Scotty, What is the best way to hard wire a dash cam? Can you unplug use the cigarette lighter connector tap off that? or Should I buy Fuse taps? Don't want to VOID the warranty. Looking for the best way of doing it.
If you've never done auto electrical before, or your electrical knowledge is poor, then consider hiring a professional so you don't set fire to your car.
Never graft new accessories onto existing circuits. You need to be mindful of the ratings on your wiring. New high def dash cams with the large displays can draw surprising amounts of current. If you tap off the cigar lighter, then fill the lighter with something to make sure nobody tries to use it. Fuse taps are a great way to overload your existing wiring.
Run a new fused circuit back to the source. That would be an auxiliary stud on your underhood fuse block, or the cabin fuseblock (again staying within the limits of that power feed). Use proper cable management so the wires aren't flapping in the breeze, or breaking from vibration. Be mindful of sharp edges. Use proper connectors, grommets, cable ties, and wire loom where appropriate.
It's funny you mentioned Grafting wire accessorize as the first Youtube professional who showed that he never uses taps but grafts his connection into the main harness. I was a Lead electrical tech. Wired Gantry Cranes. Just on newer cars wondered if there are new ways to tap into the power, One other Youtuber used The scan port to hook up the power, That didn't look very good. Hopefully, there are some studs available, I need a battery & Accessory power
molesting the main harness sounds like a quickest way to void warranty. I believe running your own wires is the least intrusive way to add accessories. I def wouldn't be touching the diagnostic port.
For accessory power I recommend , again, running a new feed and switching it using a relay that is energized by a convenient existing (non-computerized) accessory .
Don't want to VOID the warranty
Assuming you mean the car's warranty, don't hard wire it, just plug it into the cigaret lighter.
I just have my dash cam plugged into a cigaret lighter phone changer and have had 0 issues with it.
(Just note that you might want to invest in a good usb charger (Anker/Belkin/...) and not some no name Chinese one)
It's easier to route a cable than to do electrical work.
some cams will drain your battery if you leave it plugged in (which will inevitably happen)
It is only possible if the car continues to supply 12V power to the cigaret lighter even after the car has been turned off and the key is not within range of the car.
The majority of cars, probably including OP's car (judging by the name it's most likely a Kia Telluride), do not supply 12V power when the car is off.
mine does
and so did my previous vehicle
I don't think I have ever had a car that didn't cut 12V after shutdown
The only car that had oddities on that regard was a German built 3rd generation Ford Focus that'd shut down the computers and sockets only after 5-10 minutes regardless of that - but it has never drained the battery.
(I've had/have French, Swedish, American, Japanese and Korean)
I can tell you that it's pretty handy. I can charge my phone or other devices anytime I need. I can go away and lock the vehicle.
Yep that's definitely nice.
I wish a manufacturer would integrate a 12V socket properly, with high wattage, an option to toggle whether it works with the car off, and with an automatic shut off incase the battery gets drained too much.
I don't. Just more expensive stuff to break.
It can be done right, it's very simple - although I'm sure that car manufacturers will find a way to make it complex and unreliable.
Compared to how much stuff already has been automated, even on a simple car like mine - a slightly more complex 12v socket design doesn't seem to be the straw that'd brake the camel's back.
-
(The notable tech in my simple new cheap SUV: An insanely accurate self-steering mode, always active augmented steering (the steering is lightest when pointing at the center of the lane, and gets progressively heavier further from the center of the lane), automated high-beams, augmented braking (when you're on the brakes, if needed, the car will add more brake force to stop at / keep a safe distance - even not in emergencies, it always adjusts the brake force), and all of the safety tech (If you try to departure a lane without signaling, it jerks the steering wheel back into the lane, FCW, EBA, ...) - compared to all of that, adding a smarter 12V socket sounds like nothing...)
Don’t worry I’m sure they are capable of turning it into a $500 module. Especially if it’s Mercedes
Yep!
I'm sure Mercedes are also capable of making it talk on the CAN bus in such a way that it'll take down the entire network when it fails.
easy to unplug if you don’t want it on.
My preferred way is to use a 12v plug in the console (assuming your car has one) and feed the wires under the panels. Looks professional and is easy to unplug if you don’t want it on.
Does not any hard wiring attempt void the warranty?
Did any instructions come with the dashcam you purchased? I would follow their recommendations.
Run a new fused circuit back to the source. That would be an unused auxiliary fuse block in the cabin fuse block (again staying within the limits of that power feed). Use proper cable management so the wires aren't flapping in the breeze, or breaking from vibration.
- 【24 Hours Parking Surveillance】When the engine is off, HK4 hardwire kit provides continuous power to the camera, and any collisions and events will be recorded.
- 【Low Voltage Protection】HK4 hardwire lets you set a voltage cut-off value with 4 options, when the voltage of the vehicle’s battery drops to the cut-off value, it will stop powering your dashcam, thus protecting your battery from discharge.
Being mindful of sharp edges. Use proper connectors, grommets, cable ties, and wire loom where appropriate. Tapped off the rear wiper circuit for acc. power. and unused fuse slot for 12v power. Turned out Clean and no wires flapping in the breeze or breaking from vibration or forgetting to plug into a cigarette lighter