Radar Power Cord?

[Lofty]

I'm looking at some radar detectors on ebay.
None come with the power cord.
Are all cig adapter power cords the same?
I know the sizes can be different, but are the cords rated differently?
Thanks.

[1gDSM4g63]

A cigarette power is 12v. You can just strip the cigarette power cord and find a power line anywhere in the car and will be sufficient power for a radar detector.

[Lofty]

Originally Posted by 1gDSM4g63

A cigarette power cord is 12v. You can just strip the cigarette power cord and find a power line anywhere in the car and will be sufficiently power for a radar detector.

Cool beans.
I just bought a beltronics 610i superwideband laser/radar detector.
I'll see how it works.
Thank you!

[Defiant]

Not all radar detectors (Too Late, Sign Here indicators) are 12V. Check yours before making a direct hookup.

[steve]

The input voltage is all the same (they all plug into the same cig lighter socket) but the output of each is unique to the radar detector as are the connectors into the detector.

[interex]

My Cobra Radar Detector has a 9v input. My cig plug has a voltage regulator inside it. For me to wire it in I would have to wire it on the input side of the regulator. I dunno if putting 12v directly into it will harm it though.

[Wildman95GS-T]

I am sure this is why a direct power cord is not provided.

[steve]

Originally Posted by interex

I dunno if putting 12v directly into it will harm it though.

It a pretty safe bet that it will.

[bluetlr2001]

If you go to a stereo place or just a parts store you can but a female cig plug and just wire it in and the plug your radar detector plug in it and put it under your dash somewere.

[Defiant]

Something in the main electronics (the Gunn generator for the sensing horn?) on some detectors is 9V, and instead of bulking-up the detector, manufacturers put the converter in the lighter plug. Early Unidens were this way, and today most GPS units (TomTom) are low-voltage as well. Running 12V to a 9V or 6V accessory will either let all its magic smoke leak out, or (if it's a quality product) will simply not operate. The easiest solution is to get an aftermarket socket and hook it up under the dash, run a zip tie around the plug and the socket to keep them together, and run the power source to where the accessory will be mounted.
If you accessory is 12V, you can do some tidy stuff using the dome light power source.

Keep in mind also that many accessories run their plug with the TIP -the inside of the power plug- negative, and that nice, shiny RING positive -the outside part of the plug that's going to be touching everything it lays against- which will short-out as soon as it hits metal on the car's interior. Most power supplies that plug into the cigarette lighter have a fuse inside the nose of the plug. Make sure you fuse any accessory power source.