Anyone hard wire a dash cam?
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Anyone hard wire a dash cam?
Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has hardwired their dash cams in. If so, do you have any pics or vids to share of the process? Or jsut any tips in general.
I just purchased a SpyTec A119 dash cam w/ GPS for $100. Will be looking to tuck it in cleanly this weekend and was looking for pointers. If no one has done this yet I'll probably make a vid and share when I'm done.
Mods - could you please let this live here for a few days before moving to A/V/E? Seems pretty dead there.
Cheers,
Tim
I just purchased a SpyTec A119 dash cam w/ GPS for $100. Will be looking to tuck it in cleanly this weekend and was looking for pointers. If no one has done this yet I'll probably make a vid and share when I'm done.
Mods - could you please let this live here for a few days before moving to A/V/E? Seems pretty dead there.
Cheers,
Tim
Hard wired mine. Didn't take any pics because it seemed pretty strait forward to me.
Spliced into the wires behind the cigarette lighter, then run wire over the glove box (tape/zip tie securely out of way). Pop the A-pillar trim off and run wire up and tuck into headliner, I think I zip tied to the wire bundle that goes up the A-pillar. Put trim back into place. Mine drops out near the rearview mirror to keep things as clean as possible.
Don't try to spice into any of the dome light wires. I've seen stories of people frying their BCM doing that.
Spliced into the wires behind the cigarette lighter, then run wire over the glove box (tape/zip tie securely out of way). Pop the A-pillar trim off and run wire up and tuck into headliner, I think I zip tied to the wire bundle that goes up the A-pillar. Put trim back into place. Mine drops out near the rearview mirror to keep things as clean as possible.
Don't try to spice into any of the dome light wires. I've seen stories of people frying their BCM doing that.
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: By the sea, Tx
G35 sedan w/ too much money in mods
Guys, another option for those that have the smart mirror is to run a wire up through the headliner then down the rearview mirror stem to the back of the mirror. I have the Mike's Mount and Invisicord for the Escort radar detectors and it plugs right in to the back of the mirror so I don't have any cords hanging down the windshield. One of my 2 favorite mods under $30, the other is a Fumoto oil valve which makes oil changes a breeze with little to no cleaning necessary. 
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So I installed over the weekend, it was fairly straightforward as you guys pointed out.
I got power from the fuse panel in the driver's foot well. I used an add-a-fuse on the fuse for the cigarette lighter (the one further back, under the armrest). It was interesting to me that the two cigarette lighters each have their own 15A fuse, I assumed they would've been on the same circuit.
Note that for those using this type of piggyback fuse, that the hot side of the fuse is on the bottom (i.e your add-a-fuse pigtail wire should be pointing up if installed correctly). If you install your piggyback fuse the wrong orientation, it will still work, but your piggyback fuse will then be running in series with the original fuse rather than in parallel. For a small device like a dash cam this is not really a problem, unless the original fuse blows (then your piggyback circuit will lose power as well).
For ground, I used a ring terminal sandwiched under a 10mm HHCS that holds the shroud for the steering column as it passes through the firewall. This is only abotu a foot away from the fuse box.
From there, it was straightforward to run the wire up through the left side of the dash (a coat hanger or fishing wire would make it easier), behind the A pillar trim (pops off easily), and then tucked under the headliner which is pretty loose to the ceiling. My mini-USB which powers the cam drop out just to the right of my rearview mirror.
I got power from the fuse panel in the driver's foot well. I used an add-a-fuse on the fuse for the cigarette lighter (the one further back, under the armrest). It was interesting to me that the two cigarette lighters each have their own 15A fuse, I assumed they would've been on the same circuit.
Note that for those using this type of piggyback fuse, that the hot side of the fuse is on the bottom (i.e your add-a-fuse pigtail wire should be pointing up if installed correctly). If you install your piggyback fuse the wrong orientation, it will still work, but your piggyback fuse will then be running in series with the original fuse rather than in parallel. For a small device like a dash cam this is not really a problem, unless the original fuse blows (then your piggyback circuit will lose power as well).
For ground, I used a ring terminal sandwiched under a 10mm HHCS that holds the shroud for the steering column as it passes through the firewall. This is only abotu a foot away from the fuse box.
From there, it was straightforward to run the wire up through the left side of the dash (a coat hanger or fishing wire would make it easier), behind the A pillar trim (pops off easily), and then tucked under the headliner which is pretty loose to the ceiling. My mini-USB which powers the cam drop out just to the right of my rearview mirror.
Originally Posted by sumptimwong
So I installed over the weekend, it was fairly straightforward as you guys pointed out.
I got power from the fuse panel in the driver's foot well. I used an add-a-fuse on the fuse for the cigarette lighter (the one further back, under the armrest). It was interesting to me that the two cigarette lighters each have their own 15A fuse, I assumed they would've been on the same circuit.
Note that for those using this type of piggyback fuse, that the hot side of the fuse is on the bottom (i.e your add-a-fuse pigtail wire should be pointing up if installed correctly). If you install your piggyback fuse the wrong orientation, it will still work, but your piggyback fuse will then be running in series with the original fuse rather than in parallel. For a small device like a dash cam this is not really a problem, unless the original fuse blows (then your piggyback circuit will lose power as well).
For ground, I used a ring terminal sandwiched under a 10mm HHCS that holds the shroud for the steering column as it passes through the firewall. This is only abotu a foot away from the fuse box.
From there, it was straightforward to run the wire up through the left side of the dash (a coat hanger or fishing wire would make it easier), behind the A pillar trim (pops off easily), and then tucked under the headliner which is pretty loose to the ceiling. My mini-USB which powers the cam drop out just to the right of my rearview mirror.
I got power from the fuse panel in the driver's foot well. I used an add-a-fuse on the fuse for the cigarette lighter (the one further back, under the armrest). It was interesting to me that the two cigarette lighters each have their own 15A fuse, I assumed they would've been on the same circuit.
Note that for those using this type of piggyback fuse, that the hot side of the fuse is on the bottom (i.e your add-a-fuse pigtail wire should be pointing up if installed correctly). If you install your piggyback fuse the wrong orientation, it will still work, but your piggyback fuse will then be running in series with the original fuse rather than in parallel. For a small device like a dash cam this is not really a problem, unless the original fuse blows (then your piggyback circuit will lose power as well).
For ground, I used a ring terminal sandwiched under a 10mm HHCS that holds the shroud for the steering column as it passes through the firewall. This is only abotu a foot away from the fuse box.
From there, it was straightforward to run the wire up through the left side of the dash (a coat hanger or fishing wire would make it easier), behind the A pillar trim (pops off easily), and then tucked under the headliner which is pretty loose to the ceiling. My mini-USB which powers the cam drop out just to the right of my rearview mirror.
As always.....
ost pics:
Originally Posted by Blue Dream
Guys, another option for those that have the smart mirror is to run a wire up through the headliner then down the rearview mirror stem to the back of the mirror. I have the Mike's Mount and Invisicord for the Escort radar detectors and it plugs right in to the back of the mirror so I don't have any cords hanging down the windshield. One of my 2 favorite mods under $30, the other is a Fumoto oil valve which makes oil changes a breeze with little to no cleaning necessary.
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Dang you have yourself some followers!
Pause at 13 seconds - see that white thing sticking out 3 fuse locations from the fuse of interest? That's an Infiniti fuse puller. Try it out sometime. It makes pulling fuses very easy.
Nice video - we should add it to what's left of the super thread.
Pause at 13 seconds - see that white thing sticking out 3 fuse locations from the fuse of interest? That's an Infiniti fuse puller. Try it out sometime. It makes pulling fuses very easy.
Nice video - we should add it to what's left of the super thread.
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Coupe AT Sport
Hey guys, I'm installing my dash cam soon and I wanted to know if the 12v power socket in the center console stays on even when the car is off? This is important because I want to use the parking mode too.
