Dashcam install

[jeegnesh]

Possibly a silly question as the talk is on hardwire here, any cons to just using the cigarette 12V that comes with most dash cams, I've used that in my last 3 cars not MG's? I assume it because you cannot use the park monitor anything else?

 

[siteguru]

Can the power cable be routed tidily when using the 12V socket?

 

[Diggsy]

Can the power cable be routed tidily when using the 12V socket?

Certainly can. That’s the way mine is. I have it tucked into the head cloth, then pressed into the seal beside the A-pillar. From there, it’s tucked in behind the panel below the steering wheel, then I have it running down one of the openings for the phone lead. You can only see a very small portion of the cable between the panel under the steering wheel and the area where the phone sits, then obviously a small amount as it comes out again to reach the 12V socket.

I’m fairly fussy and it looks tidy as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Apple4]

Can anyone double confirm that using a hardwire cable with parking guard and switched plus permanent live works as it should and does not deplete the 12V battery?

 

[Lesterp]

Can anyone double confirm that using a hardwire cable with parking guard and switched plus permanent live works as it should and does not deplete the 12v battery?

Mine’s been hardwired from the fuse box since early March. No problems with battery, and car has been left a few days unused on several occasions.

 

[nam]

Hello,
I have a new MG3 Hybrid arriving soon and have ordered a 70mai A810 dual channel. Reading here the recommendation is to run the rear camera through the bottom of the car per the video here. Has anyone used this method ?

 

[siteguru]

I wonder if this would work with the MG4?

 

[leonkernan]

I wonder if this would work with the MG4?

That's pretty much what the Chinese built in dashcams do, they take the power from the 12v light circuit. He's taking it from the driver assistance camera, but basically the same thing.

 

[tsedge]

I wonder if this would work with the MG4?

I thought someone did something similar way back when the MG4 was first launched, using a 12V to 5V buck converter module. I know that's what I plan to do when I eventually get a dashcam.

Found what I was thinking of:

interior lights wiring harness adapter

Hi, just would like share the wiring adaptor that I have purchased. Basically it's a simple male and female connector with few wires, it added 2 additional wires to output 12v DC. Label shows it called "Wiring harness adapter for MG" This should give 12v DC power as soon as you unlock the car...

www.mgevs.com

 

[siteguru]

I guess my question should have been - I wonder if that plug adapter will work directly with the MG4? (I can't remember what that one looks like that is above the interior light enclosure).

 

[Bigmac2020]

Had my dashcams professionally reinstalled today.

For anyone interested they were able to use empty live and switched live slots in the fuse box rather than tapping onto existing fuses. He installed a battery monitor to ensure voltage doesn't drop too low.

I will try and get the pictures and post them here for anyone interested.

If you don't want to do it yourself and want to get someone to install your cameras or supply and install cameras, I highly recommend David at dashcams.co.uk. He did my ZS and now my MG4.

Just wanted to say thanks for the information and photos. I have just installed my own dash cam using these. Great idea to run the cable through the boot lid for the rear camera. Hardest part was getting the cable through the rubber boot into the lid, but other than that took about an hour and a half to do.

 

[RCornwell]

There is a USB port on the mirror mount of the ZS EV (mine's a Trophy, vintage December 2001). I was able to stick a NextBase Dash Cam behind the mirror and attach it to the USB port via a short cable (not the supplied one which is too short but one about a foot long). The Dash Cam only works when driving, but I'm OK with that.

Incidentally, I went to the NextBase website and abandoned my purchase. When I went back the following day they offered me a 10% discount on their already competitive price.

 

[siteguru]

No such port on the MG4 - even though there's space to accommodate one.

 

[tsedge]

You can add one inside the overhead console with a module, as referenced above.

I will be doing this if we add a dashcam.

 

[ReintjeWA]

Just wondering if anyone has installed a blackvue battery b-130x or something similar to allow continuous recording in parking mode.

My BlackVue 900X has a built in low voltage and auto shuts off.

Under what condition does the main drivetrain battery top up the 12v battery

Apologies but I’m struggling to get the rear view mirror housing off, I want to improve the cable routing but I’m worried I’m going to break it.

Any tips ?

Thanks


@nate2d or anyone that has taken the mirror cover off, how much force did you use as I'm struggling.

Also any pointers for getting it back on.

Thank you

I just got an iRoad Pro12 installed today. I have a 2ch BlackVue setup (through the dealership) but found that the parking mode stopped working within several hours (I work at a school so parents dropping off kids triggers the camera a lot). It wasn’t cheap but with this battery it should be able to sustain parking mode for 48 hours, and never drain the 12V battery.

I will say that using BlackVue battery with BlackVue camera gives you some control over the battery through the app, whereas the iRoad doesn’t. But the iRoad does have more capacity and is LFP chemistry.

IROAD Power Pack | Extended Dash Cam Battery | IROAD

Keep your dash cam powered longer with the IROAD Power Pack. Ideal for extended recording without draining your vehicle's battery. Secure yours today !

www.iroadau.com.au

Anybody looking for an installer in Perth WA, I used Oz Audio in Wangara, including labour it cost me $850, dude did it in a couple of hours. He won’t instal things you supply yourself though.

Edit; he mentioned the dealership had used the fuse for the lights to hook up the dashcam, which he thought was strange so he re-did the wiring properly. It all still works so I guess it didn’t really matter?

 

[APMG]

I moved my old vantrue n2 from my old car on the weekend.

It's just plugged into the 12V but tucked cable in to the head cushion, down the side pillar which it tucks in, down the dash into the frames weatherproofing, tucked under the glovebox and into the cable manage holes for 12V.

Not perfect but don't have the money to buy and hard wire anything so it will do me for now.

 

[Evgen K]

Have anyone tried 70mai A810 with two cameras on MG4?

 

[Evgen K]

I just got an iRoad Pro12 installed today. I have a 2ch BlackVue setup (through the dealership) but found that the parking mode stopped working within several hours (I work at a school so parents dropping off kids triggers the camera a lot). It wasn’t cheap but with this battery it should be able to sustain parking mode for 48 hours, and never drain the 12v battery.

I will say that using BlackVue battery with BlackVue camera gives you some control over the battery through the app, whereas the iRoad doesn’t. But the iRoad does have more capacity and is LFP chemistry.

IROAD Power Pack | Extended Dash Cam Battery | IROAD

Keep your dash cam powered longer with the IROAD Power Pack. Ideal for extended recording without draining your vehicle's battery. Secure yours today !

www.iroadau.com.au

Anybody looking for an installer in Perth WA, I used Oz Audio in Wangara, including labour it cost me $850, dude did it in a couple of hours. He won’t instal things you supply yourself though.

Edit; he mentioned the dealership had used the fuse for the lights to hook up the dashcam, which he thought was strange so he re-did the wiring properly. It all still works so I guess it didn’t really matter?

Strange, I thought main battery (HV battery) should periodically charge 12V battery, if it's drain, even in park mode. How it's possible that dashcam drains 12V battery up to cut off?

 

[ReintjeWA]

Strange, I thought main battery (HV battery) should periodically charge 12V battery, if it's drain, even in park mode. How it's possible that dashcam drains 12V battery up to cut off?

In theory, you are correct. The HV battery should top up the 12V battery. But in reality I don't have to worry about it, because the dashcam technically just runs off its own battery now, which charges when the car is on. So if for whatever reason the HV battery decides not to top up the 12V, I won't be stranded.

To be clear, I've never tried to see if the HV battery will charge before the 12V drains too far.

 

[Evgen K]

In theory, you are correct. The HV battery should top up the 12V battery. But in reality I don't have to worry about it, because the dashcam technically just runs off its own battery now, which charges when the car is on. So if for whatever reason the HV battery decides not to top up the 12V, I won't be stranded.

To be clear, I've never tried to see if the HV battery will charge before the 12V drains too far.

If possible, could you please share the photos how your iRoad Pro12 is installed.