Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Dashcam connection

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
Post Reply
oldgit
Member
Member
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:41 pm

Dashcam connection

Post by oldgit » Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:02 pm

I fitted a dashcam to my E85 and powered it through the cigarette lighter socket. The socket is permanently live. I did not use the car for over a week and it flattened the car battery.

I have posted this to try and prevent it happening to anyone else.

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

Dashcam connection

Post by ben g » Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:37 pm

Did you wire it into the cigarette lighter? My dashcam comes with a cigarette lighter 'plug' so i just take it out when i turn the car off.

I'd like it wired in, but i don't mess about with electrical stuff :lol:
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

User avatar
ph001
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3870
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
Location: N. Yorkshire.

Dashcam connection

Post by ph001 » Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:22 pm

The neatest place to wire it to is the cabin lighting by the interior mirror. There is a switched live in there..... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=73905
2007 E85 Z4 3.0Si manual :driving:
19" CSL's | Eibach Springs | Aeroskirts | Z4M front bumper | Clear brake light | ZHP | RCH+| Stubby

2004 E46 M3 coupe manual - gone but not forgotten.

Image

oldgit
Member
Member
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:41 pm

Dashcam connection

Post by oldgit » Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:44 pm

ben g

Mine has a cigarette lighter plug so I am doing the same as you at the moment.

ph001

I will hard wire it when I get chance. Thank you for the link to the instructions.

jamie_z4
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4621
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:38 pm

Dashcam connection

Post by jamie_z4 » Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:58 pm

ben g wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:37 pm Did you wire it into the cigarette lighter? My dashcam comes with a cigarette lighter 'plug' so i just take it out when i turn the car off.

I'd like it wired in, but i don't mess about with electrical stuff :lol:
sounds a right ball ache :lol:

I wired mine to the fuse box behind the glovebox, was really easy took me about 20 mins, 15 of which was feeding the cable up the a pillar and along the top of the screen!
18 Z4s owned to date.

Current: 2.5i Titan silver

Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.

User avatar
Buckz
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1112
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 11:00 am
Location: West sussex

Dashcam connection

Post by Buckz » Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:44 pm

mine is wired in to the rain sensor.. works fine, very neat and I often forget I even have it.
Image

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

Dashcam connection

Post by ben g » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:05 pm

jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2017 3:58 pm
ben g wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:37 pm Did you wire it into the cigarette lighter? My dashcam comes with a cigarette lighter 'plug' so i just take it out when i turn the car off.

I'd like it wired in, but i don't mess about with electrical stuff :lol:
sounds a right ball ache :lol:

I wired mine to the fuse box behind the glovebox, was really easy took me about 20 mins, 15 of which was feeding the cable up the a pillar and along the top of the screen!
No different to plugging your phone charger in :lol:
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

Scooba_Steve
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5277
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:01 pm
Location: NW London

Dashcam connection

Post by Scooba_Steve » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:08 pm

Put a spade connector on and into a spare fuse socket with your own inline fuse.
3.0si Sport: F10 Illuminated ZHP, Retrofit Cruise, OE Stubby, Gaptech RCH+, Kenwood BT73DAB + Handsfree, HIDs, LED Sidelights, OE LED Number Plate Lights, Custom LED strip bootlight.

User avatar
markeg
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 8106
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire Wolds

Dashcam connection

Post by markeg » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:38 pm

Mine uses a Lukas voltage sensor (like this one) and fuse taps to create a separately fused circuit that won't flatten the battery, and allows for parking mode to be enabled for my front/rear dashcams.
previous: Alpina Roadster S, #108: gone
current: MB C-class
"veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around..."

User avatar
davros
Member
Member
Posts: 512
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 11:09 am
Location: Essex

Dashcam connection

Post by davros » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:18 pm

Buckz wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:44 pm mine is wired in to the rain sensor.. works fine, very neat and I often forget I even have it.
I’ve wired mine into the rain sensor too. It’s a bit fiddly to do, but looks really neat and works with the ignition
3.0i E85 Sterling Grey, Infinitas supercharger, Aero sills, xenons, pro hi-fi with dsp & nav, power fold mirrors. B12 kit, Eisenmann backbox, //M-Sport Seats, carbon dash, cruise and more mods in near future...... :)

User avatar
Magicarcher
Member
Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:12 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Dashcam connection

Post by Magicarcher » Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:18 pm

Many AM accessories will flatten your battery if left plugged in they tend to have high quiescent/parasitic/standby current. My dashcam draws around 30mA, I have a permanently wired GPS tracker that draws a staggering 105mA. You have options:
  • Use a cigar ligher socket and remember to unplug
  • Wire it into an ignition or aux fed fuse in the fusebox, this may sound daunting but there are piggyback devises that can make it a little easier like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/XtremeAuto®-Ci ... yback+fuse. If you are going to do this be careful what fuse you are piggybacking off, avoid any that power safety critical circuits such as lights, ABS, EMS
  • Hook your car up to a trickle charger if it is not going to be used for any length of time, which is what I do. I use a CTEK MX5
Z4 3.0L 2005. Titan Silver. Audio Upgrade Second Stereo Pioneer X8700DAB, Sony Xplode 4 x 70W Amp, 6.5" Reckhorn Subs in rear cubby, Focal AS165-3 in fronts.

oldgit
Member
Member
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:41 pm

Dashcam connection

Post by oldgit » Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:19 am

magicarcher

That little device looks useful. I've just ordered one from Amazon.

I have a Ring intelligent battery charger. I used it to bring the battery back to life after it went down to 6 volts. It would be good to leave it connected. As the car is stored outside I will have to find a way to get the cables into the boot with the boot lid locked. i don't want to distort the boot rubber seal.

Post Reply