[paolo]

Anyone did a hardwire GPS to their ford focus? if so can we see some phtoos, so we can get some ideas.

[konafocuswrc]

i don't have but i do not recommend hardwire portable gps..
because when ppl see your gps through window, they will most likely to break in and steal your gps..

[Focus man. Focus.]

I made a custom mount on my dash out of sheet metal connecting it to the Speedo Bezel but it isn't hardwired. I never taken it out and it has been there for 2 years. Although it isn't anything fancy or big. Plus my deck is more expensive than the GPS and that is always in there as well.

[paolo]

When I mentioned hardwired, I was referring to more or so the power wire placed in a inconspicuous area, where you do not need to plug in the cigarette lighter anymore, but that does not stop the owner from unplugging the little usb plug on the back of the gps, and removing it from the mounting bracket when you leave the car unattended.

I also want to see people mount it in different places like in the headlighner or in the dash somewhere or what not.. just wanna see what creative ways people have done with theirs. btw, nice pics focus, man focus.

[Focus man. Focus.]

Thanks Paolo. The only reason I did not hardwire it is so I can transfer it to another vehicle just in case I need to. And I have needed to.

[paolo]

im conteplating on buying a Garmin hardwire power cord, its only 14 bucks CDN, and i wwant to hard wire that to the fuse box, so it shuts off when the car turns off. but keep my origional power cord for when i take my GPS into someone elses car, such as another family member, the GF, or friends, etc.

I am picking up a spare garmin window suction cup for $10 bucks too.

[ZTWsquared]

paolo,Feb 14 2010, 02:12 PM Wrote:im conteplating on buying a Garmin hardwire power cord, its only 14 bucks CDN,  and i wwant to hard wire that to the fuse box, so it shuts off when the car turns off.  but keep my origional power cord for when i take my GPS into someone elses car, such as another family member, the GF, or friends, etc.

I am picking up a spare garmin window suction cup for $10 bucks too.
[right][snapback]301402[/snapback][/right]

I have the same goal in mind for my car, but I'm thinking of a slightly more ghetto and cheaper solution ... I'll be hardwiring one of those three-hole cigarette lighter extensions under the dash - it will have the look of being hardwired, but also with the easy option of removing whatever is plugged into it.

[Jmountney1]

ZTWsquared,Feb 14 2010, 07:00 PM Wrote:

paolo,Feb 14 2010, 02:12 PM Wrote:im conteplating on buying a Garmin hardwire power cord, its only 14 bucks CDN,  and i wwant to hard wire that to the fuse box, so it shuts off when the car turns off.  but keep my origional power cord for when i take my GPS into someone elses car, such as another family member, the GF, or friends, etc.

I am picking up a spare garmin window suction cup for $10 bucks too.
[right][snapback]301402[/snapback][/right]

I have the same goal in mind for my car, but I'm thinking of a slightly more ghetto and cheaper solution ... I'll be hardwiring one of those three-hole cigarette lighter extensions under the dash - it will have the look of being hardwired, but also with the easy option of removing whatever is plugged into it.
[right][snapback]301405[/snapback][/right]

+1

[StreetEdition]

i recently did this with an XM Onyx radio

I pulled apart the cigaretter lighter plug and pulled out the IC board (this thing was a transformer, 12V in, 5V out) and disconnected the metal clips/spring

I then soldered some wire to the negative and postive terminals and then spliced/soldered these wires to the back of the cigarette lighter. i then put the ic board back into the casing and taped it up with electrical tape

I ran the wires up through the dash and out via the vent. used the vent mounts to mount the radio. So, all wires are now hidden and behind the dash.

I was concerned about draining the battery, but this XM radio has an on/off switch