Hardwiring a dashcam

ba_barabus

Hi all,

I got a dash cam and a hard wiring kit.

I'm just wondering if it's difficult to do for an electrical novice?

biko

Not particularly.
Did you look at any instructional vids on youtube?

ba_barabus

biko wrote: »

Not particularly.
Did you look at any instructional vids on youtube?

Looking at one or two. I think my biggest fear would be dropping the roof lining.

biko

It *should* be fine but if you have second thoughts then just get an auto electrician to do it for you.

At some point it would be helpful to know what car this is in case someone else have already done the job.

ba_barabus

biko wrote: »

It *should* be fine but if you have second thoughts then just get an auto electrician to do it for you.

At some point it would be helpful to know what car this is in case someone else have already done the job.

An Alfa 159, hence my reluctance to go messing with electrics not that it's ever had an issue. I wonder if there are any auto electricians around Harolds cross or Kimmage? I don't want to let Halfords near the car.

Harcrid

Does the hard wire kit have a fuse tap on the end of it? If it does its just a matter of finding the fuse in the fuse box that you want to run the cam from and use the fuse tap in that slot. I run mine from the cigarette fuse as I know it switches off automatically once the car is off.

shietpilot

You don't have to drop the roof lining. You can pry the roof lining by near the windshield using a credit card or something similar and slip the wire behind.

Hal1

Does it matter if the fuse you want to tap onto is a higher rated fuse then the dashcam? Say the dashcam is 5v 1amp and the fuse you find is 15amps?

shietpilot

Hal1 wrote: »

Does it matter if the fuse you want to tap onto is a higher rated fuse then the dashcam? Say the dashcam is 5v 1amp and the fuse you find is 15amps?

The fuse taps are normally twin slot meaning you take out a fuse from your fuse box, insert fuse tap and the original fuse slots into the fuse tap. There is another fuse slot in the fuse tap for the fuse you wish to use for the dashcam.

Shannon757

biko wrote: »

Not particularly.
Did you look at any instructional vids on youtube?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hutGakgbUdM

Hal1

I found this very clear explanation of fuse circuits and how to find a switched power supply.

ba_barabus

In case anyone fancies having a go at hardwiring in a dash cam it's actually very easy so don't be afraid to give it a go. 20 minutes is all it took, I didn't rush it but had planned in advance where everything would go.