Has anyone tapped the Rearview Mirror for a power source

[00firebird]

My car does sometimes sit for 2-3 days. It is a Bel RX65, soft button.

What if I put an add-a-circuit thing into the radio fuse spot? that sounds like it would work.
Heres the part at autozone for 6 bucks, I could care less if I have to spend a little to make it nice.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...fier=32414_0_0_

does that mean I would put a 15amp and then a 5amp or 10amp in the other slot

[BP_Z28]

I just stripped the power wire for the radar detector and then made a hook with the wire, pushed the one side of the fuse into the hook, and then plugged the fuse in. Plenty of room that way and as long as you don't have to pull the fuse out, it's pretty secure. And it's non-invasive. I used the radio fuse - only has power when the car is on, off after 10 minutes or when door opens.

Exactly what I did.. Just do this and be done with it . My car sits for like 2 days and works perfectly fine

[birdie2000]

The sitting is only an issue if you hook it up to constant power and never turn the unit off. Sitting with the radar detector turned on won't make a difference IMO, a couple weeks and it might run your battery down.

If you don't mind turning the thing on every time you get in the car, by all means use radio/accessory/whatever switched 12v fuse. If you don't want to do that, find a fuse with constant power and just leave the thing on all the time.

[00firebird]

which fuses are constant power? It sounds like I can't win either way. I either have to turn it on because it isn't constant power, or if it has constant power, it doesn't shut off even when the car is off. Isn't there a way to have it hooked to something that will turn on every time the car is started?

[birdie2000]

More than likely no because it has a "soft" power button. It would have to remember what state it was in when it lost power so that it could resume that state when power is applied again. In other words, it would have to turn itself back on again.

Do this test. Plug it in via cig lighter and power it on. Unplug the power cord without powering down the detector. Now plug it back in. Does it turn itself back on or stay off? This is essentially what you're doing every time you turn your car off if you hook it up to accessory power. If for some reason it does power back up, then you're golden. I'd be surprised though.

Older radar detectors were great because they usually incorporated the power with a mechanical volume knob. When power came back on, the switch was still on so the unit would power up again.

I can't remember which fuses are constant power. I'd guess HVAC or the cig/accy fuses, but don't take my word on it. Best way is to use a multimeter or test light and check.

[00firebird]

added pics to the first post of the hardwire install.

Using the add-a-circuit from autozone and the Radio fuse, radar turns on and off with the car and I never have to press a button.

[birdie2000]

Looks good! That's sweet that yours works that way, the last couple I've had have not.