G29 Dash cam hardwire install.

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 1:37 pm

Since I got my G29 I have been powering my Dash cam from the cigarette lighter socket as the main fuse box is in the boot. This has meant a less than tidy install and the inability to close the sliding panel on the centre console.

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A bit of googling revealed there is a fuse box adjacent to the OBD port in the drivers footwell. To access this you will need a flat bladed screwdriver as there are 3 plastic clips holding on the trim piece you need to remove. Locations are shown in pics below.

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Once you have turned the slotted part of the clip 90 degrees you will be able to drop the trim piece slightly. Be careful doing this as there are two wired connections attached to the trim piece as shown below. Also be careful not to damage the trim piece or cut yourself on a sharp edge. (Ask me how I know)

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Ignore the black wire going across the pic, this is my current power lead to the cigarette powerpoint.

The two wired connections go to a footwell light and a small speaker. The footwell light is the white connector block, I found it easier to unplug the connector block from the trim piece which allowed easier access to the wired plug at the rear, then simply insert the connector block back into the trim piece ready for reassembly. The small blue wired connector is a bit of a faff to get off, but it will come. Once these connections are removed the following error will appear if the ignition is switched on.

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This will disappear once everything is reconnected on assembly, I'm assuming that it is the connection to the small speaker that causes the error when disconnected.

You now have access to the fuse box under the trim piece.
You want to remove the 20 amp fuse directly above the blue square fuse (below it in the pic shown as you are lying on your back in the footwell) this should be F46 which supplies the 12v cigarette lighter socket.

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Obtain the fuse removal tool from the rear fuse box in the boot and remove this 20 amp fuse.

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I have an Aguri dash cam and purchased this hardwire kit from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1

This allows you to "piggyback" the 20 amp fuse from position F46 that you have removed. Simply select the correct size from the piggybacks supplied plug your 20 amp fuse into it along with the supplied fuse and and plug the piggyback into F46 where you removed the 20 amp fuse from originally. Now you need to correct the red wire from the hardwire kit to the piggyback and find a suitable earthing point for the black wire. Once fitted it should look like this.

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I used, earthing point above and behind the accelerator pedal.

Once happy that your connections are good do a test before routing the wiring by connecting up your dash cam to the hardwire kit. If all is well you can now disconnect the dash cam and run your wire behind the trim.

I removed the trim piece adjacent to the drivers side door at the end of the console above the OBD port to facilitate running the power wire.
Starting from the dash cam I used a trim removal tool to help tuck the wire behind the windscreen and pillar trim.

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Then it is a simple case of tidying the wiring under the trim area, reconnecting the two wiring plugs and replacing the trim piece that allowed access to the fuse box.

The power to the dash cam will go off ten minutes after exiting the vehicle.

sars · Post by **sars** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 3:01 pm

Was there not enough funding for part two of this how too or are you keeping us idiots in suspense?

Good job so far, I’m really toying with getting one but not sure how to complete a permanent fitting and don’t fancy letting Halfords loose on my p&j, so please continue

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 3:57 pm

sars, that was not meant to be published yet, i'm waiting on the hardwire cable.

sars · Post by **sars** » Tue Mar 08, 2022 4:11 pm

ori · Post by **ori** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 12:53 pm

That’s where the RAC connected mine up. Initially they had the cables connected the wrong way round, but sorted it out straight away.

Mine is also connected to the signal cable so the dash cam knows when I start and stop the engine.

I’m glad I’ve got a dashcam after what happened to my last g29 while parked.

sars · Post by **sars** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 3:18 pm

Excellent how too, not sure I'm up to the task of fitting as I might break a nail. If the power supply stops after 30 minutes, if there's an incident after any stored device power has gone, what happens?

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:03 pm

sars, my dash cam does not have a parking mode. My understanding is if the dash cam has one, really you need a backup power supply to it unless the car is being used often as constant recording would drain the battery. You would wire it up to a permanent live I would expect.

sars · Post by **sars** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:16 pm

I'm thinking of when it's parked overnight, not when I'm away for a few days. I'm considering the Garmin 67W

ori · Post by **ori** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:44 pm

sars wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:16 pm I'm thinking of when it's parked overnight, not when I'm away for a few days. I'm considering the Garmin 67W

Ok so I’m looked into this heavily as parking mode is important to me too.
I reckon without battery back up I can get maybe 10 hours of parking mode before I reach my battery cut off, which is plenty for me. I’ve got 128gb memory card in there and it’s motion activated.

You can get a battery pack which are quite expensive which will give you 3 days plus of recording in parking mode.

My car is parked off street at home so parking mode at home is less important compared to when I go out.

sars · Post by **sars** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:46 pm

The Garmin seems quite clever, it only records if it detects movement nearby when in parking mode and allegedly uses the cars Wi-Fi network to communicate back to my phone, not entirely convinced about that...

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:57 pm

Even in standby if will be using some power, does it mention anything about power use when not actually recording?

ori · Post by **ori** » Thu Mar 10, 2022 2:01 am

sars wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:46 pm The Garmin seems quite clever, it only records if it detects movement nearby when in parking mode and allegedly uses the cars Wi-Fi network to communicate back to my phone, not entirely convinced about that...

Yup, my q800 pro you can set it to movement mode (which is what I have on).

Your cars WiFi goes off with the car so can’t see how that would work.

ori · Post by **ori** » Thu Mar 10, 2022 2:03 am

Scubaregs wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:57 pm Even in standby if will be using some power, does it mention anything about power use when not actually recording?

It goes off completely if either the record timer ends (5.6 or 10 hour setting) or the battery drops to 12.2v. Not sure what the parasitic drain would be when it’s off, but it can’t be much at all and is probably insignificant.

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:22 am

ori, so as long as the battery is well maintained it should not be an issue.

The Garmin may well have built in WiFi ori

ori · Post by **ori** » Thu Mar 10, 2022 12:42 pm

Scubaregs wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:22 am ori, so as long as the battery is well maintained it should not be an issue.

The Garmin may well have built in WiFi ori

You can get 4g modules for these things.
We can go crazy with this stuff.
I think I can have mine connected to my home WiFi if it reaches and then I get notifications.

I’ve reached my limit on spend. I’m happy with my setup now.

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