How To Install A Dash Camera
Overview
Whether you're concerned about road safety or want to capture those “you’d never believe it” moments a car camera is a must have accessory. These car camera units are better known as dash cameras. They’re SUPER affordable, and you can finish your own dash camera install in as little as ten minutes. Continue reading to learn how to install a dash camera.
The best car camera is the one with the features you need. Here are a few common dash camera features:
Loop recording: Automatically overwrites old footage with new footage to ensure continuous recording.
G-sensor: Detects sudden acceleration, braking or impacts and locks footage to prevent it from being overwritten.
Parking mode: Continues to record while your car is parked and the engine is off, triggered by motion or impact.
Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth connectivity: Allows you to easily view and transfer footage to your smartphone or other devices.
GPS: Records your location and speed, which can be useful in the event of an accident.
Night vision: Uses infrared or other technology to improve visibility in low-light conditions.
Audio recording: Records audio along with video footage.
HDR (High Dynamic Range): Improves image quality by balancing exposure levels between bright and dark areas.
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems): Includes features such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and other safety alerts.
Dual Camera: A second rear facing camera built into the dash camera to record occupants; or on an extended cable to record traffic at the rear of the vehicle.
Items
A clean cloth
Wax and grease remover
Hard wire kit (optional)
Test light (optional)
Long nose pliers (optional)
Screwdrivers & trim removal kit (optional)
Your dash camera is legal across all states of Australia and New Zealand, so long as it doesn’t obstruct your view. Which leads us into the first part of our dash camera install.
Steps
Choose a mounting location
To ensure a clear view for you AND the camera, behind the rear-view mirror is perfect. If you’ve chosen a model with a rear facing cabin camera, just ensure the mirror won’t obscure the lens.
Also ensure the windscreen wipers will clear the rain where your camera is mounted, lest you wind up with a 3 hour video of raindrops.
Mounting your dash camera
Whether you’re using a suction cup or adhesive mount, give your chosen area a wipe with the clean cloth soaked in wax and grease remover; and that dash cam isn’t going anywhere soon.
Test a small inconspicuous area of the dash with the cleaner for colour removal.
Wiring your dash camera
This may be the easiest wiring you’ll ever complete. Plug your camera in and route the wire across the top of the windscreen, tucking it into the headliner.
Tuck it behind the A pillar, along underneath the dash; across to your twelve-volt socket. Done! Your camera will power up and shut off with your vehicle ignition.
But now where does your phone charger plug in?
How to hardwire a dash camera
An optional hard wiring kit replaces what came with your camera. Plug in your camera, run the wire as before but this time, head for your fuse block.
Find a constant power fuse
This is where tools may come in handy to remove trim.
Find a good earth point under your dash and clip your test light onto this. Bare metal is best and a nut, bolt or the dash frame itself is usually perfect. Now probe the tiny, bared metal patches on top of your fuses until the test light illuminates.
Consult the owners manual and determine if the camera requires a constant , ignition or accessories 12v source.
Complete your hard wiring setup
Then all you must do is pop that fuse out, slot a fuse adaptor in; and replace the fuse you removed into the adaptor.
Attach the negative terminal on your hard wire kit to that earth point you just located, and your camera now has constant power! No cutting, no soldering. Super!
Tips
Easier than a parallel parking job! A dash camera will even keep your car a bit safer while it’s parked there.
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