I just ordered my passport 8500. I hear it is the best, save the V1. I need to know how to hardwire it. I have figured everything out except two things. What fuse should I connect it to? How do I remove the A-Pillar? Also, on a side note, if I connect the wire to the negative side of the fuse, will the fuse protect it?

 

to take the A-Pillar off just pull on it. I wired my positive to the fuse for the outside heated mirrors. and you should fuse the postive not the neg.

 

What I meant was if I connect the positive wire to the positive end of the fuse will the fuse protect the detector should it short.

 

Are you going to use the Smart Cord or are you using the regular cord to hardwire the detector. The only reason I ask is that I hardwired mine and then removed it so I could use the smart cord with it's mute function. I just tucked the cord into the console on the passenger side.

 

I am going to use a regular phone wire so no smart cord.

 

A typical radar detector will need no more than 1A of current, so you should get a 1A inline fuse on the positive wire, then connect the fuse to the unprotected side of an existing fuse.

If you connect the cord to the protected end of a fuse, you depend on that fuse to protect your detector.

 

Does anyone know exactly what type of fuse to use in a passport 8500.

 

Did you order the straight wire when you ordered your detector? I'm asking because the 8500 only comes with the coiled smart cord. My wife bought mine for Christmas and I had to order the straight wire before I could do the final install.

I didn't have to pull my A pillar out, I was able to just push the wire in there and it's hidden well. I ended up connecting mine to the fuse for the power outlet (can't remember the fuse number). The straight wire comes with an inline fuse so it doesn't matter which side of the fuse you connect it to.

Good Luck. I'm very happy with my 8500.

 

Ok, I know I'm going to get ripped on for saying this but I don't know much about radar detectors but I do know that the Passport Escort 8500 is the best radar on the market compared to the Valentine. Ok, now for the dumb question ("hardwired" means that you don't use the cord that comes w/it's somewhat installed so it looks like a part of your car???) Heh, I need to know b/c I'm getting the Escort 8500 soon.

 

If I'm right, if anyone could post a pic, that'd be great.

 

Hardwired means that it is connected directly to the fuse box and you don't need to use the coiled power cord that plugs into your cigarette lighter. It usually means that the wiring is hidden also.

 

Thanks for clearing it up.

 

Wrong. I had a Passport 8500 when it was rated #1 by a few sites. That was going against Version 1.7 of the Valentine. Well I loved that radar, and once Valentine came out with v1.8 which was significantly better than the Valentine, I decided to try it. I can tell you side by side since I have had both, the V1 defintely picks up much sooner than the Passport, and its nice to know where the cop is. It also doesn't false hardly at all.

In all those tests on the sites, that was done with the 1.7 and I have to agree, the passport was a hair better than the older version.

It's worth the money, get a V1.

Car and Driver I believe was the latest one who did test the 1.8, and they said it blew away the passport.

 

those V1s look so ugly though...

 

Very good point

 

Isn't the V1 updatable? For those who are stuck with the 1.7, cant they upgrade the software to 1.8 somehow?

 

V1 is actually smaller and lighter than the passport now. The v1.8 that is. Who cares if its smaller, or bigger or ugly. Its more effective. That is the main point.

 

Yes they can update. Not a bad price...I think 175 or something. They get a bran new model.

 

so if buying fomr a site or ebay or something how can u be sure u are getting 1.8?

 

You ask for the serial #...then go to Valentine's site and enter it in. From there it *should show you exactly what model you got...but at the same time i think it only shows you what software it was shipped with.