Hardwiring a dash cam means that the device does not work on batteries but is powered by the car’s battery in which it is positioned. This is usually achieved with a hardwiring kit that links the dash cam to the car fuse. This configuration enables the dash cam to use power from the car battery, even after the car is turned off.
How Hardwiring the Dash Cam Works
Installation: You (or a professional) install the hardwiring kit, connecting it to your car’s fuse box and ground it properly. The hardwire kit found in the market usually contains a fuse tap that can be plugged into a free fuse slot in a vehicle’s fuse box.
Constant Power Source: Hardwiring the dash cam eliminates the need to plug the device into a cigarette lighter, which only works when the car’s engine is running. This allows the dash camera to draw the required power from the car battery, hence the low chances of disuse when the vehicle is parked.
Parking Mode Benefits: Hardwiring to the car opens up the dash camera’s parque mode functions, allowing the device to switch on recording even when the engine is off, but more later.
Hardwiring a dashcam is a better option for those who want 24/7 surveillance in their vehicle, especially if one is concerned about theft or vandalism while parked. However, the burning issue is whether hardwiring a dashcam uses a car battery.
Does Hardwiring Dash Cams Affect Car Battery Life?
The good news is that hardwiring is a sure way of emptying your car battery. Remember that this will happen more rapidly if your dash cam continuously records while plugged in. Nevertheless, there are appropriate ways to accomplish this to reduce extra battery consumption without compromising your battery’s efficiency.
Let’s break it down:
Power Consumption: Even in parking mode and the camera is off, dashboard cameras consume very low amperage for their functionality. Although the amount of power consumed does not affect that of other electronics in the car, over a prolonged period, it causes battery drainage, especially if the vehicle is not driven frequently or even when the battery is weak.
Continuous Recording vs. Parking Mode: Expect heavy power consumption as long as your dash cam is on and recording is enabled through its remote control system compared to having the dash cam in parking mode. Parking mode is a more battery-efficient feature whereby only motion or an impact is recorded, making it a DVR recording for a reduced time cycle. You can get d
Battery Condition: An older car battery or one in lousy condition will likely get drained quickly. Newer batteries or those of a higher standard are better at handling the power draw that a wired dash cam requires.
Frequency of Use: The usual factor of how often you use your car also affects battery performance. If the car has not been driven for days or weeks, the battery will not be depleted as frequently, and the dash cam will eventually use up the remaining power.
Yes, a dash cam connected via hard wire does tend to use the car battery, especially when the battery is weak or the car is barely used. Luckily, however, there are ways to prevent such an occurrence.
How to Protect Your Car Battery
A battery discharge prevention system (BDPS) is perhaps the most effective solution to the problem of your car battery getting drained by your dash cam. Many hard-wiring options already come with this feature, which ensures that the dash cam is restored when a set voltage is reached so that some power remains in the battery for the car to crank up.
Here’s the mechanics of such a system:
Voltage Cut-off Feature: The voltage cut-off is an additional perk offered in the hard wiring kit. It enables timely conservation of the car battery by monitoring its voltage levels. A voltmeter can be essential if the range falls within a specific area, typically 11.6 – 11.8V. The dash cam will cease to take any power, so it will not have battery insufficiency.
Choosing a Hardwiring Kit: One of the essential features of a hardware kit is the cut-off voltage feature. This is important in safeguarding your battery and ensuring that your dash cam does not cause the battery to flat out. The advanced kits have restricted settings whereby the cut-off voltage is adjustable, thus allowing the user to adjust the voltage depending on the system’s needs.
Professional Installation: If you have no prior experience installing the hard wiring kit, it is recommended that you get someone to do it for you. In this case, there is no possibility of error in terms of how things are wired and whether or not the battery discharge prevention system operates as it should.
Following these recommendations allows Usted to operate the dash cam nonstop, regardless of the car battery’s level.
Effects of Parking Mode Feature on Battery Life
Parking mode is one of the best features a hardwired dash cam offers. The camera can overlook your car when parked without requiring a constant running video. However, how the parking mode affects the battery needs to be explained.
How Parking Mode Works:
There is a dash camera mode called ‘parking mode,’ where the camera power is not turned off. However, the camera will only record when motion or impact is detected. That means the camera will not record all the time, thus saving power.
Types of Parking Mode:
Motion Detection: Recording occurs when movement is witnessed surrounding the parked vehicle, such as when someone tries to sneak up on it. This is important to avoid unwarranted incidents of vandalism.
Impact Detection: Recording occurs automatically when an accident is detected on the car; for instance, somebody slams their car into yours in a parking lot.
Even though parking mode helps conserve energy lock, it does take some charge off the battery. If your car remains parked for extended periods, this could cause the battery to settle into a state of discharge. To avoid further harm to your battery, you can:
Adjust the Sensitivity Limitations: You may cover lower sensitivity levels on motion sensors that record many unnecessary motion events. This is especially helpful while your car is parked in busy surroundings.
Consider External Power Sources: Some drivers use external battery packs that use the dash cam’s parking mode to keep the electronics working while parked. This minimizes the car battery use and allows the dash cam to be used when parked without emptying the car battery.
Is Your Dash Cam Draining Your Car Battery?
Some indicators may be apparent if the dash camera drains the car battery. Here are some of the familiar signs you should keep an eye on:
Cranking the Engine Is Slow: If starting the car takes a little bit longer than usual or the vehicle struggles to turn over, it means that some battery is being wasted.
Power Stem Behavioral Changes: It isn’t unusual for a driver to physically know the crank is weaker than usual. In that case, he may be using up every battery he gets due to a faulty dash cam with a standby capacity that is too high.
Shutting Down the Dash Cam: Some dash cameras have features, including battery protection features that disconnect the line when the battery is low. If the dash cam you have malfunctions because it turns off unexpectedly, especially when you need to use it most, then there could be a battery problem.
If you realize and/or identify the signs mentioned above, it would be advisable to monitor the condition of the car magnet battery and investigate the car dash’s power profile to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
How to Avoid Discharging the Battery:
Adhere to the following best practices in order not to drain your car battery while making use of a hardwired dash cam:
Always use a high-quality Hardwiring Kit. Look for a hardwiring kit with built-in battery discharge prevention features, such as a voltage cut-off system that protects your car’s battery.
Check on Battery Status: Constantly check the car battery’s health, primarily if you habitually use the parking mode. If your battery is getting old or relatively weak, changing it before problems arise is advisable.
A Battery Pack Designed for a Dash Camera Use Could be Useful: A dash cam power bank is an external battery designed to power your dash cam without drawing from your car’s main battery. This is especially helpful to those who park and record for long periods away from the vehicle without) using its battery.
Adjust the Sensitivity of the Parking Mode: Reduce the sensitivity of the motion detection feature. If the car is parked in busy places a lot, the camera might record too much.
Disable Parking Mode when not Needed: If your vehicle is parked in a relatively safe area, you may wish to turn it off or only allow it to operate in certain circumstances (such as when an impact is detected).
Conclusion
Including a hardwired dash camera in your vehicle provides an uninterrupted power supply, enabling 24-hour surveillance inside the car. You can capture collisions, thefts, and other vital events, even with parked vehicles. Even though hardwired dash cams use up a car battery, there are remedies for hard wiring that effectively maintain a car battery at a healthy status.
