Advice on hard-wiring for front dash-cam.

[Australian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Australian]

Hello good people of PP. I'm after advice/ideas on where to connect to 12VDC for my dashcam. Also as anyone routed cables around the windscreen? I'd like to know how to conceal the wires if possible.
Thanks,

Aussie.

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

Hello good people of PP. I'm after advice/ideas on where to connect to 12VDC for my dashcam. Also as anyone routed cables around the windscreen? I'd like to know how to conceal the wires if possible.
Thanks,

Aussie.

I used little plastic adhesive backed clips to hug the top line of the windscreen - you cannot see them as driver or passenger unless you look close (ie lean forward and look up). Even then, it only stands out as the clips are white. I am looking for some black ones so they are more discreet against the black edges of the windscreen.

As for the side of the window, I am planning on putting a couple of dobs of silicon to keep it secure and wedged in place, from there is runs under my dash mate.

Down the door line, I was able to hide is behind trim plastics, it then tucks below the glovebox and behind the top of the carpet.

With the exception of the white clips and the side, its pretty discreet.

As for hard wiring, I'd rather have a cig socket (as per my other post). More versatile IMO.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Kevin

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

When I get round to it I'll run it to my dual battery. Currently I'm using the front accessories port in my 120. Run the cable along the headliner (I just pushed mine in as there's a gap on the 120), then down the pillar (behind the trim if possible. Not sure in the 150), then through the grommet into the engine bay and to your dual battery.

I've got mine running behind the dash and behind the kick panel then into the dash accessories socket.

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

The easiest way to hard wire your cam would be to tap into the wires in the roof behind the map lights. Will save running cables around the windscreen.
I have read on here somewhere how to do it but can't remember where.

Sent from my GT-I9305T using Tapatalk

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

The only thing to be wary of with hard wiring is if you have it always on to take advantage of the parking mode features. Might run the battery down that's why I will go to my aux battery. Blackvue make a device called a power magic pro that let's you set an automatic cutout if voltage drops too low. Not sure if it runs with all brands of Dashcam but couldn't see why not.

http://youtu.be/exSfS4yz1F8

[Guest Close Guest]

I leave my dash can on for sometimes months on my Prado when I'm interstate or in another vehicle. Never an issue with a flat battery.

[Australian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Australian]

Thanks for the info guys. I'd definitely like to have it hard wired but as some have suggested it may drain the battery so I'm thinking ACC power might be best. Any ideas on a good place to tap ACC power?

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Some cameras wake on impact to record shopping center parking incidents etc, if you don't
have this type of camera connected to perm 12V you'll need to have a back power unit for it
if you wish to use that facility.

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

My Blackvue camera is on all the time, have battery issue if car not used for a few days.
On a frosty morning windscreen will be iced up. Where camera is it is just like a dew on windscreen for about 300mm round camera.
In the process of installing voltage cutout on both vehicles.
Both on second battery

[Kowolski Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kowolski]

What's the best dashcam?

[Australian Member Find all posts View Profile Close Australian]

What's the best dashcam?

I cannot say definitively what is "best", however for my purposes I bought a Mobius Actioncam. I like it because it can be highly customised and it is very compact with good quality recording. Note, it comes with a lithium battery and they strongly recommended that you change the battery to a supercapacitor for use in vehicles due to the high potential temperatures. This camera is not for people who just want plug and play.

[Mack Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mack]

Thanks for the info guys. I'd definitely like to have it hard wired but as some have suggested it may drain the battery so I'm thinking ACC power might be best. Any ideas on a good place to tap ACC power?

If you want to run a cable through the firewall you can tap into windscreen wiper power cable, it's the green wire on the drivers side wiring loom (I believe all the green wires are acc). As for running the cable, I have run it up through the speaker housing and then along the side of panel between the windscreen. If you use some zip ties around the cable, it will tuck nicely into the gap between the windscreen and panel.