Dash cams, what to get and where to get it (Q&A only)

XsApollo

Got my dashcam today.
The cigarette lighter socket in my A6 is powered even when the car is off.
Anybody have a rough idea how long before a dashcam drains a car battery?

Anybody know where to buy a fuse tap local?
Want to hardwire it in.
Will probably post question on how to do that later

RandomAccess

XsApollo wrote: »

Got my dashcam today.
The cigarette lighter socket in my A6 is powered even when the car is off.
Anybody have a rough idea how long before a dashcam drains a car battery?

Anybody know where to buy a fuse tap local?
Want to hardwire it in.
Will probably post question on how to do that later

Heres a 'few' links that you might find useful.
I gathered up as much as I could as I want to hardwire mine in as well.
I was hoping to get the fuse tap locally as well, but might just have to resort to ordering it online.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/542710-looking-to-do-a-dash-cam-hardwire-installation-questions-for-those-who-ve-done-it
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/471657-Dash-Cam-with-super-secret-surveillance-mode?highlight=dash+cam
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/540157-Accessory-wiring-issues
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056957853
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/how/109014-how-hardwiring-dashcam.html
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/dashboard-camera-hardwire-install-on-my-vw/
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251177580267?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-Converter-Buck-Module-8-22V-input-5V-mini-usb-output-12V-5V-1-M-cable-/251164932235?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a7a98b88b
http://astrobile.com/t-power-external-battery-for-vehicle-recorder-blackbox.html
http://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/how-to-install

huggs2

I got a fuse tap in Halfords recently for my dashcam.

XsApollo

Sound lads ,will go to halfrauds today to check.

XsApollo

XsApollo wrote: »

Sound lads ,will go to halfrauds today to check.

No fuse jack in halfords limerick.
Will have to go online

frogstar

Hi

Any thoughts on this http://www.i-esale.com/battyshow.php?code=2.8%20inch%20HD720P%20Car%20Black%20Box%20Camera%20with%20External%20Camera#

My dad wants me to get it for him but I think it's expensive? He got a cheap one last year but thinks this will be better

I think his main concern is how much it can record. Is this a good one? He is elderly and I don't want to waste money on something that doesn't suit.

Thanks

RandomAccess

frogstar wrote: »

Hi

Any thoughts on this http://www.i-esale.com/battyshow.php?code=2.8%20inch%20HD720P%20Car%20Black%20Box%20Camera%20with%20External%20Camera#

My dad wants me to get it for him but I think it's expensive? He got a cheap one last year but thinks this will be better

I think his main concern is how much it can record. Is this a good one? He is elderly and I don't want to waste money on something that doesn't suit.

Thanks

I would suggest you get one thats been reviewed and earned a positive rating.
Techmoan.com has reviews of a number of cameras, across different price ranges. There are some truly awful ones about so its best to know what you are getting in advance and to buy from a reputable seller.

Notdream

But i was wondering, if i already have a gps in the car, and its already using the power souce(the ciggarette lighter thingy), where is the camera gonna be connected to?

CJhaughey

Notdream wrote: »

But i was wondering, if i already have a gps in the car, and its already using the power souce(the ciggarette lighter thingy), where is the camera gonna be connected to?

One of these

Red Nissan

CJhaughey wrote: »

One of these

Except I'd get a three port output of better quality. I'm collecting a few of those cheapish ones in the trash.

For me they have not lasted in daily use, keep them for occasional use [imo].

joujoujou

I've two more cig lighter sockets installed for such a purpose.

Woodpecker1

I got one of these today.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310752336819?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This is my 3rd dash cam .

The quality is outstanding. Highly recomended. Very cheap as well. This is as good as it gets for the money.

I got stung with a fake G1w dash cam recently. Was a clone of a clone. Terrible grainny picture.

But this seller is very trustworthy .

mjv2ydratu679c

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

I got one of these today.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310752336819?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This is my 3rd dash cam .

The quality is outstanding. Highly recomended. Very cheap as well. This is as good as it gets for the money.

I got stung with a fake G1w dash cam recently. Was a clone of a clone. Terrible grainny picture.

But this seller is very trustworthy .

Quality looks great - how long does it record for?

mjv2ydratu679c

Thomas Powerful Lodging wrote: »

Quality looks great - how long does it record for?

Sorry 1 last question - have you tried it at night yet?

Woodpecker1

Thomas Powerful Lodging wrote: »

Sorry 1 last question - have you tried it at night yet?

I have been on the road with work till now.
With some dark back roads and city driving.
So I will try and get some up on Youtude later.

Woodpecker1

Right here is some of the daytime. I will hold off on dark vids. I ran out of windscreen washer on my trip and the dirty window does not help.

You need to set the youtube vid to full HD in the bottom RH corner.

Decoda

Hi Woodpecker,

Great looking dash cam footage for the price. Just a quick question. I've tried to order off of that ebay seller through your link but he doesn't seem to deliver to Ireland? Do you mind me asking how did you get it delivered?

Thanks

D

Red Nissan

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

I got one of these today.
But this seller is very trustworthy .

Mine is very similar, got it off Chinavasion as like you, my first foray into this world was also a clone of a clone, it's a pity we have to suffer them, especially as they are not real bargains usually and ironically sometimes even more expensive than a genuine dealer.

My feedback to the clone of a clone was something like this "Shut this one down, clone of clone total rubbish"

Woodpecker1

Decoda wrote: »

Hi Woodpecker,

Great looking dash cam footage for the price. Just a quick question. I've tried to order off of that ebay seller through your link but he doesn't seem to deliver to Ireland? Do you mind me asking how did you get it delivered?

Thanks

D

If you set up an account with Parcel Motel you will get it. I think the first couple deliveries are free with them.

http://www.parcelmotel.com/about.html

There was a two week wait as the cam will be coming from Asia.

Thomas Powerful Lodging wrote: »

Quality looks great - how long does it record for?

It depends on the card you use. I use a class4 32gb mini sd card and it has filmed about 5 hours so far.

ironclaw

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

I got one of these today.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310752336819?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

That doesn't have a GPS though does it? Looks great otherwise!

Woodpecker1

ironclaw wrote: »

That doesn't have a GPS though does it? Looks great otherwise!

No GPS. But to be completely honest. I think one is better off turning the GPS off.

All it will serve to do is incriminate you if you wander over the limit and someone crashes into you.

Even if I had a real good dash cam, the GPS would not be turned on.

Red Nissan

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

S would not be turned on.

GPS though is about 10 mile per hour lower [slower] than than a speedometer.

Woodpecker1

Red Nissan wrote: »

GPS though is about 10 mile per hour lower [slower] than than a speedometer.

GPS is accurate depending on what system you use. My Garmin is spot on the mark as long as I am not driving on a hill.

A Speedometer in a car reads low for a number of reasons. Most important is to keep you below the legal limit, others are different wheel and tire sizes that make you go faster than you think you are going.

Red Nissan

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

A Speedometer in a car reads low for a number of reasons. Most important is to keep you below the legal limit, others are different wheel and tire sizes that make you go faster than you think you are going.

All good points. But a speedometer must be accurate, it's not deliberately low.

I've matched my own speedo with wind anemometers at 50 miles on calm days, they match my speed.

Two GPS units agree with each other, one a Garmin and the other in a dashcam [which can only be seen in playback on the PC, I often shout out the speedo reading so the microphone picks it up].

Accuracy diminishes with speed, 50 miles an hour is the max reliability of the wind anemomoters, on motorways with clear slies and even speeds GPS will approach a 70 mph accuracy with speedometer. BUT ~ I suspect that is predictive, in the same way one is tracked in a tunnel for five minutes.

No commercial unit of GPS sold to the general public in Garmin units or Sat Navs will have the military grade accuracy for real time speed accuracy.

Dord

I'm looking for a camera with very good visibility at night, and that can also run when the car is off. Any ideas? Naturally I'd like to keep costs down also.

Irish Stones

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

A Speedometer in a car reads low for a number of reasons. Most important is to keep you below the legal limit

Actually, I think that a speedometer reads a higher speed.
I mean, it reads 53 when you're going 50, it reads 110 when you're going 100, and so on.
This way it helps you be on the safe side. You think you are speeding, but actually you are a bit slower than the limits.

Woodpecker1

Irish Stones wrote: »

Actually, I think that a speedometer reads a higher speed.
I mean, it reads 53 when you're going 50, it reads 110 when you're going 100, and so on.
This way it helps you be on the safe side. You think you are speeding, but actually you are a bit slower than the limits.

Sorry . yes. I got my hi and low mixed up there:o

ironclaw

You can read it all here but Speedometers, at least under EU law, are not designed to be accurate:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:120:0040:0048:EN:PDF

GPS is far more accurate. In fact I'm surprised newer cars are not taking a feed from the tyres and a GPS to improve accuracy.

Interestingly however, every car I drove in the US was spot on compared to GPS and even a laser gun (On a track day) So it would appear US law is different.

Woodpecker1

ironclaw wrote: »

You can read it all here but Speedometers, at least under EU law, are not designed to be accurate:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:120:0040:0048:EN:PDF

GPS is far more accurate. In fact I'm surprised newer cars are not taking a feed from the tyres and a GPS to improve accuracy.

Interestingly however, every car I drove in the US was spot on compared to GPS and even a laser gun (On a track day) So it would appear US law is different.

I see a difference when going up or down a hill with GPS speed and incar speedo. I dont think the gps can compensate for the extra distance travelled when not on the flat.

Damien360

Dord wrote: »

I'm looking for a camera with very good visibility at night, and that can also run when the car is off. Any ideas? Naturally I'd like to keep costs down also.

Good visibility at night is the holy grail in these cameras. Very hard to get one without spending a lot. My budget was €100 and I got a camera that is excellent during the day but truly hopeless at night. I got the 0801 camera sold by e-prance. (check it on amazon). It really depends on your budget.

I was looking at this for a while and ticks all the boxes for you but it ain't cheap

http://www.mi-witness.co.uk/

Reviews here should get you started http://dashcamtalk.com/