Dash cam power source?

[Rosssavage]

Hey all,

Just received my dash cam in the post today. I'm intending to mount it up behind the rear view mirror, and I want to use a switched live to power it without running wires down the a pillars.

Is there a switched feed up in the roof area that anyone knows of?

01 3.0i

Thanks

[Clockwork]

you can use the power sunroof switch/harness. color to use? Not sure, but a multi-meter and small wire probe to push into harness to measure voltage make light of that problem.

I'm sure someone can correct me if I'm wrong, But you really should put it on a relay and therefore you'd need to run wire to fuse box anyhow.

[Rosssavage]

Unfortunately I don't have a sunroof, but I guess the harness may be there anyway.

The camera only pulls a few hundred mAh, so I won't bother with the relay.

Good advice anyway though!

[crystalworks]

Should be okay without the relay. A small 2.5A fuse might be useful inline though... just to protect the wiring and prevent possible fire. Not sure what event would cause that, but it's good practice.

As for your wire, I would probe either the rear view mirror harness and/or the homelink harness. There has to be a switched wire on one of those.

[upallnight]

You should have overhead map lights which you can splice into.

[BavarianE39]

If you have a garage opener then that should work, I used that as a switched power source when I installed my valentine one.

Maybe this video will help, it shows you a good power source and a good ground that you could use for your camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfARig7nGnA

[Cole]

Be wary, many dash cams work off 5 Volts and therefore have a voltage regulator built into the cigarette lighter adaptor that they are shipped with. They are made this way so that you can also power them up via the USB on your PC when downloading your data. 5 volts is invariably true if the power lead into the dash cam is a mini USB connector. You can still make a plan to connect to 12 volts in the roof console, you just need to include the 5 volt regulator...

[Scott ZHP]

Originally Posted by Cole

Be wary, many dash cams work off 5 Volts and therefore have a voltage regulator built into the cigarette lighter adaptor that they are shipped with. They are made this way so that you can also power them up via the USB on your PC when downloading your data. 5 volts is invariably true if the power lead into the dash cam is a mini USB connector. You can still make a plan to connect to 12 volts in the roof console, you just need to include the 5 volt regulator...

Thanks for this, that's my exact situation. Just checked the battery and it's actually 3.7v, with a 5v USB charge/feed.

Got any suggestions for a quick and dirty 12v->5v regulator? I'd gut the lighter adapter, but mine didn't come with one, just a mini-USB charge cable.

[Cole]

You could try buying an after market USB lighter adaptor and gut that... Otherwise you need to delve into the world of electronics and make something up with an LM7805

http://www.amazon.com/iFlash-Lighter.../dp/B008LM45I2

12V to 5V Converter | Circuit Diagram

How does the manufacturer of your dash cam expect you to use it in the car if they don't supply a 12V feed? Is it a GoPro or something like that with its own battery?

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

Thanks for this, that's my exact situation. Just checked the battery and it's actually 3.7v, with a 5v USB charge/feed.

Got any suggestions for a quick and dirty 12v->5v regulator? I'd gut the lighter adapter, but mine didn't come with one, just a mini-USB charge cable.

[gatojurko]

Roof connector u have anyway u can use it...but there will be constant power! I took roof wires for my garage opener and I used microphone connector...becaue I do not have homelink pre wired! It is strange with bmw my car is 02.year, but has pre wired for bluetooth microphone as I know it came out on 04.year! I also has SOS connector 5pin...also strange!