n/a 1495 White Pass-Thru n/a CAC11 White / Orange
Pass-Thru Wires (blunt-cut at both ends) Pass-Thru n/a 1501 Black Pass-Thru n/a CAC12 Gray / Orange
Battery Power and Signal Sources
Wire under mid-IP / Hot-in-Run (10-amps) n/a 294 White / Lt. Blue n/a CBP44 Purple
Upfitter Switch Option Aux 1 (30 Amp) n/a 1936 Orange/Lt. Green Aux 1 (30 Amp) n/a CAC05 Yellow
Upfitter Switch Option Aux 2 (30 Amp) n/a 1933 Orange Aux 2 (30 Amp) n/a CAC06 Green/Brown
Upfitter Switch Option Aux 3 (10 Amp) n/a 1934 Orange Yellow Aux 3 (10 Amp) n/a CAC07 Violet/Green
Upfitter Switch Option Aux 4 (10 Amp) n/a 1935 Orange / Lt. Blue Aux 4 (15 Amp) n/a CAC08 Brown
Filename: UpfitterCustomerAccessWiresR5.xls

email "alchymist_at_comcast_dot_net if you want the PDF file.

 

I have my radar detector directly wired and it does turn off when I turn the truck off, but I still have to press the button on the radar detector to turn it on when I start the truck. I guess if your detector has an ON/OFF flip type switch you'll be fine, otherwise you'll still have to press the On button as I do

 

Just use any HOT wire under the dash, but make sure you use a fuse on the wire leading to your detector.

 

You can also run wires from the interior lights. If you are mounting below the mirror

 

I have mine tapped into the radio fuse on the fuse block. Works perfect.

 

thanks im gonna try all this tomorrow, and went and got the fuse add on to plug in, also i had a debate with a buddy this weekend about placement, i say a radar detector should be down low near the dash he says up high near the rear view mirror, already my truck sits high so putting it higher to me wouldnt be the right way, but again i may be wrong or it dosent even matter.

 

It needs to be where the antenna's have a clear view front (and rear if yours reads behind). Mine is mounted as high as I can get it so cars in front won't interfer. Laser won't matter unless you're specifically equiped to deal with it. By the time the detector goes off he's most likely got you. You can get lots of cool info here: http://www.radardetector.net/index.php

 

Thanks for the website i found out alot of stuff there, and mainly the radar detector my wife got me is a pos! that's awsome! i didnt realize or even know cobra's arent all that great, im gonna take it back and shop for an escort.

 

I have a 2008 f250. I just tried placing my wire around several fuses in the fuse box and all of them are hot all the time. Even ones like wiper and sub that are off when ignition is off. Is the fuse box always hot on 2008 trucks? I'm looking to have my detector come on and off automatically.

 

I drove with Cobra till I got a ticket from the cop who was in front of me and he read my speed faster than Cobra read his radar.
Than I bought ValentineOne and drove with 2 detectors side by side for over 2000 miles. They acted like being on different planets.
Cobra was giving constant beeps, what to some degree I figure out were CB radios, cellphones and than was giving late reading about Police radars, V1 was sitting quiet most of the time, while sensing cops for a mile.
I had too much wires on my dashboard, so drilled a hole on the top of the dash and run a wire to a socket there. My truck had a wire for CB radio installed by PO, so I used it for the purpose just fine.
Bad news is that cops, at least on West Coast got new technology and mostly are using trigger activated, hand-held radars. With such equipment the detector will only confirm YOU'VE GOT BUSTED.
Still with 1 mile range I am getting warning when cop clocks somebody in front of me.

 

Its DONE!

i mounted my Valentine 1 at the bottom of the windsheild in the dead center. Then ran the wire toward the passanger side at the bottom of the window. Crossed around the side of the dash and down the A pillar to the fuse box. Then ran the hot wire around the trailer fuse and plugged the fuse back into the box. Ran the ground to a close by screw attached to the frame and she's ready to go with no showing wires. I'm a happy camper now.....