Dashboard Radar SuperFlux LED

[rhd]

Dashboard LED Radar Detector Visual Alert -

I put a stereo in my 370Z a little while ago with some amps, heavy duty components and a sub, come to find out later that when your jammin down the road at high volumeages you can’t hear crap as far as the radar detector warning alarm, that’s a serious gap in the early waning system! I am lucky I did not find out the hard way!

I previously hard-wired my Escort 9500ix in with this DIY: Center Console Mounted Radar Detector Mute Button - and it works great, props to member Division for his DIY!

I hardwire mounted my Escort directly below my rear view mirror, at times even the LEDs on the detector screen did not get my attention, I thought about some type of brighter LED in more of a line-of-sight when your driving.

I started digging around the net looking for some super bright LED that might work, I found some here: SuperFlux 4-chip LED

I took apart my Escort smartplug and initially just soldered wires to the backside of the PCB at the alert LED positive and negative points, I then connected those to my SuperFlux 4-chip LED. I drove around looking for radar and after about an hour I found one. Well poop! The dammed alert LED on the PCB lit up, but my secondary solder wired LED would not??? I think the PCB alert LED was taking all the juice and there was not enough to power the SuperFlux LED.

Screwed around with that for a while and ended up desoldering the existing PCB LED and soldering in place wires that go to the SuperFlux 4-chip LED, stuffed the wires in the cubby and let the LED hang out for testing. On the way to work the next day I turned right if front of a Sheriff that just happened to have his radar on and TEST SUCCESSFUL! These baby’s are BRIGHT! Even on a bright day they can be seen on the dash easily, the LED flashes at about a half second interval consistent with the original LED in the Escort Smartplug, pretty cool and a highly effective visual indicator.

With testing complete I started on the install, I could not decide very well where to put the new LED and how to mount it that would look good, initially I thought that right next to the start button would be the best place but I could not bring myself to drill a hole in that part of the dash. I decided on a corner of the Metra stereo kit I used for the stereo install, drilled a hole just big enough to make the SuperFlux lens visible and super glued a rubber grommet around the LED housing to help hold it in place from the backside of the Metra dash kit.

I then hot glued the LED in from the backside, added soldered extension wires to the LED and went to town putting the stuff back together.

Here are pics of the completed setup below, (crappy phone pics).

One thing that might be a problem is at night the SuperFlux 4-chip LED will probably blast your eyes if it goes off, I will probably end up wiring an on/off rocker switch in the center console for this purpose, the only thing is, you will have to remember to switch it back on after turning it off or the LED will not light up.

Feedback, modifications, comments welcome!


Here is the initial test rig


I used the blue version of the SuperFlux LED


If you look close you can see the 4 tiny LEDs in the lens


Drilled and hot glued the LED into the Metra dash kit






Soldered up the wires on the smartplug PCB


Installed








This pic taken during Escort POST when starting the car


Have Fun!

[Coon-azz]

I'm digging it. I think I'd have to mount the light somewhere near the speedo, but thats just me. I like it!. Wish I lived in a state where you could use a RD. Been thinking of a high quality Jammer, but not sure how effective they REALLY are.

[martin82]

I like this mod a lot, eventually when I have time I would like to install that into the shift light if possible!! Have a switch to turn it on and off etc...

[MattP725]

That's a pretty smart idea... I would love to do something like this in conjunction with a remote eye so that the radar detector wasn't even visible. That way it will give it a clean look and if you do happen to get pulled over you won't get your balls busted by the PD.

[rhd]

Here's a quick vid I captured yesterday of the Super-Flux LED in action!

Pretty bright little LED, even in daylight sun...

[Coon-azz]

very nice!. I've seen the jammer/detectors hidden in the revie mirrors too. It's expensive but its hidden well.

[gy954]

Very clean install--props to you. About the switch: could you wire the original OEM LEDs into the other side of a DPST switch? That would toggle you between the night-time (dimmer) LEDs and the day-time (brighter) ones.

[Edit] Oops, that should be SPDT. I think. Man, if I knew anything about electronics, I could do stuff.

[BuckeyeZ]

Great DIY. Definately going to consider this mod.

I like your detector mount. Do you mind telling me what brand it is and where you got it?

[rhd]

@:gy954

That would take some serious doin to build the dimmer option, prolly have to do a serious hack on the detector which I do not want to do. I bought a straight toggle rocker I am going to wire into the LED for night time. At night the thing is too bright! Just need to remember to "toggle on" .

@:BuckeyeZ

I built the mount from a spare TIKKA rifle scope mount I had.

They make a mount called BlendMount, they are expensive, that is where I got the idea to build my own.

Have Fun!

[jikhead]

Nice mod!