I used the radio fuse, which is 7.5 amp.

- Jim

 

I think that your piggyback fuse connector probably takes a MAX of 10 amp, which means that a 7.5 amp fuse would work, which is what I used.

 

Thanks for the responses.

I ended up using the WASH fuse which has the added benefit of only being powered when the car is on and not just when the accessories are on.

 

I have the Escort 8400 with the coiled cord and alarm button shutoff at the plug. I stuck a Velcro strip on the dash where the two wiper blades are lowest. I cut some gray foam at a angle to mount to the dash. Some double sided tape (hobby shop servo tape) to mount the detector to the foam. Now its all nice and level. I'm thinking of replacing the foam as the sticky don't stick to it very well. Using balsa wood painted the color of the dash might be stronger. I don't want it flying around just in case of a crash.

The plug side is toward the passenger door. I used some kind of white plastic guide about 1/2" square to guide the wire mostly off the dash. I stuck it in the far right corner of the speaker grill. Although the phone wire would not tuck in till I got to the side of the dash. I found using a screwdriver and going slow it will tuck under the plastic wind strip.

I used 4 or 5 foot of telephone extension wire with plugs on both ends. Lucky it works just fine. I plugged it into the coiled socket using a phone wire coupler I bought at Walmart. I ran the phone wire under the rug to the power outlet. I like this console vertical 12 volt supply as it makes the button easy to press. I would say there is about a foot or so of gray phone wire exposed but it pushed right up under the windshield. I may be able to tuck some of it in the defroster.

Even with it mounted on the passenger side I can still read the frequency when it comes on. Usually I just listen to the tone strength. The wife spots the cop car when it's activated. I like to know when to make sure I come to a full stop. Ain't no speeding when driving the TCH for top gas mileage anyway.
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Has anyone tried scraping off the painted dot pattern around the rearview mirror and using a suction cup mount up there? That is my preferred place for a detector - up high, and not as visible to people walking past the car...

I gave up trying to find a place for mine, and I have been driving "naked" for over a year. I might just assume that I don't need it anymore, but I don't like being surprised when I crest a hill and spot a speed trap...

 

Your right about the detector not being seen. I used to live in hot Texas. I learned to wrap the detector in a gray felt material I bought at Walmart. It also eases the direct sunlight on it. I had to cut out a hole in the material for the light sensor thats on top. I used thin servo tape from a hobby shop to hold the two ends together underneath the detector. Looking from the outside it looks like some cheap brand of detector, but it's really a escort.

 

Or some people just know that Google is your friend and you would have found these outside of GH forums...
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t181059.html
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t197962.html
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t148489.html

Excerpt from one of the above threads:

 

Hey, will there be problems with the side curtain airbag running up the wire along the A-pillar posts? I will try to tap my power from the fusebox in the cabin (near driver's side)
thanks, Paul

 

I have a Passport Solo II radar detector that i don't use very much, but it is cordless! Hence no need for a place to plug it in. I don't use it all that much anymore........i decided to just focus on driving consistantly. I may use it if i take a long trip somewhere......

 

Not sure what you mean, if it deploys?
My wiring is between the pillar and the glass, so I'm confident it's out of the way.
- Jim