Great Radar Detector LED for under $15! - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

Kip · #1 04-03-2011, 11:05 PM

I was messing with LED's to use with the audio port in my Passport. I refused to pay the $70 for the commercial units.
I bought LED's and supplies at Radio Shack and could make them work, but was having trouble coming up with a mount. Until last night! This thing is super bright by the way!

Energizer 3 LED light that goes on a hat bill. $10
Mono audio plug 3.5 mm $3 (2pack)
Mono audio cable $? (I robbed an old cell phone ear bud)
Small piece of Velcro (I also had laying around)

Here are my basic, crude directions and pictures:

First turn the light on, then remove the batteries. That way you will know it's on when you hook it up.

Push the pin out that holds the hat clip on.

Gently pry the top and bottom halves apart.

Make a hole in the back of the battery door for the wire to go through. I used the soldering iron since it was there and hot.

Put your wires through, tie a knot in it and solder to the connectors for the batteries, which are clearly marked + and -.

Make your wires as long, or short as you want. I made them short enough that they just reach to the top of the detector.

Put the audio plug cover over the wire.

Solder the positive wire to the long leg of the mono plug and the negative to the short.

Glue the halves back together.

Put your Velcro on and put on top of the Detector.

Turn detector on and hold the volume + button (mine beeps if I hold it).

Plug the LED's in and hold the volume + again. If you had the lights on when you removed the batteries, you will be blinking rapidly now. lol

Note: I removed the brackets molded in the bottom half for the hat clip, I don't think it's necessary since the Velcro takes up a little space. It might help aim it toward your face too.

Kip · #2 04-03-2011, 11:12 PM

Here are some additional pictures.

Jac Bike · #3 04-23-2011, 08:15 AM

Great post. Question from somebody debating the use of one: does your radar detector really save you from tickets, given that lots of cops use laser now? What's been your experience?

Kip · #4 04-25-2011, 01:15 PM

It has done a good job of notifying me.......... so far.

dustinleaavitt · #5 12-20-2012, 01:19 PM

wow that is cool, I've got to do the same, how visible is it down on the dash on a summer day?

Stromburger · #6 12-20-2012, 05:20 PM

In Virginia laser is seldom used. It will not go through glass so the officer has to roll down his window and aim for your front plate. Not a big deal, I just don't think they like to use it. Also in fog, rain etc. the signal is severely attenuated. I did see one officer on a Harley on the side of 581 in Roanoke aiming a laser at oncoming traffic. Also one in Orange Va. (of all places).

nightingale · #7 12-20-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stromburger

It will not go through glass so the officer has to roll down his window and aim for your front plate.

Not true. If a high quality laser is used it will go through a window with little problem. Yes, it is better to use it with the window rolled down as it may provide a quicker reading, but not at all necessary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stromburger

Not a big deal, I just don't think they like to use it. Also in fog, rain etc. the signal is severely attenuated.

Any modern laser has the ability to choose a "poor weather" or similar setting. Granted the signal may take "a little" longer, it is not at all "severely attenuated."

I think the bottom line when it comes to radar detectors is that they may give you a little warning and thus a chance to slow down when the officer is using moving or constant on, but with laser or instant on radar, once it beeps or flashes you're already caught.

Also, if I see it on your dash, you're getting a ticket. Unless you ride a Vstrom, then you might not.

dustinleaavitt · #8 12-20-2012, 10:41 PM

Here in california I have encountered laser guns a few times, but they are typically only used by the highway patrols teams of 8 or so officers that seem to travel up and down california setting up large scale speed traps. they will have 4 officers with laser guns set up, firing from an open door at all lanes of traffic. they will then have 4 officers down the road that pull everyone over and issue the tickets.

Other than these encounters I usually run into high way patrol cars with Ka radar turned on all of the time, so typically if a highwat patrol car is travelling in the opposite direction, or stopped on the side of the road hidden my beltronics rx65 ( which was lost in the last month, just ordered a passport 8500 x50 to replace it) goes off at least a half mile in advance.

The main problem is just the inability of the display to catch my attention in broad day light, I have ordered the LED hat light and I am going to wire it up when it arrives. I think I'll shoot some video to show the improvement in visability of the grafted on lights.

MrZappo · #9 12-20-2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustinleaavitt

Here in california I have encountered laser guns a few times, but they are typically only used by the highway patrols teams of 8 or so officers that seem to travel up and down california setting up large scale speed traps. they will have 4 officers with laser guns set up, firing from an open door at all lanes of traffic. they will then have 4 officers down the road that pull everyone over and issue the tickets.

Other than these encounters I usually run into high way patrol cars with Ka radar turned on all of the time, so typically if a highwat patrol car is travelling in the opposite direction, or stopped on the side of the road hidden my beltronics rx65 ( which was lost in the last month, just ordered a passport 8500 x50 to replace it) goes off at least a half mile in advance.

The main problem is just the inability of the display to catch my attention in broad day light, I have ordered the LED hat light and I am going to wire it up when it arrives. I think I'll shoot some video to show the improvement in visability of the grafted on lights.

Exactly my experience. 4 years with an escort 8500 and not even close to a ticket. And I don't drive like a maniac but I am always always always over the limit on the highway.

Simple rules to follow.

Never be the guy out front. There is always some boob available to be an unwilling bird dog.

Never crest a hill over the limit.

Worry about what's in front of you. Almost never get popped from behind.

Use an escort or a bel. Made by the same company. Don't buy some cheap scheight thing from costco. And cobra sucks. They may make a nice cb but their radar units are trash.

Works for me.

Sent from my droid.

dustinleaavitt · #10 12-20-2012, 11:15 PM

2 lane divided highways are where the highway patrol would always pop me, usually running in the opposite direction. I had 3 speeding tickets in a year on my little wee strom before I got the radar detector. Luckily the police don't target it as my other bike, the cbr1100xx super blackbird. Luckily I typically just ride it to and from the race track, and not on any long hauls. I've been ticket on it for a missing rear license plate (literally the day it fell off), and a malfunctioning turn signal... the damn thing is a cop magnet, but it does do 0-60 in 2.6 seconds so I guess that makes up for it.

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