hardwire radar detector in S13

[whiterabbit7500]

I'm trying to hardwire my radar detector to my fuse box, since the cig lighter is really misplaced in my S13. I bought one of those generic power adapter cables from radio shack, along with the plug that fits my device. then went to advance and bought a 2A glass fuse and inline holder. Connected the positive side to the fuse, negative to ground, and put a spade connecter on the other end of the fuse, and plugged it into an empty spot on my fuse box. Nothing. checked polarity, its ok. Fuse doesn't blow, and I know the unit itself cant be dead, it's only been sitting in my desk for a few months while i got around to installing it. The only thing I think it can be is that I have to plug the ground into the fuse box as well, but I'm confused because there is only 1 metal connector in that fuse slot. On top of that...the picture of the hardwire kit the company sells has 2 spade connecters, which is really throwing me for a loop. pic of their connector included, please help!

 

[SR]

Use The Wiper Fuse And Jus Cut That Terminal Off And Wrap It Round The Leg On The Fuze..it Werks Fine

 

[ngibson]

I like to use the radio power leg. I think it's a blue wire. That way, it's only powered on when the key is on as well. Just cut those spade connectors off and get some of those blue wire taps and you don't have to do much of anything else. One wire is power, the other can be grounded to the chassis.

 

[whiterabbit7500]

Use The Wiper Fuse And Jus Cut That Terminal Off And Wrap It Round The Leg On The Fuze..it Werks Fine

might be misunderstanding what you mean, but don't I kind of need the wiper terminal for like...wipers?

I like to use the radio power leg. I think it's a blue wire. That way, it's only powered on when the key is on as well. Just cut those spade connectors off and get some of those blue wire taps and you don't have to do much of anything else. One wire is power, the other can be grounded to the chassis.

ya, I was trying to do something like this originally, where I wired the positive to the cable running to my fuel-cut switch, and the negative to chassis ground, but it didn't work. I figured it's because thats already a 10A circuit. I'm going to try out your idea though. if that doesn't work, then i have a feeling the unit is just dead :-/

ok, so here's what I've done...

I'm using a add-a-circuit from advance auto, and pluggin it into my radio spot in the box. I plug the 10A for the radio, then add an in-line fuse holder w/ a 2A glass fuse, then the wire connecting to the unit. Ground os on a metal screw. Nothing, radio or detector doesn't turn on, but no fuses blow. However, If I put a 5A fuse in the 2nd spot on the add-a-circuit, and don't put the 2A inline holder, the radio turns on, but still nothing on the detector. What am I doing wrong?

**I know this is a little more technical then I'd like, but It's really throwing me for a loop, even though I've done my share of ciruits in the past.