Tapping wiring for a rear dashcam?
Discussion
Hi folks
I received a dashcam for Christmas. The purchaser doesn't know I have one already fitted and I'm too polite to tell them and try and swap it out for something else.
The front camera is fitted with an add a circuit type device, which was nice and easy to install. So I thought I'd wire this new one into the rear, ideally it'll need to be a switched live.
Question is, how? Is it safe to tap existing wiring? Or should I be running something from the front to back?
Car is a Honda Accord Gen 7 touring if that makes any difference!
I received a dashcam for Christmas. The purchaser doesn't know I have one already fitted and I'm too polite to tell them and try and swap it out for something else.
The front camera is fitted with an add a circuit type device, which was nice and easy to install. So I thought I'd wire this new one into the rear, ideally it'll need to be a switched live.
Question is, how? Is it safe to tap existing wiring? Or should I be running something from the front to back?
Car is a Honda Accord Gen 7 touring if that makes any difference!
Generally not safe to tap 'any' wire, as most of the rear wires will be controlled via a CAN system, and not be suitable for permanent loads. It is easily possible to tap the wrong wire, and the car start to play up. (Someone had done this to an Audi I looked at once, and linked the phone to the CAN system with interesting results).
The way I think I would do it, is to either find a power supply onto the fuse-box, or to link the power supply to the existing dash cam. (Or seek advice from an auto electrician who has a wiring diagram for said car).
The way I think I would do it, is to either find a power supply onto the fuse-box, or to link the power supply to the existing dash cam. (Or seek advice from an auto electrician who has a wiring diagram for said car).
Do you have a 12v power socket in the boot? If so check the logic vs ignition status and if it is live only when the engine is on use that (i piggybacked off the boot socket on an old car, worked very well)
Otherwise, check if your car has a rear fusebox and if so, what is live when ignition is on. You can use one of the add-a-circuit fuses off a circuit that is live only when ignition is on.
Otherwise, check if your car has a rear fusebox and if so, what is live when ignition is on. You can use one of the add-a-circuit fuses off a circuit that is live only when ignition is on.
donkmeister said:
Do you have a 12v power socket in the boot? If so check the logic vs ignition status and if it is live only when the engine is on use that (i piggybacked off the boot socket on an old car, worked very well)
Otherwise, check if your car has a rear fusebox and if so, what is live when ignition is on. You can use one of the add-a-circuit fuses off a circuit that is live only when ignition is on.
Ooh, very good point! The car does have a boot socket with it being the tourer, not sure if it's perm live but easy to check. Otherwise, check if your car has a rear fusebox and if so, what is live when ignition is on. You can use one of the add-a-circuit fuses off a circuit that is live only when ignition is on.
If it's switched live, i assume it's a spade type fitting on the socket, so, any chance there is some kind of easy spade adapter I can drop onto them to provide the +ve and the earth? Or do I need to split the wire and solder it?
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