General Dash Cams

Currently reading:
General Dash Cams

Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
2,669
Points
796
Just wondering if other owners are using a Dash Cam?

If so,
which one are you using?
how have you wired it in?
how/where is it fitted?
are you happy with it's results?

A while ago, while LMAO watching one of the Dash Cam TV programs
(the cyclist giving the V's to the car behind, then crashing head over heels is still tickling me pink even now).
I thought I'd investigate the different cameras on offer and see if I could find one that suited my needs.

What I wanted was something I could leave attached all the time, so no fixing up, pulling down every time I used my car.

Recorded in a reasonable quality day and night, but as cheaply as possible.
Also, it needed to be wired in to stop and start on the ignition but also so the normal power socket was free to charge phone, Sat Nav etc.

A couple of sites help me in deciding what's hot and what's not.
http://www.techmoan.com/
https://dashcamtalk.com/

And this kind of made my mind up on fitting a camera
http://www.swiftcover.com/carinsurance/dashcams/

So first off, power supply.
All cameras come with a ciggy adapter to either USB mini or USB micro cable (depending on camera) or you can buy a hard wire kit (at extra cost).
I decided to just use the ciggy adapter cable and wire in another power socket in the glove box (close to fuse board).

I bought a waterproof power socket (because I wanted a cap on it) for a few quid on ebay and a mini fuse piggyback tap for another couple of quid.

These piggybacks fit easily, just identify a switched live fuse (hand book), pull it out and push the piggyback in the now empty socket to tap the power. The piggyback has two spaces for fuses, one for the fuse that you pulled out and one for the device you are tapping it for.

I soldered up the connections between piggyback and new power socket, then a bit of heatshrink, fitted an earth ring (screwed to the bolt on the bottom right of the fuse board and fed the wires through the hole in the fuse board cover in the back of the glove box.

So now I have another switched power socket in the glove box which is easy to remove without leaving Scotchlocks or split cables for less than half the price of a hardwire kit.

Next up was camera.
I wanted something discreet and preferably with a capacitor rather than a battery as they can get hot.
It really needed fitting to the black masked part of the windscreen behind the interior mirror, so I ended up with the A118C (C for capacitor) for around £46 (plus £5 for GPS module)
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/10/26/the-a118-b40-wedge-dashcam-review.html
Though perhaps the Street Guardian sg9665gc might have been better (Same casing but better lens, sensor and CPL filters are available to cancel out the dash/screen reflections)

Took a bit of adjusting to get it in the correct position, but now it just pokes the lens below the screen mask and is quite hard to see from outside (and not at all from within as it's hidden by the mirror).

Cabling was easy to route and hide.
There's a gap between headlining and screen for the cable to push into.
A couple of inches across the top of the A pillar trim (the only bit visible).
Then down inside the door frame rubber to the glove box.

So far, I've only used it in daylight and the images have been as good as any I've seen posted by others from these cameras, so I expect the night ones will be similar to those already posted.

Next on my list is a Mobius for one of the other cars (and a bit of fun on a bike)
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2013/7...e-do-it-all-mount-anywhere-1080p-micro-c.html

There is plenty of support for these and also plenty of add ons and extras like different lenses, batteries, capacitor, cases, leads etc.
So will do something like this with the lens remote from the camera.
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/2...ra-and-some-accessories-to-make-my-ideal.html

I know some of you might be a bit weary of these Chinese cameras, but all the branded ones are the same cameras or at least the same internals.
The Nextbase 420 is actually the DOD LS, the only difference is the price hike of the Nextbase!

When I get some broadcastable cam footage (without the x rated language) I'll post some of the A118C and some pics of it fitted.
 
Last edited:
Have you checked out the fiat forum dash cam thread?
https://www.fiatforum.com/leisure-lounge/319918-dash-camera-thread-videos.html

I personally use a transcend cam. Not the neatest or most discrete, but gives great video day and night.
I like the wifi which makes downloading footage to your phone simple.
It's mounted next to the rear view mirror and I have the power wire dangling down and into the cigar lighter socket. I leave it in the car mounted most of the time.
I was very surprised the twunt who took my satnav the other week didn't grab that too!

I saw last week the nextbase do in incar hard wire kit. It can plug straight into a spare fuse socket and has a mini USB plug the Other end.
I can't see why it wouldn't work with any other camera with the same USB power input?

Maplins have it at £14.99

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nextbase-Car-Camera-Hard-Wire/dp/B00XHYSQAC"]Nextbase Car Camera Hard Wire Kit - For Nextbase 101: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NBsEMQy1L.@@AMEPARAM@@41NBsEMQy1L[/ame]
 
Last edited:
No I haven't seen that thread, will have a look thanks.

I made this for about £4.

It's in a switched live, F51 at the moment, but could easily be swapped into F53 for a constant live if needed. (it's great the hand book identifies which fuses are switched, switch inhibited and constant)
I can also stick a dual socket adapter in it and run a couple of devices, where a hardwire kit will only be useful for a dash cam.
 
Seeing we've got that Tom Tom mount, has anyone adapted something to use that?

I've ordered one of those Mobius cams with a lens extension cable for one of our other cars, £62 all in.

I'll mount the unit out of view on the headlining with some velcro and modify a Garmin Nuvi 300 series mount to hold the lens.
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Nuvi-Series-Suction-Mount/dp/B00928BNP2"]Garmin Nuvi 370 ,360 ,350 ,310 ,300 Series Suction Cup Mount: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AJJGHIU-L.@@AMEPARAM@@41AJJGHIU-L[/ame]

The sucker will stick to the black masked part of the screen and as the mount is hinged, it'll swing up when not in use and hide the lens.

I'll cut down the flat part that attaches the Sat Nav to the ball/socket to hold the lens, so it'll swivel on the ball/socket to get the right viewing angle.
 
That looks really neat. I may invest in one of those A118c's?

How is the capacitor? My camera has a capacitor but the power only lasts about 3 days of no use. Any longer and you have to input the time and date again which is a pain.

Yes, A118C, but I think you can still get the A118 with a battery.
There are plenty about on Ebay, mine is branded Blueskysea, but they are often called Viofo and sometimes referred to as a B40.
I think the main UK seller on Ebay is Foxoffer and they offer lots of help and support on Dash Cam Talk.

I've read most capacitors will hold the time and date for around 7 days, but I've not tested that yet.
I'm not too sure what data I want to capture with the image.
I ordered a plug in GPS receiver, but again do I really need/want speed and position, time and date, it could go against me in a claim, if you know what I mean!

I've not managed to upload any video yet, been trying different settings and angles, but I'll get on to it.

I've a bit of dash reflection, mainly the vent in the centre of the dash top and the white A pillar covers. CPL filters aren't available for this model, so need to make one, a pair of those 3D glasses from the cinema can be made into one.

Due to the wide angle lens, there is a little distortion around the bottom, curved around, a bit of greying out just like other owners seem to get.
It's not a problem as it's part of the dash/lower windscreen image that's not really important.

In hindsight, I probably should have bought this one for a bit extra
https://dashcamtalk.com/sg9665gc/
It's the same case and fitting, but with a better processor, lens and sensor, plus they've made a clip on CPL (different lens, so it won't fit the A118).

Rather strange for me that these dash cams seem to have caught my interest and living around here, I'm sure it'll pay off!
 
Last edited:
Not quite setup correctly yet and need to sort a CPL filter to reduce reflections, but over all I think it's bang on the money for less than £50!

BTW, the occasional "popping and crackling" on the sound is my Eciggy!

[ame]https://youtu.be/vxa-Uzn5Dcc[/ame]
 
Hmm, on checking the quality it looks like Youtube have messed with something and reduced the definition.

It's 80% better when viewed in it's original format on my laptop!

Though you can just make out the growl of the TA engine.
 
My wipers used to make that annoying noise. A new pair is needed. Don't buy cheap generic ones though, it's false economy.
It'll feel like a new car when you fit the new ones :)

Next time try cleaning the windscreen with distilled vinegar (the white stuff) and cleaning the rubber blades with denatured/isopropyl alcohol.

Just done that now and the blades are silent again.

You find denatued/isopropl alcohol in most antibacterial hand gels, except hospitals use a different type of foam these days, as all the methers used to nic the gel and drink it!

Just rub it up and down the blades a few times, works a treat.
 
Back
Top