Dashcams
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Darkest Lincs
Posts: 495
Originally Posted by Saintsman
The cables are long enough to run along the trim at the top of the windscreen and down the side of the door seal. Hardly any cable visible at all.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West London
Posts: 362
Originally Posted by wowzz
But where does the cable plug in, if the power socket is in the middle of the dashboard?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 291
Originally Posted by wowzz
But where does the cable plug in, if the power socket is in the middle of the dashboard?
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 1,515
There are already some cars with power sockets in the glove box, but the best option is to wire it into the fuse box. Techmoan.com is (was) another good site - although he hasn't updated it recently there is some good info about the basic principles.
In its simplest form, you want something powered from an ignition-switched supply, so it turns on and off automatically with the ignition. If you want parking mode, it will need a permanent live feed but you then run the risk of flattening the battery unless you have a system to switch it off at a pre-determined battery voltage.
They should all record in a loop mode, so recording small clips (eg 3 minute clips) until the card is full whereupon the earliest files are overwritten. There is usually a g-sensor, which locks that particular file if an impact occurs - and often a button which allows you to do the same thing, so that the individual file gets locked and cannot be overwritten. In practice, a decent sized memory card will hold 5 hours or so of driving.
There are plenty of unobtrusive cameras which are barely visible and some which actually replace bits of the existing trim such as https://fitcamx.com/collections/integrated-dash-cams
Probably worth going for one that has wifi built in so that you can access the clips at the scene rather than giving up the card, or having to wait until you can read it in a computer.
In its simplest form, you want something powered from an ignition-switched supply, so it turns on and off automatically with the ignition. If you want parking mode, it will need a permanent live feed but you then run the risk of flattening the battery unless you have a system to switch it off at a pre-determined battery voltage.
They should all record in a loop mode, so recording small clips (eg 3 minute clips) until the card is full whereupon the earliest files are overwritten. There is usually a g-sensor, which locks that particular file if an impact occurs - and often a button which allows you to do the same thing, so that the individual file gets locked and cannot be overwritten. In practice, a decent sized memory card will hold 5 hours or so of driving.
There are plenty of unobtrusive cameras which are barely visible and some which actually replace bits of the existing trim such as https://fitcamx.com/collections/integrated-dash-cams
Probably worth going for one that has wifi built in so that you can access the clips at the scene rather than giving up the card, or having to wait until you can read it in a computer.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Darkest Lincs
Posts: 495
Originally Posted by Video Mixdown
They are usually supplied with a 12V plug for the cigarette lighter socket. Problem is many people now use that to charge their mobile phone. You can buy a 'hard wire' kit that allows you to permanently connect the camera to the car electrical system.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 24,026
Originally Posted by wowzz
As far as I can see, dashcams either have to be either hardwired into a power source, or plugged into a power socket, which involves a wire dangling down the windscreen.
Are there any on the market with an internal, rechargeable battery ?
Are there any on the market with an internal, rechargeable battery ?
It depends on your budget, i went for this system, read the page for the features
Thinkware Q800 Pro Dash Cam | RAC Shop
I added the rear cam option and the battery and got them to fit it.
Thinkware | Thinkware Dash Cam | RAC Shop
Fitting info
Dash cam fitting | RAC Shop
Battery info, I added it because I do lots of short trips and it could sit for days not being used,
iVolt_battery | THINKWARE
But there are other prices and makes, this was the RAC shop and the chap came and installed it in the carpark while I
was at work.
To fit one without the cable hanging down the screen into the cigarette socket, get an internal kit, basically you want one of these
It plugs into a permanent live fuse holder, something like the cigarette lighter, one fuse is for the lighter, the other for the lead, you then need to connect a plain power lead from the camera to it, and tuck it out of sight up and around the windscreen trim.
you can buy complete kits, see
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 24,026
Simple guide to fitting
Dash Cam Installation Instructions | How To Hardwire Guide (thedashcamstore.com)
You don't really need the tester shown, with the ignition off see what works, ciggy lighter, internal lights etc, then locate the fuse, often on back of fuser panel cover or in the car manual, these are the ones that will power it when the ignition is off. Plenty of guides on youtube
Our 10 Best Dash cam front and rear in The UK - June 2022 | BestProductsReviews.co.uk
Dash Cam Installation Instructions | How To Hardwire Guide (thedashcamstore.com)
You don't really need the tester shown, with the ignition off see what works, ciggy lighter, internal lights etc, then locate the fuse, often on back of fuser panel cover or in the car manual, these are the ones that will power it when the ignition is off. Plenty of guides on youtube
Our 10 Best Dash cam front and rear in The UK - June 2022 | BestProductsReviews.co.uk
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 624
My dashcam has several metres of cable. As others have said, there is enough to run inside the headlining, underneath various bits of trim and up next to the centre console where it plugs into the "cigarette lighter" socket.
The cable is only visible just where it plugs into the camera (behind the rear-view mirror) and where it plugs into the socket the other end.
No windscreen danglage at all.
The cable is only visible just where it plugs into the camera (behind the rear-view mirror) and where it plugs into the socket the other end.
No windscreen danglage at all.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 24,026
I had a Jag clip my front wing on the main road outside a Coop as he was parking, the totally honest guy gave the woman at the till his details for me and waited in a cafe across the road to tell me, but regardless, my dash cams caught it on tape including the registration and the driver when he got out, so was no hassle with insurance etc.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Texas, like a whole other country
Posts: 437
Originally Posted by wowzz
As far as I can see, dashcams either have to be either hardwired into a power source, or plugged into a power socket, which involves a wire dangling down the windscreen.
Are there any on the market with an internal, rechargeable battery ?
Are there any on the market with an internal, rechargeable battery ?
Fortunately, it was fairly easy for me to wire the cam into my rear-view mirror using a USB cord from invisicord.com. It's a good solution if you have a mirror with a power jack for self-dimming, compass etc. There seem to be quite a few DIY installs documented about the web.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly in my own imagination
Posts: 148
Originally Posted by Carbon Bootprint
My Rexing V1 has an internal battery but it lasts a few minutes at best. I'm not entirely sure what the point is
I think most of them use a capacitor actually
<off topic>
There is a subway train somewhere that uses (lots of) capacitors to make the journey between stations. Apparently it recharges at each station enough to get to the next one
</off topic>
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: 5Y
Posts: 578
Originally Posted by wowzz
But where does the cable plug in, if the power socket is in the middle of the dashboard?
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: South Alabama
Age: 72
Posts: 337
Rove
I have been using Rove Dash Cams for years. https://www.rovedashcam.com/ They work very well. Picture quality is excellent day and night.
I use one in front an a second in the rear window. I believe they have a combo unit now.
Excellent customer service and "how to " videos. Very easy DIY installation.
Good luck
I use one in front an a second in the rear window. I believe they have a combo unit now.
Excellent customer service and "how to " videos. Very easy DIY installation.
Good luck
Last edited by Old Boeing Driver; 11th Jun 2022 at 16:05. Reason: Spelling
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 456
Originally Posted by Sue Vêtements
Probably not a battery, but instead a capacitor
I think most of them use a capacitor actually
I think most of them use a capacitor actually
As capacitors discharge, they steadily decrease voltage, so they would be a very poor design for this application, unlikely to run a camera for very long, as the voltage dropped. More likely, it is the same as in our MiVue cameras, small Lithium batteries, as these have a very flat discharge voltage curve, from aprox 4.1V down to 3.6V over their useful cell capacity.. Unfortunately, after 5 years of being abused by the (lack of) charging control circuit, they are kept fully charged at 100%, which is very bad for Lithium chemistry batteries, and this massively reduces their capacity.
I replaced all 4x of our batteries after about 5ears, and that was about 5 years ago. Already I can see that at least 2x of them need replacing again, which should see them good for the next 5 years.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 24,026
Originally Posted by wowzz
I think I'll go to Halford's. £50 to hardwire a dashcam purchased from them.
read on,
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...=153&t=1642777
https://dashboardcamreviews.co.uk/halfords-fitting/
remember they tend to just train up a shop assistant I believe
Last edited by NutLoose; 11th Jun 2022 at 17:10.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly in my own imagination
Posts: 148
Originally Posted by pilotmike
I doubt it.
Neither the battery nor the capacitor is really used to power the unit - the 12v (or 5v USB) power supply does that. The battery or capacitor is just there to do a controlled shutdown when power is lost
More here: https://dashcameras.net/battery-vs-capacitor/
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 24,026
As your in Lincolnshire do a search for dash am installers in the area,
or search car security / hifi installers
an example
https://www.jct600.co.uk/offers/volk...ferdetail.aspx
Dash cameras - INCAR LINCOLN LTD - Lincs - Page one
https://db-vehicle-electrics.co.uk/d...-lincolnshire/
or search car security / hifi installers
an example
https://www.jct600.co.uk/offers/volk...ferdetail.aspx
Dash cameras - INCAR LINCOLN LTD - Lincs - Page one
https://db-vehicle-electrics.co.uk/d...-lincolnshire/
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 8
The consumer organisation Which undertake independent testing of dashcams - currently their top 3 "best buy" dash cams are all from Nextbase - 1st - Nextbase 422GW (approx £129), 2nd - Nextbase 622GW (approx £239), 3rd - Nextbase 222 (approx £80).
