Hardwiring a Dashcam

[Simon Jones]

I've fitted a rear dashcam and powered it off the feed to the number plate lights. Several reasons: it's on when driving (for when someone smacks you up the rear) and also so it can be switched on remotely via the fob, which is handy when you might need to record something when not in the car.

[Waynedance]

Good idea about recording off the remote with lights on. Could wire the front the same if the light fuse is in the passenger fuse box.

[Semnoz]

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

I've fitted a rear dashcam and powered it off the feed to the number plate lights. Several reasons: it's on when driving (for when someone smacks you up the rear) and also so it can be switched on remotely via the fob, which is handy when you might need to record something when not in the car.

The rear camera that comes with the dash-cam I'm installing has a red wire specifically for connecting to the feed to the reversing lamp. The idea is that when I change into reverse gear, the dash-cam detects voltage on this red wire and automatically switches to 'reverse parking mode' and displays the rear camera footage on the screen.

According to the manual, fuse no. 11 under the glovebox is the reversing lamps, so hopefully I can piggy-back onto that.

[Simon Jones]

Originally Posted by Waynedance

Good idea about recording off the remote with lights on. Could wire the front the same if the light fuse is in the passenger fuse box.

The sidelight fuse (where ever it is located) would be permanent live and the switching of it would be on the bulb side of the circuit. If you wanted it come on with the lights then you'd probably need to take a feed from the rear of the bulb holder.

[Simon Jones]

Originally Posted by Semnoz

According to the manual, fuse no. 11 under the glovebox is the reversing lamps, so hopefully I can piggy-back onto that.

I would imagine this would be either permanent live or ignition switched. Not too difficult to tap into the rear of the light cluster.

[Semnoz]

.

Many thanks for that - it turns out the red wire is quite short, so will only reach the passenger side lamp.

[Semnoz]

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

The sidelight fuse (where ever it is located) would be permanent live and the switching of it would be on the bulb side of the circuit. If you wanted it come on with the lights then you'd probably need to take a feed from the rear of the bulb holder.

I have the rear camera mounted inside the vehicle so I'm not wanting to feed wires in from the boot lid.

Would you happen to know if I can get to the reverse light wire by accessing the loom that runs above the rear luggage fuse-boxes, as per photo below:

[Simon Jones]

Don't know. I fitted my rear camera direct to tailgate to avoid it getting whacked when loading the boot. Mounted the 12v-5v adapter to inside of tailgate & took power feed from yellow/brown wire from number plate lights.

[Puffster]

Seeing your camera in the rear window makes me want to buy another K1S

It comes with 2 snooker chalk cube sized cameras and a central recording unit, so is v discrete. Have one in my other car and it works pretty well with the unit sitting in the front pocket, so again, easy to wire.

We've also had a plethora of car break ins where I live, so the idea of leaving something large in the window for thieves to see also doesn't appeal.

[Simon Jones]

The Nextbase model I have is on a magnetic mount so easy enough to remove in the event of venturing out of the relative safety of Wiltshire , and the tinted window makes it virtually invisible from outside.