police radar on a motorcycle?
i would like to install a police radar on my 08 gsxr 600. im just wondering where do i connect it to. i dont know if i should connect it to the battery with an on/off switch. or should i connect it to the head lights?
i know most radars use 12v with a cigarette plug so how would i connect it.? thanks to thoses who help
You mean a radar detector?
Wire it into the accessories circuit of the harness with an inline fuse.
Just cut the cigarette plug off and bare the wires and wire it that way.
Or, if you have the need, you could just wire in a cigarette ligher and conceal it inside the side or front fairing, then you have a cigarette lighter.
It is totally possible. The previous poster had the right idea by wiring it into a power lead in your harness, basically. What you have to figure out is A) What is the required operating voltage & amperage for the radar detector? B) What is the voltage & amperage output on the power lead you plan to use? C) How do you get these two numbers matching?
You can get these numbers a few different ways. The detector will have its power requirment written in the manual/box or on the unit itself. Like you said it will be 12v, but I’m unsure of the amperage. You can get the power line output measurements by either looking it up in your manual, calling the dealer, or the best option; Get yourself an electrical "multimeter" like the one sourced below. Measure the current flowing in the line you plan to use. IMPORTANT- Make sure you get measurements through the entire RPM range. Watch your meter as you slowly rev the engine up.
After you have these two numbers, you need to compare them. They need to match so that the output of the power line is equal to the requirment of the detector. You can do this by wiring a transformer inbetween the two. The transformer is just a "regulator", keeping the output line at the current you want. Radioshack may have the transformer you need, and they will certainly be able to help you if you go in there with all your numbers.
I know for a fact that your bike is a 12v setup, operating between 10-15volts… standard for a 12V system. The detector will also be 12v, therefore you will be all lined up for voltage. The part that will need double checking is the amperage. The detector is going to need a steady amperage (8-10amps?), while your bike may produce many times that when the RPM’s are high. Once you have concrete amperage numbers, you can start looking for a 12v amperage regulator. I linked one below that MAY work, you get the idea. This one would limit amperage going to the detector at 16amp.
Couple final things; always fuse your electrical work! Wire the fuse in-line between the amperage regulator and detector. What fuse you need will once again depend on the amperage being used by the detector. If the detector needs 8amps, wire a 10amp fuse. If it needs 10amps, wire a 12amp fuse, etc. Secondly, always ground your electrical work! For you the best bet would be to wire the detector’s ground right to the negative battery terminal. Good luck and have fun!
The radar detector operates on 12v DC and amps are really moot. As long as you have a 12v power supply (either ignition on or off, perferred off) just need to know which wire on the detector is positive and which one is negative. If bikes are the same (color code) as cars, red is battery, and orange is battery, ignition on. The one answer about just having a cigarette lighter installed is correct. It will just hook to battery voltage and the detector just plugs into it. If you cut the wires (or plug off) you run a risk of hooking the voltage backwards and frying the unit. I THINK the wire with thee white tracer or white dotted line on it is the positive wire though. You should be able to tell by looking where it plugs into the detector.
it’s a lot cheaper and easier to slow down you know, but fools are fools…..