Hard wiring dash cam?

S

scott78945

Member
I have been seeking a good dash cam since I had a recent accident and got screwed since the driver that hit me lied his way through it and I lost. $700 in damage later I'm investing in a dash cam. The ones I have been looking at have a sensor that turn the camera on when the vehicle is hit when its parked. Since I park in a parking garage all day I want this option but it suggests having the camera hard wired. I am not all that tech savy but believe I should be able to do this. Anyone have any idea as to how I do this?
 
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Easy enough to do. You'll probably just need a constant power wire and a ground. Probably easier to do once you have the dashcam in-hand, or at the very least, the installation manual to see what wires go where.

You can find power at either the fuse block (use a piggyback fuse) or you can tap into the car stereo's wiring while you have the dashboard open for mounting. Just an fyi, it takes me all of 2 minutes to pull the stereo out of the dash now, from start to finish! 4-10mm bolts and 2 philips screws (for the upper temp/mpg display, I assume you'll want to run the wires through that section), and snapping the 3 panels off to get to those screws!
 
I just did this last week.
I used an "add a fuse" block. Papago gosafe 200 from costco.
Ran the wire through the headliner, down the a-pillar to the fuse panel.

I chose an ignition on fuse. You can select a constant power fuse as well and use motion detection with most dash cameras. I thought I might change my mind and switch to constant power at some point, so I decided to go with the piggyback fuse as opposed to tapping in to wires in the overhead console. Although that was my original intention when I had everything apart.
 
scott78945 said:
"I have been seeking a good dash cam..."
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Hi Scott,

I think the best thing to do 'first' would be to decide on a dash-cam that's compatible with your year 4Runner and type head-unit e.g., JBL, non-JBL (Harmon/Panasonic), Rearview mirror monitor...etc, that you have.

"...I want this option but it suggests having the camera hard wired. I am not all that tech savy but believe I should be able to do this. Anyone have any idea as to how I do this?..."
Click to expand...

Once you have the cam with options of choice, there should be paperwork in the box explaining how to wire the device and set the sensor up in the proper location, and with the correct parameters. You can share images of the wiring diagram on this forum and someone here (or me) will tell you just how to wire it and install it in it's proper location! I currently have the 5'th gen 4Runner wiring schematic library; let me know if you need to access them and I'll be happy to provide whichever sheets that you may need! Rgds
 
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I thought I might change my mind and switch to constant power at some point
10ce7.jpg
 
Just get a 2016 Tacoma. They have GoPro mounts on the windshield :tea:

Just kidding. I have never seen a permanently mounted dash cam. Are they usually large units like the size of a GoPro? I will have to do some research on these
 
I run a BlackVue 650 2Ch (Front and Rear Camera) and have nothing but great success with it. The ONLY problem, and I say this with peace and love, is make sure if you're getting it professionally installed (Like I did), make sure they connect the right fuse. Apparently they mis-read a fuse on the instructions and instead of drawing it from the battery 24 - 7 which is what I wanted. It draws from the battery only when its on, and runs itself out of battery over a course of 10 - 12 hours. Regardless, its an easy fix. Just gotta figure out how to get to the fuses on a Limited. Mine is installed (Wires ran and tucked), and if you do decide to get the BlackVue, make sure you get a longer cable. The installer had "Just enough" to get it into position.

Here's a video (not mine) of their set up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUsHouIxVqs
 
I power my dashcam using a 2 port usb cigarette adapter inside the glovebox. the second port is for charging ipods or whatever.
axxman-albums-mrslate-picture35165-glovebox-usb.jpg
 
axxman said:
I power my dashcam using a 2 port usb cigarette adapter inside the glovebox. the second port is for charging ipods or whatever.
axxman-albums-mrslate-picture35165-glovebox-usb.jpg
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I was looking at this option but believe that once the vehicle is turned off there is no power so that won't work. i need it to have constant power in case someone hits my car when I'm not in it the sensor picks it up and records it.
 
rigtec said:
Hi Scott,

I think the best thing to do 'first' would be to decide on a dash-cam that's compatible with your year 4Runner and type head-unit e.g., JBL, non-JBL (Harmon/Panasonic), Rearview mirror monitor...etc, that you have.



Once you have the cam with options of choice, there should be paperwork in the box explaining how to wire the device and set the sensor up in the proper location, and with the correct parameters. You can share images of the wiring diagram on this forum and someone here (or me) will tell you just how to wire it and install it in it's proper location! I currently have the 5'th gen 4Runner wiring schematic library; let me know if you need to access them and I'll be happy to provide whichever sheets that you may need! Rgds
Click to expand...

I didn't plan on hooking it up through the headunit. The dash cam has its own screen and am going to run it on its own. Therefore, opening up the dashboard wasn't something I planned on doing.
 
scott78945 said:
I was looking at this option but believe that once the vehicle is turned off there is no power so that won't work. i need it to have constant power in case someone hits my car when I'm not in it the sensor picks it up and records it.
Click to expand...

sorry, I didn't pay attention to your location. :fro:
 
You may want to check that the camera you get will work in low light conditions; as some parking garages are not very well lit. Also, most cameras are mounter to look out the windshield. If you park nose in and someone hits you on the side or back - the camera won't see it.
 
flyrv9 said:
You may want to check that the camera you get will work in low light conditions; as some parking garages are not very well lit. Also, most cameras are mounter to look out the windshield. If you park nose in and someone hits you on the side or back - the camera won't see it.
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Thanks, will have to check that out. I always back in so that shouldn't be a problem. Anyone have any pics of how to actually splice it in or how to attach to the fuse box? I am not all that technically advanced with this stuff at all but if I can see it I can do it.
 
Blue at rear vierw mirror is 12v ignition
White/blk at mirror is ground.
Red at domelight in overhead console is 12v constant. Two screws and the rest of the overhead assembly is held in by two clips.
 
Hippestguyever said:
I have a Roav Dash cam that's currently plugged into my main cig lighter. Is there a way to wire it so its not so visible or wire it through the rear view mirror? I'm not so great with electronics so bare with me haha. The parts needed?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XNSDRW8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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It's really easy to just wire it from the fuse panel under the drivers dash and run the wire up the a-piller. I like this better than having to tap wires overhead.

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e60ral said:
It's really easy to just wire it from the fuse panel under the drivers dash and run the wire up the a-piller. I like this better than having to tap wires overhead.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Adding to e60ral...you will need THIS to tap into your fuse panel. You can Google or search on this forum to see which fuse location is recommended to power the device when you turn on your ignition (or ACC).
 
cutty01 said:
Adding to e60ral...you will need THIS to tap into your fuse panel. You can Google or search on this forum to see which fuse location is recommended to power the device when you turn on your ignition (or ACC).
Click to expand...

How many of them can you have in the fuse box?
I already have a piggy back for the ARB compressor.
 
JPOVS said:
How many of them can you have in the fuse box?
I already have a piggy back for the ARB compressor.
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Just for a lighted switch though, right? These don't pull much, you can have more that you'll want

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