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Dashcam connection
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- Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:41 pm
Dashcam connection
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.
I have posted this to try and prevent it happening to anyone else.
- ben g
- Lifer
- Posts: 7858
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
- Location: Essex
Dashcam connection
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
I'd like it wired in, but i don't mess about with electrical stuff
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.
- ph001
- Lifer
- Posts: 3870
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
- Location: N. Yorkshire.
Dashcam connection
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
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Dashcam connection
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.
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.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 4621
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Dashcam connection
sounds a right ball ache
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.
Current: 2.5i Titan silver
Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.
- Buckz
- Senior Member
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- Location: West sussex
Dashcam connection
mine is wired in to the rain sensor.. works fine, very neat and I often forget I even have it.
- ben g
- Lifer
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- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
- Location: Essex
Dashcam connection
No different to plugging your phone charger in
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.
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- Lifer
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Dashcam connection
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.
- markeg
- Lifer
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Dashcam connection
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..."
current: MB C-class
"veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around..."
- davros
- Member
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- Location: Essex
Dashcam connection
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......
- Magicarcher
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Dashcam connection
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.
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Dashcam connection
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.
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.