Radar Detector hardwire?

[Rupes]

Has anyone bought and used the Escort Maxcam 360c and found it to:

1.) Be powered adequately by the USB port on the mirror with a 5v to 12v connector, and
2.) Worth the (very steep) price?

Ideally, I'd like to have my radar detector and camera all in one unit, and the options for something like this are very limited.

 

[Dan C]

I am using a 5V to 12V USB cable with the Uniden R8, and it works perfectly.

 

[kitkat]

I bypassed the USB entirely and used a wire tap into the connector of the USB module. The USB module has a blue (12v) and black (ground) wire.

The thinnest wire tap from these works well:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5JH9NCH

View attachment 45104

Anyone here running a higher current device and trying to use a 5v->12v DC-DC converter is going to need to use this method instead. Going from 12V -> USB A Module with limited current -> 5V -> DC-DC Converter -> 12V RJ11 makes no damn sense. It's a $13 for the set of cables and 15 minutes to install and looks just as clean as a single cable. The back of the connector is on a 10 amp fuse.

 

[Rupes]

Anyone here running a higher current device and trying to use a 5v->12v DC-DC converter is going to need to use this method instead. Going from 12V -> USB A Module with limited current -> 5V -> DC-DC Converter -> 12V RJ11 makes no damn sense. It's a $13 for the set of cables and 15 minutes to install and looks just as clean as a single cable. The back of the connector is on a 10 amp fuse.

This is going to hopefully be the solve for me too. As @Lsp408 shared, the 5v to 12v connecter linked in this thread doesn't hold enough power for long enough to work with the Escort Maxcam360. Mine gives a "low voltage" warning after a few minutes using the USB method.

Question though - how did you remove the plastic shield on the rearview mirror to gain access to the wire tap?

 

[kitkat]

This is going to hopefully be the solve for me too. As @Lsp408 shared, the 5v to 12v connecter linked in this thread doesn't hold enough power for long enough to work with the Escort Maxcam360. Mine gives a "low voltage" warning after a few minutes using the USB method.

Question though - how did you remove the plastic shield on the rearview mirror to gain access to the wire tap?

The plastic shield comes off very easily and has two parts, the smaller piece surrounding the mirror stalk and the bigger outer part.

- Angle the mirror down
- Grab a 90 degree pick and hook the bottom edge / sides of the slats closest to the mirror and pull outward, this usually pops right off.

- Use the same 90 degree pick and hook the outsides of the plastic vents nearest where the clips are marked here and pull outwards, should pop right off as well.

 

[MrRogers]

I bypassed the USB entirely and used a wire tap into the connector of the USB module. The USB module has a blue (12v) and black (ground) wire.

The thinnest wire tap from these works well:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5JH9NCH

View attachment 45104

I've been having some trouble popping off that cover. Any tips?

 

[kitkat]

I've been having some trouble popping off that cover. Any tips?

Another local Emira friend actually took a video of me popping his off, I pinged him to upload the video.

Get a pick to pull the center piece near the mirror stalk out first.

Then use the pick to pull sides of the cover near the glass — there’s vents that make it easy to hook into.

Should come right out.

 

[NorCalEmira]

This one plugs into the mirror USB jack and powers my Valentine perfectly.

5V USB Type A to 12V RJ11 Escort / Valentine / Uniden Radar Detector Power Cord - Universal

5V USB to 12V RJ11 Power Cable Plug and Play Solution to Power Many Radar Detectors Aides in cleaning up installations 12

www.stickerfab.com

 

[T6061]

This one plugs into the mirror USB jack and powers my Valentine perfectly.

5V USB Type A to 12V RJ11 Escort / Valentine / Uniden Radar Detector Power Cord - Universal

5V USB to 12V RJ11 Power Cable Plug and Play Solution to Power Many Radar Detectors Aides in cleaning up installations 12

www.stickerfab.com

Works for my Gen 2 V1 as well. Have had zero issues. Coming up on 4000 miles...

 

[Rupes]

I think it really depends on the detector and power use. That exact 5v to 12v power cable linked above worked for about 5 minutes before powering down the radar and becoming very hot to the touch. Probably because it's an Escort Maxcam 360 and needs a whole lot of power for the radar + camera combo. The wire tap method explained by Kitkat ultimately worked for me without issue.

 

[MrRogers]

Works for my Gen 2 V1 as well. Have had zero issues. Coming up on 4000 miles...

Just ordered this one as I will be using a V1 Gen 2 as well. Thanks!

 

[grezex]

Another local Emira friend actually took a video of me popping his off, I pinged him to upload the video.

Get a pick to pull the center piece near the mirror stalk out first.

Then use the pick to pull sides of the cover near the glass — there’s vents that make it easy to hook into.

Should come right out.

Were you able to get video? I'm having trouble taking out the center piece too with a pick.

 

[docron]

I have a Escort Redline 360C. Just like my Alfa 4C, I hardwired using Positaps into the Emira’s rearview autodimmer wires. Works perfectly.

For my Wolfbox install g900 Pro install and swapping out OEM mirror entirely, i just bought a 1ft USB cable from Amazon to power using USB plug up there. I thought about hardwiring it to the passenger footwell fusebox since i have that open right now to wire up some Opt7 footwell lighting. We’ll see how ambitious I feel today. For Wolfbox, i am waiting on burnt Ti exhaust tips from Aerie so that I only have to remove rear bumper once for exhaust tips and rearview camera/tapping reverse light for camera signal.

 

[docron]

For removal of mirror housing, position mirror down to get access for little panel. Stick plastic pry tool or fingers in headliner lining top side and pull downwards. For larger housing, there are two retaining clip to disengage on the windshield side. pull downwards at front corners to disengage. Just be careful not to pull on the front edge where those skinny plastic vents are located and break them like i did.

There are the 2 wires harness plugs to disengage for the USB port from the larger housing and the autodimmer wires on the mirror.

To remove mirror and mirror mount for more wire access, just have to use Torx bit for the 3 screws. You dont have to remove the screws entirely as the metal mirror mount has screw holes that are slot and slide. See attached picture.

 

[kitkat]

Were you able to get video? I'm having trouble taking out the center piece too with a pick.

Here I made a video for you just right now:

 

[grezex]

That did it, thank you!!

I was yankin' on the bottom side (thought the diagrm showed bottom piece is where the cilp needs to be pulled free).
The big piece just kind of fell/popped out with little to no effort as overs have shown.

That wolfbox is pretty cool; looks very straight forward to install, thanks for sharing.

 

[rileydawgg]

Thanks for this thread. Installed my Uniden R7 today w/wiretap, no problems.