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

I hope I don't jinx it but I stuck my camera on with 3M dual lock tape (kind of like velcro) last week and it's stayed put!! Much handier for me too with the bulky housing around the sensors on the windscreen because I didn't need leave to clearance to allow for cables or the button on the mount etc - I can just lift the while thing off as needed.

What you,ll need to hardwire a dash cam:
1.2016 New Hot Car Boat Motorcycle Dual USB Car Charger DC 12V To 5V 3A Power Adapter for Iphone for Samsung LG
http://s.aliexpress.com/n6feeyM3
(from AliExpress Android)
I like this one as it has 2 female USB connections so if like me you have a front and rear dash cam you just plug them in.
If you have a dashcam with a male cigarette lighter connection you can get this:
Car Cigarette Lighter Charger cable Female Socket Plug Connector Adapter hot selling
http://s.aliexpress.com/JNbqURnU
(from AliExpress Android)
If you have a male cigarette lighter for your dashcam a step down isn't needed.
2.fuse tap
Add A Circuit Standard/Mini/Micro Blade Fuse Boxes Holder Piggy Back Fuses Tap
http://s.aliexpress.com/BBvaY7V3
(from AliExpress Android)
Tools needed: snips(wire cutters),flat head screwdriver to take out the fuses
Your best finding an ignition fuse(fuse which only receives power once the ignition is on) to save you turn on/off the dashcam manually when you get into the car.
Easiest way to find an ignition fuse if you don't have a multimeter is to first connect the red cable from 12v to 5v step down or female cigarette lighter to the red cable on the fuse tap.
To do this strip the red cable back to bare copper from the 12v to 5v step down or female cigarette lighter.
Slide it into the blue casing on the fuse tap and crimp in down the snips. Pull at it to make sure its secure.
Now connect the black cable from the step down or female cigarette lighter to a screw around the fuse box that's screwed onto metal,this will most likely be earthed as its part of the metal car.
With all this done connect your dashcam to either the female cigarette lighter or USB on the step down.
Now stick a fuse(I use a 5amp or 10amp) in the fuse tap,stick it in the fuse slot that's inline with the red cable. This will be the fuse for the dash cam.
Now pull out a fuse in your fuse box and put the fuse taps fuse into where you took it out.
If the dash can comes on straight away that means that fuse is constantly live and we don't want that one.
So take out the fuse tap and put the old fuse back in,and do the same for another fuse.
If your dashcam doesn't come on when you put the fuse tap in.
Put your keys in the ignition turn it on so the lights on the dash turn on.
If your dashcam comes and turns of when you pull your key out then great use that fuse.
Get the fuse that was plugged in there originally and put it in the other slot of the fuse tap.
And that's it your camera is hardwired and now all you need to do is run your cables neatly to the dashcam
The only thing with buying a cheap step down like this one is sometimes it can interfere with your radio. But that doesn't matter me too much.

My Toledo is up for sale, already linked here in another thread:

http://www.adverts.ie/car/seat/toledo/2013-seat-toledo/13319394

http://www.adverts.ie/car/honda/accord/2006-honda-accord/12744539

my 2006 accord on LPG.
diesel running costs, petrol comfort and maintenance costs.
needs nothing, just need rid of it now.

http://www.adverts.ie/13607574
My Honda civic 1.8 i-vtec Ses in excellent condition and very well cared for..
2006 with nice extras.

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase a dash cam which can be used to monitor the vehicle when it is unattended (although not essential).
Good night vision capability is a must.

I'd prefer something discrete. Don't really need/want the screen on it, as it seems like a distraction.

What are the options I've got here.

Not looking to spend big money here up to and around the €150 mark - if that is a reasonable sum.

Anyone looking for a 7 seater in superb condition with full service history?

http://www.adverts.ie/car/renault/grand-scenic/2010-renault-grand-scenic/13650082



Full documented service history from new.
Next service due October 2018.
Bodywork and interior in near mint condition.
Must be one of the best cared for examples around.

Mr Snow wrote: »

does anyone know the best front and rear dashcam?
is it any good at nighttime?
what memory can it hold?
can you turn off the mircophone?
i do not what messy wires

Maybe give an indication of your budget? I'm using a Blackvue DR430-2CH that was €190 in Halfords. It's not top of the range but it's all I need!

Mr Snow wrote: »

does anyone know the best front and rear dashcam?
is it any good at nighttime?
what memory can it hold?
can you turn off the mircophone?
i do not what messy wires

I use a xiaomi yi dash cam as my front dash cam. Brilliant quality day and night I think.
I think it can be bought for like €60 on amazon atm?
I use a Möbius action cam for the rear. Very convenient, as no screen so not blocking the rear window at all. Only a red light to tell you when its on.
Good quality as well

Fine wrote: »

Have just brought a Zero Edge s3 dual camera system, 1080p front and rear.
It saves the front and rear files as 2 separate files, so I'm looking for something that will merge the two files into one movie/avi file to show the view simultaneously, is there such a thing or when I post them to groups/youtube will I just have to stick with stitching them together sequentially?

you can do it in iMovie if you have a mac

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Nothing to lose at this price - less than €15 delivered;

https://www.dealrush.ie/offer/300014/ef-mall

It will be **** and you will have lost €15

PaddyRussell wrote: »

I dont want to use my mini-usb power cable as its too chunky and I only have one cigarette lighter in the car.

Can I replace the mini-usb car charger with a mini-usb to usb and plug this into a dual usb car charger?

Will this power my dashcam? Many thanks in advance.

There's no reason why that would not work for you. I have my 0806 powered like that.

PaddyRussell wrote: »

Excellent.  Thanks.  I must get a 4m cable now!

I guess try to keep the overall length from power supply to camera as short as possible (i.e. if you could get away with 3m, it would be better than 4m), as I remember a similar topic came up way back in this thread about the power loss over USB cables when they get extended, or are over a certain length.

but having said that, USB cables are surely cheap as chips nowadays, so its probably just a case of getting one the desired length, and trying it out!

Hi All,
I currently have a Nextbase 412WG but one thing I dont like about it is the very wide angle.
This morning I witnessed an accident on the M50 southbound. When I looked at my dashcam footage later, I noticed that the distance from me to the cars in front seemed a lot further in the video than in reality.

Are there any dashcams that dont have this type of 'distortion'? Is it a feature of the wide angle ~ 140 degrees?
I guess my main concern is if somebody merges in very close in front of me and jams on for whatever reason, my dashcam footage might make it look that I should have had enough distance to stop.

FYI: For anyone interested, I asked the Hydunai dealer where i purchased a 171 Tuscon the following:

1. Can I hardwire a dashcam myself to the fuseboard without any warranty issue.
2. Do they offer this service themselves and if so how much.

There response:

Thank you for your warranty query that has been passed for my attention

Unfortunately our dealers do not carry out alterations to the original manufacture specification and the warranty will not cover any failures attributed as a result of the modification

I trust this answers your query

TBH, I'm none the wiser if it does void the warranty or not.

davo2001 wrote: »

FYI: For anyone interested, I asked the Hydunai dealer where i purchased a 171 Tuscon the following:

1. Can I hardwire a dashcam myself to the fuseboard without any warranty issue.
2. Do they offer this service themselves and if so how much.

There response:



TBH, I'm none the wiser if it does void the warranty or not.

if you tapped into the stereo wiring and there was a subsequent problem with the stereo then the warranty wouldn't cover it as you had interfered with the factory wiring...so no it doesn't void your warranty.

Dash cams have a very wide angle and though this is good to catch everything outside the windscreen, it's also a problem because they catch everything, including rearview mirror brackets and shaded areas if you mount the canm on top of the windscreen. If mounted to a side and lower than the top it's in the way of sight of driver or passenger.
So, which is the best spot to place the dash cam? Have you had to face the same problem?

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

It's really a case of whatever works for you and your car.

I mount dash cams out of sight (behind the rear view mirror), yes still don't catch any shaded areas or mirror brackets!!

So I'd guess its about finding that sweet spot on the windscreen to mount the camera.

Agree here. I've never had an issue with shaded areas or the like. Maybe my dashcam hasn't been wide angled enough, but I've never had an issue and all i've done is mount it, turn on, and twist it on it's ball socket until I get rid of anything that's in the way and have it pointing generally in the right direction. Like AndyBoBany, behind the mirror out of the way is where I mount mine with cables tucked away. So many dash cams you see will have a trailing cables straight down the windscreen - They aren't that difficult to chase around the car surrounds.

Many modern cars have a huge and massive rearview mirror bracket which also hosts the rain sensor and other things, so there could be not enough room to mount a cam behind the mirror.
The option would be to mount it on the side of the mirror, but it would be in the line of sight of driver. The passenger's side has the problem that the top part of the windscreen isn't totally reached by the windscreen wiper, so the rain on the windscreen could impair the cam's vision.
These are my experiences on a certain number of cars. None of them has ever had an easy and perfect spot for a cam.

I had the same issue when I changed cars. I ended up using 3M dual lock tape which is like velcro. It let me mount the camera flush against the side of the housing without having to leave clearance cables or to press the release button - I can just remove the whole thing mount and all.. Also let me play around with the location until I got it right