Hardwiring a Dashcam

[Simon Jones]

It's just below the glove box in on the bulkhead in passenger footwell. In manual it looks like this, but be mindful that I've got an '08 petrol model so there could be some different fuse configurations out there. The ones marked with L appear to be live regardless of ignition setting.

[AndrewTi]

Typically, mine is different! Oh well, it's working for the time being, I'll look again in daylight Sunday!

[fincastle84]

I paid Halford's £20.00 to fit mine!!

[morsing]

Originally Posted by fincastle84

I paid Halford's £20.00 to fit mine!!

Scary stuff...

[zapcity1]

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

I've connected the front dashcam to the fuse panel under the glovebox using 'piggy back' connectors. With the use of a toggle switch, I can flip the power from permanent live to ignition switched. NOTE: most of the fuses are permanent live so it takes some hunting to find the switched one.

Didn't bother with a hardwire kit & used the original lead into an accessory socket mounted under the dashboard with the wire run up A-pillar & tucked in the headlining. Using separate socket makes it easy to add other chargers for phone, sat nav etc without messing around with cables, & it can all be readily removed when I come to sell the car.

Ive connected my hardwire kit to the fuse panel under the glovebox using 'piggy back' connectors (as Simon Jones pictures).

Would anyone know of an easy earth point to access near the fuse box? Had a look but cant find anything near.

[Simon Jones]

Can't recall exactly, but i think there's a big white bracket under there, either for the fusebox, or one of the other modules, and I used the bolt fixing it to the bulkhead (with a suitable sized crimp-on ring on the wire).

[tonyldee]

Coincidence! I have just fitted an aftermarket dashcam with rear camera. The (red) lead to be spliced into the reversing lights I thought would be a problem but it is dead easy! I have fitted the camera on its small bracket tucked in to the headlining plastic trim ( no drilling) and the red wire can then be slotted out of sight along the trim and down the inside of the pillar. Now got to decide which is the correct wire to splice into! Any ideas???

[morsing]

Originally Posted by tonyldee

The (red) lead to be spliced into the reversing lights [...]

How weird!

[Tatsfield]

I can only assume that because this is a rear facing camera it is intended to only work when you have selected reverse gear to move backwards and the reversing lights are only live when reverse is selected. That makes sense but what if you wanted to record something behind you when you were not in reverse but moving forwards such as a dangerous close quarters tailgating driver with his reg plate?

[morsing]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

I can only assume that because this is a rear facing camera it is intended to only work when you have selected reverse gear to move backwards and the reversing lights are only live when reverse is selected. That makes sense but what if you wanted to record something behind you when you were not in reverse but moving forwards such as a dangerous close quarters tailgating driver with his reg plate?

Well, yes, it's not a reversing cam?!

Also, my dashcam takes 10 seconds from power to recording starts, by that time, my reversing manoeuvre would be over.

Also, file system corruption cutting power as the software is starting up?

And if it's a Dashcam *with* rear camera, it needs to link up to the main camera?

Sounds like a very odd setup.