I'm wiring in my radar det to my upper console and wondered what the wiring standard is for these little female plugs?

Is the +/plus hot wire go to the center of the female plug ??

 

Typically, I believe the center is positive. Do you have a model or manual to cross reference?

 

It's a Cobra ESD-9210

Got it Ebay, no manual but I looked at the PDF on line and it didn't show where the wires go.

 

just use an ohmmeter to confirm that. on the cigarette lighter plug, the centre terminal is positive.

BTW that model of radar detector should be used for novelty purposes only! it will pick up constant-on radar sources but you will have trouble detecting bursts on guys ahead of you getting metered...

 

Interesting Joe, what do you think is the best out there..??

As far as the plug goes, I found out that the center was the +/plus.

 

I have a K40 that I picked up about 7 yrs ago. I realize it might be outdated, but picks up the 4 major bands + laser and I get the people ahead of me getting insta'd. Only during maybe the last year or so did I start getting hits when there was no cop around.

 

there are a couple good ones out there... a Bel RX65, Escort 8500, I use the 9500i GPS-enabled one.

there is a few things to know;
-most decent radar detector will help in finding mobile radar, especially with lazy operators. if the operator does not have the radar on, and waits until you are close and the only target on the road, they will get a reading on you in a second or two. cheap detectors scan through the different bands somewhat slow, often only passing a given frequency once every few seconds. more expensive ones scan much faster, going through the entire range of radar frequencies in less than a half second.
-it will not help with instant-on radar guns (as in speedtraps); however if you have other cars in front of you you may pick up the brief burst of radar used on them if you have a really good detector
-the laser function works, however most laser guns can get a reading on your vehicle in 0.25 seconds, not enough time to save you. more of a 'speeding ticket notifier'. laserguns are hanheld and stationery only, they are used in speedtraps and are qucikly replacing hanheld radar guns.
-you can reduce laser range effectiveness with veil on your reflective stuff (headlights, licenses plates, chrome) giving you time to slow down if used in conjunction with a detector however this usually only works at longer ranges
-you can defeat laser with a really good jamming system such as the blinders but this can cause suspicions with the targeting law enforcement officer since it is very rare for a gun to not get a reading if it is done right.
-rear laser is pretty much undefeatable even with lots of high end jammers and such, especially on a truck!
-no radar detector can defeat 'matched speed', where an unmarked car will come u pbehind you, and follow you for a few seconds
-no radar detector can defeat VASCAR (where a LEO uses a stopwatch to see how fast you are going)
-no radar detector can defeat speed measurements devices built into the roadway using metal detectors (as in red light cameras that do double duty for speed measurement)
-photo radar uses low intensity radar that usually targets you from the rear; a high end detector may give you warning some of the time

A good radar detector can be a useful driving aid, but it certainly is not a 'speedtrap detector'. know your area, know what systems are in use on the roads you drive on, always be driving the speedlimit near overpasses, turns, and hills, in case there is someone waiting for you on the other side....

it is fun to learn about all this stuff, and researching it will make you a better driver ('cause you'll always be watching ahead, and learning to spot unmarked cars)