How to Build your own Radar Screamer for $20
Background
Brought a VTR1000 after I got my full last month which came fitted with a radar mount and power cable which just so happened to work with my Escort X50 radar (same as a Beltronics RX65 as I understand).
Anyway I couldn’t hear it going off over the sound of the aftermarket cans and of course road noise after 100km/h. I found a H.A.R.D led kit or a radar screamer but both were well over $100!!! I searched on here to find a post from Jantar (I think that's who it was) explaining how he made a screamer from a Warehouse smoke alarm. I tried to follow his example however couldn’t find a smoke alarm that did NOT use a 'direct short' for the test function.
So turned on my brain made a really simple and safe version I thought I would share. Cost about $20 for parts all from Jaycar Electronics which you can buy online.
I’ve included pics.... at the moment it’s in very rough form but works fanstic!!!
I run it off 9v battery for now however at some stage will direct wire it to the battery and solder the components to a PCB which will about halve the size.
Parts
1) 5v Solid state relay (must be solid state as anything else is slow to switch)
2) Piezo Screamer (NOT a piezo buzzer or speaker)
3) 16v 4700uf Capacitor
Other little parts
1) Solder
2) Soldering iron
3) Sealant (Seally All Clear) to waterproof your connections
4) A nice little box to hide it all in
5) Wires
What it all does
The radar puts out about 5-6v when beeping, this will trigger the relay.
Using a relay insures there is no power going back to the Radar so no risk of damage to your expensive radar.
When your radar beeps 5volts comes down the ear-piece lead to the relay, the relay then completes the circuit of 9v Battery to 16v 4700uf Capacitor to Piezo screamer.
You can make it without the capacitor however beep will be MUCH shorter and much quieter. Without going into technical detail the cap basically ensures you get a nice solid BEEP rather than a little “pip”.
Piece of Cake to make, cheap, no risk of damage to the radar and more than up to the job! Just make sure you get the polarity right when doing the wiring (the + and – around the right way.... use a multicenter).
If people want more into of the Jaycar part numbers let me know. Hope this helps someone out there.
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