Dash cam

J

jamesditchy

Active member
 Liverpool
Morning, got a dash cam last week and I have run the cable to conceal it and make it look neat. My question, is there any other way to power it. The cigarette lighter connector just looks untidy when in use. Is there a way to install another and maybe conceal it somewhere. Wondering if anyone else has done this.

Cheers Jay
 
Take power from above the centre light unit. You can get an ignition or direct live there
I also run it through a cheap eBay voltage sensor that cuts power if the battery gets low, allowing it to be run in car park mode for days.

There's a few post on the site if you run some searches
 
There is also the option of putting spade connectors on and plugging into empty fuse sockets. This saves the news to splice into the cars loom. I've done so but also added inline fuses. The power lead then runs up the passenger A pillar.
 
Number5 did a complete 'HowTo' on hardwiring a dashcam...

...and it's as easy as it looks :)

The only thing I did differently is, rather than using a scotchlock, I cut the power wire and crimped on a bullet socket (always put the socket on the 'live' end of the wire) and crimped the dashcam feed and the other part of the power wire into a bullet plug. I also crimped an appropriately sized ring terminal onto the ground wire rather than trapping bare wire under the screw
 
Thanks for that. Great write up from number 5. Only one thing. The cam I got from halfords has just a cigarette lighter socket type plug in the end and not a box type psu. Does that mean I can cut down the lead?
 
jamesditchy said:
Thanks for that. Great write up from number 5. Only one thing. The cam I got from halfords has just a cigarette lighter socket type plug in the end and not a box type psu. Does that mean I can cut down the lead?
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Yes, as long as there's no voltage transformer in the ciggie lighter adaptor - does the dashcam say 12v by its power socket?

Assuming the dashcam takes 12v, you should find that it's just two-core cable - probably red (live) & black (ground) - the power supply in the mirror housing is already fused but you can add an additional in-line fuse if you wish - they're dirt cheap
 
pvr said:
Was there an option for a "hardwire kit" that many have?
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Unless they incorporate a voltage converter, the hardwire kits are usually the same cable as the ciggie lighter cables but with the ciggie adaptor replaced with an in-line fuse at the end of the live wire
 
Yes, but if it was just a fiver or so, it might be easier to use that and have the inline fuse in place so you can use the un-butchered cable for use of the camera in another car if need be.

The hardwire cable with the Cheetah was nicely insulated and easy to use with anti rattle rubber around the fuse which I prefer to use rather than solder bits together.
 
pvr said:
Yes, but if it was just a fiver or so, it might be easier to use that and have the inline fuse in place so you can use the un-butchered cable for use of the camera in another car if need be.

The hardwire cable with the Cheetah was nicely insulated and easy to use with anti rattle rubber around the fuse which I prefer to use rather than solder bits together.
Click to expand...
Yes, good point - it makes sense to use them if they're cheap and easily available
 
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