Hard-wiring a dash cam

[GoldenVision]

I'd like to wire our dash cam so it piggy-backs on a fuse so that I don't have to use the cigarette socket.

Has anyone done this (Fiat Ducato 2023)?

I'm assuming it would have to be a fuse in the engine compartment (so that it comes on with the engine), but then how to route the wire back into into the cab?

 

[scotjimland]

Hard wired dashcams are not easily removeable so this may prevent travel to Portugal if this is on your Wishlist.

Nextbase use a magnetic mount.. camera unclips easily from mount

 

[Orion]

Excellent idea and keeps things much neater. However, if you plan to travel to Europe remember that dashcams are illegal in Portugal with heavy fines if caught. Hard wired dashcams are not easily removeable so this may prevent travel to Portugal if this is on your Wishlist.

God bless GDPR!

With the Nextbase 622GW camera I installed it’s the mount that is hardwired with the camera on a magnetic fitting and easily detachable. I wired the supply in permanently so it can be left operating in parking mode when on tour and the van is unattended during the day.

Installing Dashcam with Remis Blinds

Having read through numerous threads and articles regarding the difficulties of installing a fixed dashcam mount in conjunction with the Remis windscreen blind set, and looking to fit one myself, I thought I’d have a go at it today. This is for a 2022 Ducato with the grooved metal nut that...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Gellyneck]

Most Nextbase dashcams have a built in battery and as long as that's charged you don't need a permanent live for Parking Mode.
Parking mode runs for 30-45 seconds if activated and if hit again will do likewise. Guess it will take a number of hits before the battery is drained as ours is programmed to run for 60 seconds after it loses external power.

 

[Squeakin]

My dashcam, GPS and rear view camera are all hard wired, I bought the kits from ebay. The hardest part was removing and replacing the dash, but if you have the time and its dry its quite easy. I went from the spare fuse relay for all three and have never had a problem.

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[PhilipLh]

That would seem to solve the problem

 

[GoldenVision]

Have a look at the next base
site. There's an instruction video on there

Yes, but it doesn't show which fuse to piggy back on a 2023 Ducato.

 

[offagen]

Most Nextbase dashcams have a built in battery and as long as that's charged you don't need a permanent live for Parking Mode.
Parking mode runs for 30-45 seconds if activated and if hit again will do likewise. Guess it will take a number of hits before the battery is drained as ours is programmed to run for 60 seconds after it loses external power

Nextbase Support says the batteries in their current dashcams should last up to 10 minutes if fully charged. That is my experience when new but battery performance deteriorates fairly rapidly. After one year mine lasted 11 seconds. The battery life of my less than two years old 522GW when disconnected is now nil. Zilch.

I don't have time to replace the battery now but will when we return from our upcoming Spain trip (from an independent supplier). There are plenty of cases online of owners complaining about feeble battery performance. I certainly wouldn't rely on anything other than a recently new Nextbase dashcam to maintain Parking Mode, unless hardwired to a permamemt supply

 

[Orion]

Yes, but it doesn't show which fuse to piggy back on a 2023 Ducato.

That’s what a multimeter is for.

 

[minesapint]

Thanks to both - but I have the piggy back fuse - it's the fuse to attach it to I need and the route from the engine fuse box (if that's where the fuse I need is) to inside the cab.

If your fuse box is on the near side behind the headlight, it is fairly east to get the cable up to the mirror mounting, by routing it through the bulkhead by using an existing rubber grommet and then taking the cable up behind the plastid trim beside the screen and along the top of the screen tho the mirror where the camera can be mounted, or if you wish to mount it on the dash run the cable along under the dash and bring it up through the dash at the centre. It is fiddly but easily doable.

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[haganap]

anyone give me an idea of whats wrong here please.
I have wired in using a piggyback fuse, it has two fuse holders which i have put a fuse in both.
I have located and am using the fuse holder for the stereo, i know this as when i take it out it turns the stereo off.

However i cant get the dash cam to power on? The stereo comes on with no issue.
I have checked the earth and it seems fine.

When ive plugged it in using the ciggy lighter it works.
When i take out the fuse holder, plug the stereo fuse back in and go directly to the pos and neg of the battery the dash cam powers on.

Could the piggy back fuse holder be faulty? But the radio works when using it?
Just seems odd?

Am i missing somehting, simple fuse holder, 2 fuses in to it.?

Tia

 

[GoldenVision]

Nextbase use a magnetic mount.. camera unclips easily from mount

I've converted my old Nextbase to a magnetic mount. It was a real faff having to disconnect everything every night to pull the blind over the window. Now there's just the (thin) button magnet on the window which doesn't interfere with the blind.

 

[Gellyneck]

anyone give me an idea of whats wrong here please.
I have wired in using a piggyback fuse, it has two fuse holders which i have put a fuse in both.
I have located and am using the fuse holder for the stereo, i know this as when i take it out it turns the stereo off.

However i cant get the dash cam to power on? The stereo comes on with no issue.
I have checked the earth and it seems fine.

When ive plugged it in using the ciggy lighter it works.
When i take out the fuse holder, plug the stereo fuse back in and go directly to the pos and neg of the battery the dash cam powers on.

Could the piggy back fuse holder be faulty? But the radio works when using it?
Just seems odd?

Am i missing somehting, simple fuse holder, 2 fuses in to it.?

Tia

Simple things first.
You have got the other end of the hardwired cable plugged into the dashcam mount?
Have you checked the fuse you're using for the dashcam piggyback is OK?
Personally, I wouldn't use the stereo (media) circuit but a supply that switched with the ignition. Have you tried piggybacking it through another circuit?

 

[haganap]

Simple things first.
You have got the other end of the hardwired cable plugged into the dashcam mount?
Have you checked the fuse you're using for the dashcam piggyback is OK?
Personally, I wouldn't use the stereo (media) circuit but a supply that switched with the ignition. Have you tried piggybacking it through another circuit?

Thanks..
Yes i have it plugged in but you are deffo right to ask.
Not tried a different circuit so will try that now. Also there is an added usb socket i could tap in to which might work as long as i ensure i use the voltage adaptor.

I'll keep you posted

 

[haganap]

Simple things first.
You have got the other end of the hardwired cable plugged into the dashcam mount?
Have you checked the fuse you're using for the dashcam piggyback is OK?
Personally, I wouldn't use the stereo (media) circuit but a supply that switched with the ignition. Have you tried piggybacking it through another circuit?

Ok, it just gets even more bizare.

So I bought another fuse piggyback holder, just to rule that out.

I can now get power from the fuse board on all the fuses that are not switch live? as soon as I try and use a switched live fuse, it doesn't work? on a non switched, powers up no issue. And yes I am turning the ignition on.

I am just stumped.

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[Gellyneck]

Ok, it just gets even more bizare.

So I bought another fuse piggyback holder, just to rule that out.

I can now get power from the fuse board on all the fuses that are not switch live? as soon as I try and use a switched live fuse, it doesn't work? on a non switched, powers up no issue. And yes I am turning the ignition on.

I am just stumped.

Mmmmmh.
There is a right way and a wrong way to plug in a piggyback fuse holder to ensure the power flowing is limited to the piggybacked fuse rating and not the original fuse rating.
It might be worth trying turning the piggyback fuse holder around the other way and see if it works if you haven't done so already.

 

[Gellyneck]

Just another thought.
Have you got a multimeter and can you check the voltage at the piggyback fuse holder (with the dashcam fuse in place)? Also, can you check at the dashcam end if you've got 12v at the fuse holder end?

 

[haganap]

Mmmmmh.
There is a right way and a wrong way to plug in a piggyback fuse holder to ensure the power flowing is limited to the piggybacked fuse rating and not the original fuse rating.
It might be worth trying turning the piggyback fuse holder around the other way and see if it works if you haven't done so already.

Just another thought.
Have you got a multimeter and can you check the voltage at the piggyback fuse holder (with the dashcam fuse in place)? Also, can you check at the dashcam end if you've got 12v at the fuse holder end?

Thanks done both of them. I have no idea why it does not work in any of the switch live sockets but does in the constant live? I tried every think I know and more stuff I never knew. In teh end, I re-read the instructions for my 522 gw Dash Cam and it basically says, use a 12v constant live if you want to have parking mode enabled, so I went with that, but I am just really curious why it wont work on a switched live. I simply don't understand it. same power our surely?

 

[Gellyneck]

.... but I am just really curious why it wont work on a switched live. I simply don't understand it. same power our surely?

If you ever find out I'd be interested as to why, as well!