MY19 TS 1.8: seeking advice on hard-wired dashcams with parking mode - any issues?

[Goob]

Hi all. New to the forum but searched as thoroughly as I could before posting this question. Apologies also if this should've gone in the ICE/audio sub-forum:

Just ordered a MY19 TS 1.8 in Design trim, from main dealer with dealer having agreed to do carplay/android update before dispatch. I'm looking to have a hard-wired 2-channel dash cam installed as want parking monitoring and am considering either the Thinkware Q800 pro or U1000, or  Blackvue DR900X depending on deals available.

Had a couple of installers comment on need for a separate Battery to support parking mode due to drain on vehicle 12v.

Has anyone had any of the above systems hard-wired into a similar spec car, and what if any issues did you encounter?

Thanks in advance

[FROSTYBALLS]

Check with your insurer as some consider a hard wired dash cam a modification ...

[Parts-King]

I think it depends on the spec of the dash cam, some parking modes only "wake up" if the car is bumped, or detects movement. My Nextbase recently recorded my car being hit, but only the aftermath, I was fortunate to have CCTV footage which showed the full impact so had no problem.

 

[Goob]

44 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Check with your insure as some consider a hard wired dash cam a modification ...

Fair point, thank you.

4 minutes ago, Parts-King said:

I think it depends on the spec of the dash cam, some parking modes only "wake up" if the car is bumped, or detects movement. My Nextbase recently recorded my car being hit, but only the aftermath, I was fortunate to have CCTV footage which showed the full impact so had no problem.

Thanks, had considered that and my preference is for always-on recording when armed, with bump/motion triggered saving of relevant clips. Curious if the hybrid system presents more or fewer challenges to this kind of thing

[Parts-King]

If it is "always on" then I suspect you might be right, you could possibly need Battery back up, or is that done on the Battery in the cam? You need to make sure. The current draw would not be huge but could be a problem on the 12V in the car if left standing for several days 

[Goob]

On 7/19/2022 at 5:21 PM, Parts-King said:

If it is "always on" then I suspect you might be right, you could possibly need battery back up, or is that done on the battery in the cam? You need to make sure. The current draw would not be huge but could be a problem on the 12V in the car if left standing for several days 

The Thinkware cams allow you to set a low-voltage cutoff threshold to avoid precisely that. No idea how reliable it is though. Not sure if Blackvue offer the same option but suspect we're going to end up with a Thinkware anyway due to price.

[Dylanfan]

Just interested, where do you make the hard wire connection, also read on another forum that bringing a wire down the A pillar is dangerous as if the air bags are activated the wire can be lethal.

[Roy124]

34 minutes ago, Dylanfan said:

Just interested, where do you make the hard wire connection, also read on another forum that bringing a wire down the A pillar is dangerous as if the air bags are activated the wire can be lethal.

There was a post upthread where the power was taken from the plinth behind the mirror.  Apparently it simply slides off.  That poster also fitted a conformal camera there. 

My dealer fitted a Nextbase camera to the left of the mirror assembly and fed power down the A pillar.  The headlining is quite soft and I could feel the cable with my fingers.  I don't know how they went down the A pillar but they then took power off a switched terminal in a fuse box. 

As for permanently live, no comment.