Where to hardwire in a Dashcam?

[AntStark]

Not found anything doing a quick forum search .. so can anyone tell me the best place to hardwire in a dashcam to a switchable live. Ideally want to use a fuse piggyback thing so it can be removed again easily.

thanks

 

[t-tony]

On my Z3 I tapped into the ignition fed live for the radio.

Tony.

 

[Oddly Godly]

Mine came with a piggy back fuse connector that I put in to a fuse in the rear of my car radio. It's an aftermarket stereo so I don't know if they all have fuses in the back

 

[John_B]

There is a little grommet behind the glovebox that feeds right into the engine bay, under a little NVH flap and right next to the fusebox. (I'm not certain but guessing it's for the steering column on LHD cars)

I went down the passenger side A-pillar, behind the glovebox, where there is a ground point right next to the speaker for the earth wire, and then the positive went through that grommet and into the fusebox where I used a piggyback/fuse tap

 

[AntStark]

Mine came with a piggy back fuse connector that I put in to a fuse in the rear of my car radio. It's an aftermarket stereo so I don't know if they all have fuses in the back

Good shout, although my radio can be turned on without the ignition on so I suspect that fuse will be permanently live

 

[AntStark]

There is a little grommet behind the glovebox that feeds right into the engine bay, under a little NVH flap and right next to the fusebox. (I'm not certain but guessing it's for the steering column on LHD cars)

I went down the passenger side A-pillar, behind the glovebox, where there is a ground point right next to the speaker for the earth wire, and then the positive went through that grommet and into the fusebox where I used a piggyback/fuse tap

That sounds good. Do you remember what fuse it was? I have a rear heated screen fuse (but no hardtop) so was going to try that first.

 

[John_B]

That sounds good. Do you remember what fuse it was? I have a rear heated screen fuse (but no hardtop) so was going to try that first.

Not from memory, although I can go out and check later. I have two and they're both on the right-most bank of fuses as you're looking at the box from the front of the car (fuses 21-30 iirc). One is for my dashcam, the other is for my halos

 

[Oddly Godly]

My radio fuse is live all the time. It's never been a problem with draining the battery. It does mean that if my car gets knocked the dash cam turns on and starts recording. I did see a video where it was joined to the fuse box in the engine compartment but I couldn't find a route through. I think I depends on your engine on how easy it is. On my 1999 2.8 there was too much stuff in the way

 

[andyglym]

There is a little grommet behind the glovebox that feeds right into the engine bay, under a little NVH flap and right next to the fusebox. (I'm not certain but guessing it's for the steering column on LHD cars)

I went down the passenger side A-pillar, behind the glovebox, where there is a ground point right next to the speaker for the earth wire, and then the positive went through that grommet and into the fusebox where I used a piggyback/fuse tap

This is how mine was done

 

[Mint]

Good shout, although my radio can be turned on without the ignition on so I suspect that fuse will be permanently live

There is a permanent live and an ignition switched live on the car wiring harness. If your radio can be switched on without the key in the ignition it is as you say wired to the permanent live. Usually the permanent live is only for keeping the radio code then the switched live turns on the radio.

So I wired my dashcam to the switched live. I found it easier than trying to get into the engine bay fusebox.

 

[Duncodin]

The permanent live to the back of the radio. From the fuse (9) it's a red/white wire then behind the radio through a connector it becomes a yellow wire. So behind the radio look for the yellow wire. It's on a big fuse 15 or 20 Amps so well able to support something like a camera.

Also down there is a fatter wire to the cigar lighter. That's permanent live and on a 30 amp fuse. Fat cable with stripes.

I've got lectric actuators on my door handles. One side is powered by that yellow radio wire. The other is on the ciggy lighter. Didn't want both doors on the same fuse.

Theres a switched live to the back of the radio. Red I think. Don't know what amps that fuse is.