question about wiring my radar detector to a dashboard switch (CRUISE CONTROL)

ASSISTANCE Electrical & Entertainment Systems
1

okay, i’m curious about doing wiring my radar detector to work with a toggle switch so I can turn it on and off without being conspicuous about it.

I have my radar detector mounted ABOVE my rear-view mirror behind the factory “tint strip” at the top of the windshield. By tint strip, I mean the naturally darkened 6" area at the top of the windshield.

anyhow, If i want to turn the detector off as it sits NOW, I have to reach up towards the mirror and turn it off. Which, if I’m being followed by a police officer, is an obvious sign of having a detector and turning it off.

I’d like to wire it to a toggle switch that is on the dash, like the cruise control switch. That way I can turn it on and off inconspicuously without lifting my arm into obvious view, thus drawing attention to it.

i need to know which wire(s) to splice into on the Cruise Control switch, so it will be an “on/off” switch for the detector.

For the record, I am thinking of the Cruise Control switch as I removed the cruise control a few years back since I never used it anyway, and also, it didn’t work, lol. And anyone that KNOWS ME, knows that I have having things in my car that don’t do anything, lol. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, it comes out, or is modified to serve another purpose.

also, regarding an in-line fuse, where should i put it? as it stands, I have the detector hardwired to an open pin in the fuse-box, but I don’t currently have an inline fuse. would I put the fuse between the switch and the fuse-box, or between the switch and the detector?

Thanks in advance.

2

OK, So I may have figured out the solution, I just want to confirm.

if THIS POST IS CORRECT:
http://www.g2ic.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1415816&postcount=2
from THIS THREAD:
http://www.g2ic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144386&highlight=cruise+control+switch+diagram

then I should wire it to the LIGHT GREEN wire, correct? for it to operate like an ON/OFF switch? assuming this is correct, what should i do with the remaining portion of the Light Green wire? or should i leave the wire itself intact, splice into it, and put some shrink tubing on it to protect it?

fcm, my savior in the past, what is your input? also, what about the placement of the inline fuse?

please note, I HAVE REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL FROM THE CAR. The cruise control module, down in the kick panel area, is still there. how hard is that to remove?

3

The post is correct, the light green is the output from the switch when it is on, cut the light green lead and connect the detectors pos.(+) lead to it, you do not need to do anything to the other end of the light green.

The circuit is already fused, fuse 24 - 15A, [hot in run and start] in under dash fuse box.
If however there is no fuse for the detector, [normally found in the lighter adapter plug] you will need to install an in-line fuse, place it between the light green lead and the detector lead, make sure fuse is the right amperage for the detector.:whisper:94

4

yeah, the detector USED to have a fuse in it when i still had the cigarette lighter plug-in on it. but since i hardwired it to the under dash fuse box last year, i cut it off and never did install a new in-line fuse. since i’m going to be playing with the wiring again, i’m going to do it properly this time.

thanks again. btw, while you’re at it, I have another question. there were two wires inside the primary wire (a 2 wire setup, one hot, one ground). since there is already a lead for the ground on the cruise control switch, am I able to just disregard the ground wire on the detector? or should i use it. i’d assume that since the CC switch is “grounded” that if i kept the original ground wire, i’d have it grounded in 2 spots. is this okay?

i’m more of an “engine building”, hands on kind of guy, lol. I’m just now gaining an interest in the electronic side of things.

enough :blah:

thanks again. you’re probably the most helpful person in the “assistance” section.

5

The detector needs to be grounded.

Cut the light green and connect the detectors pos.(+) to it, connect the detectors ground to the CC switch ground, [black] make that connection a parallel connection, do not cut the black lead, that way the CC indicator light will still work, [now a radar detector on indicator light].:idea:94