Trying to install a hardwire for a dash cam and can't get power to it. I have tried two different dash cams, two different hardwire kits, and two different add a tap fuses. On my current attempt, I am using an "E Support 12v Car Add-a-circuit Fuse TAP Adapter Mini ATM APM Blade Fuse Holder." I crimped the power line from the hardwire into it. It came with some fuses so I put one on the back of the holder, and then took a 10amp fuse out of the "TOWING BKUP" slot from my 2016 4runner. I then put that fuse in the empty slot on my tap a fuse and plugged it in. I grounded it by running the ground wire through a metal hole near the fuse box and then covered it with electrical tape. On my other install I ran the ground wire through one of the rear bolts. No power on either of them. Am I using the wrong fuse slot or doing something else incorrectly? Thanks for any help.
What am I doing wrong with this dash cam hardwire install?
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Flingwinger
New member
I'd suggest getting a multimeter and ringing out the wires. Check your ground and confirm you have 12v power at your fuse. It doesn't sound like you have a good ground if you just taped it in a hole.. look for something paint free, any mounting hardware or screw into the body work should suffice- again check it for continuity to ground.
I just installed a blackvue in my Subaru and probed around the fuse box until I found a 12v source with the key removed from the ignition. I believe it was the 4way flasher fuse but will have to confirm. It also required a keyed 12v source which was easier to find, use your cigarette plug fuse for switched. Will be hardwiring my 4Runner shortly so I will take a look later today with my meter and see if I can confirm a fuse slot for you.
I just installed a blackvue in my Subaru and probed around the fuse box until I found a 12v source with the key removed from the ignition. I believe it was the 4way flasher fuse but will have to confirm. It also required a keyed 12v source which was easier to find, use your cigarette plug fuse for switched. Will be hardwiring my 4Runner shortly so I will take a look later today with my meter and see if I can confirm a fuse slot for you.
I never had success with hardwiring my dash cams on any of the vehicles that I have, and I've installed it in 4 separate vehicles. First camera I fried because the voltage was too high so I said screw it. Only advise I can give is just remove the plastic crap on the dash, t tap the cig lighter and add an extra cig lighter behind the dash and just plug the dash cam in with the cigarette lighter. Comes on when car has power and off after. Good luck man and don't fry yours like I did the first time.
BlackWorksInc
New member
Actually that makes sense since depending which leg is the "input voltage" for the Add-A-Circuit it's possible to install it on the "non-powered" side of the fuse, turning it 180 degrees would put the "powered" side of the circuit inline with the "input voltage" side of the Add-A-Circuit if that makes sense.
bigears2303
Member
I just installed my blackvue about a week ago and tapped into the wiring from the fuse box, not me personally but had help, I can send you pics later don't have the tools to disassemble right now
bigears2303 it would be great if you could tell me which fuse you uses and what amp size fuse you used in the tap. Thanks.
Also, does it matter that I'm now reading dash cams only use a 2.5 or 3amp fuse? Should I be using a 10 amp for the original fuse I'm tapping, and then putting a 3 amp in the second slot for the dash cam instead of a 10?
Also, does it matter that I'm now reading dash cams only use a 2.5 or 3amp fuse? Should I be using a 10 amp for the original fuse I'm tapping, and then putting a 3 amp in the second slot for the dash cam instead of a 10?
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The add-a-fuse in the picture looks like the wrong size to me - I tried those originally, and although they'll plug in the connection is bad and they fall out easily. I'm using these:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EO571Z4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and one's been in for months now without issue. Make sure you buy the right mini fuses as well (pull one out to compare - they're conveniently the same as the truck's normal fuses).
For placement, I'm using the 15amp socket at the top left if you're looking up at the panel - it's marked ACC on the cover, and is one of the only ignition switched slots. Make sure you put the fuses in the right slots - I had a 7.5amp one in what I thought was going to the camera, and then popped it plugging a compressor into the cigarette lighter. Whoops.
The bolt at the top of the fuse block (visible in your picture) is grounded - I just used a crimp ring connector for my ground. The box is clipped in as well, so it won't fall out when you take that screw out.
Edit: here's a picture of my setup, with the fuses wrong - don't be like me, RTFM
:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D5dXFN4EUZ57LG-G_KNUXPsJrg1YeWiBFQ/view?usp=sharing
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EO571Z4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and one's been in for months now without issue. Make sure you buy the right mini fuses as well (pull one out to compare - they're conveniently the same as the truck's normal fuses).
For placement, I'm using the 15amp socket at the top left if you're looking up at the panel - it's marked ACC on the cover, and is one of the only ignition switched slots. Make sure you put the fuses in the right slots - I had a 7.5amp one in what I thought was going to the camera, and then popped it plugging a compressor into the cigarette lighter. Whoops.
The bolt at the top of the fuse block (visible in your picture) is grounded - I just used a crimp ring connector for my ground. The box is clipped in as well, so it won't fall out when you take that screw out.
Edit: here's a picture of my setup, with the fuses wrong - don't be like me, RTFM
:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D5dXFN4EUZ57LG-G_KNUXPsJrg1YeWiBFQ/view?usp=sharing
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Dark Lord
New member
I'm not sure what that blue fuse is on your add-a-fuse, but I noticed something I was doing wrong when hardwiring my Blackvue CH-100B. The red 10A fuse was in the wrong slot. On mine I just put two on it, and it works fine.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
The add a fuse is a larger size than the mini profile that come in the 4runner. I can put the add a fuse in the 4runner fuse panel just fine, but the fuses that go in it I don't think will fit in the 4runner fuse panel. I didn't think that mattered. I'll try to order the one you recommended and see if that helps. I really appreciate the picture and help. I was wondering if I could use that screw you said you are using as well, but didn't know since it was touching plastic.
Since I'm going to plug it into that 15 amp slot, I put the original 15 amp into the add a fuse, and then do I need to buy a 3 amp low profile fuse for the other slot?
Check out these 4Runner dash cam install from YouTube.
https://youtu.be/eIKGyVFB_us
https://youtu.be/nqohxc9ZCsI
Good Luck!
https://youtu.be/eIKGyVFB_us
https://youtu.be/nqohxc9ZCsI
Good Luck!
DKFTPNYC
New member
I used the cig lighter fuse and tapped into that. Happy to report absolutely no problems. What kind of hardwire kit are you using? As far as I know, most dash cams run on 5v, not 12v, so that may be another thing to keep in mind, depending on what hardwire kit you are running.
n2advnture
New member
You must have a proper ground before you can start troubleshooting.
Go behind that bolt at the top of your first picture (the bottom bolt holding on the fuse block)
Go behind that bolt at the top of your first picture (the bottom bolt holding on the fuse block)
Yeah exactly. I'd recommend getting an assortment, because mine at least only has two spares in the engine box.
HerT4R
New member
- get a multimeter
- these are the fuse taps i used for my dashcam install, they work great
- what hardwire kit are you using?
- where did you buy the dashcam from?
these are all important things. I bought my dashcam kit off blackboxmycar.com it came with a hardwire kit and all necessary bits besides fuse taps and fuses
Also if you do not have or cannot afford a multimeter you at least need a 12V hot tester. You can buy these at autozone for roughly ~$10. It will tell you which fuse slots are always hot or ignition hot.
also, YMMV, but i used the same fuse (each 10A) in each side of the fuse tap and IIRC the hardwire kit mine came with required me to wire into an always hot, an ignition hot, and a ground and thats all i needed. The hardwire kit also had a built in voltage cut off to keep from draining the battery.
Well, I got everything working by using fuse 15a in the top right hand corner, which is listed on the fuse box as "P/OUTLET." However I just noticed that it is running even when the ignition is off. Does yours do that? Does anyone know a non-switched amp I can tap? It hasn't run down my battery after a week, but I don't want to risk doing so if I don't use my car for a few days.
Also, I am using a 4 amp because I didn't have a 2.5 or 3 in my assortment. Will that be okay or is there danger of overloading something?
Also, I am using a 4 amp because I didn't have a 2.5 or 3 in my assortment. Will that be okay or is there danger of overloading something?
bigears2303
Member
This is how mine is wired the line runs off the fuse box to this another connector under the driver side kick panel (the white box). Be careful removing the wire loom as there is a switch to remove the clip and pulling on it without pushing the tab down could cause it to break. Sorry I'm no electrician so I can give you all the technical names, again I got a bunch of help on the install from Pops. He tapped the power wire (hot wire) into the green wire and the ground wire into the black wire in the loom. These were soldered and shrink tubed and ready wrapped into the loom. These wires that are running to the loom are coming from my Power Magic Pro
Power Magic Pro BlackVue Vehicle Battery Discharge Prevention for Parking Mode for BlackVue DR500GW, DR550GW, DR650GW, DR650S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008B8ERIO/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_ynD6xbKXXMQHR
Then the camera is wired to the power magic pro. The power magic will turn off power if the battery gets too low on voltage. I have been running the camera for over a month now with no issues and no dead battery
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Are you sure you're looking at the panel correctly? That p/outlet fuse is definitely switched (note that there may be a delay if the key is still in - have you tried locking it and waiting a second?)
For the fuse, you should be fine - I can't see a 1 or 2 amp difference causing issues. It's mostly there for short circuits.
