[m.ang]

Hi everyone,
I am taking on a project. I wanted to install a dash cam in my boyfriend’s car. I don’t know the details exact of his car. All I know is it’s a 2018 Camaro SS (typical girl, right?). His bday is coming up so I ordered some stuff off of Amazon to do it and then surprise him.

This is the dash cam:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07F8...b_b_prod_image
This is the hardwire kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O6...S1051Y1M&psc=1

I got that particular hardwire kit because 1) the fuse box is all the way in the trunk and 2) I’ve been reading other threads that say you can hardwire into those lights above the rear view mirror like you would a radar detector. I’ve done a hardwire into the fuse box before with my car and my sister’s so I’m not completely clueless. But never into existing wire like the other threads suggest doing. Can anyone tell me if this hardwire kit would work for tapping into those wires? I also saw a video on YouTube and someone used these d-sub crimping pins to stick into the ground/power of the wires. Are those really needed?

Any advice would be appreciated. I’d love to do this for my boyfriend.

[arpad_m]

Your boyfriend's a lucky man

Does this hardwiring kit have parking mode? Doesn't look like it, since it only has 2 wires. Also, I'm not sure there is a constant 12V connection in the overhead console, you will need it in addition to a switched 12V tap if you want parking mode. If not, I think you can simply tap into one of the connectors up there, see https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440254 for a radar detector install.

On a related note, I used the Blackvue PowerMagic Pro for hardwiring into the trunk fuse box with parking mode, it's a $25 kit on amazon and has a cigarette lighter socket that the dash cam's normal cable plugs into. Using the fuse box in the trunk is not a difficult install at all, you can tuck the cable under the headliner and the passenger side C pillar has accessibility to the trunk next to the battery compartment, you just need to pop off the plastic panel on the pillar.

EDIT: here are some details about my install: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=20

[m.ang]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Does this hardwiring kit have parking mode? Doesn't look like it, since it only has 2 wires. Also, I'm not sure there is a constant 12V connection in the overhead console, you will need it in addition to a switched 12V tap if you want parking mode. If not, I think you can simply tap into one of the connectors up there, see https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440254 for a radar detector install.

I’d feel better hardwiring it to the fuse box, seeing as I’ve done it in two other cars. I just wasn’t sure if I could find a kit long enough to go all the way back there. Also, I wasn’t aware that I needed a constant AND switch connection. I was under the impression if you want the cam to run all the time, use a connection that is always on; if you want the cam to run only when the car is on, use a connection that is “switch”. So now I’m confused. With the cameras I’ve previously installed, I found a fuse that was only on when the car was so I did the add a fuse on those.

[Camaro_QC]

If you hardwire on a wire that is "hot" all the time, the battery will die everytime you start the car. It will drain the battery.

As suggested above, powermagic is a good solution.

I'm far from being an expert in all those things, still trying to figure out the kit I wanna buy. But definitely gonna get the powermagic.

[m.ang]

I found a hardwire kit that has 3 wires. Favorable ratings on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07K8...ZZOJUWDA&psc=1

I was going to go with that one and find both a constant fuse and a switched fuse. I did want the parking mode to function and wasn’t aware that I needed an always on fuse.

[RideWithDanger]

I use the aukey dash cam, and a fuse adapter that runs to the fuse in the engine bay. It took only a few minutes to install and runs the camera all the time, but will shut it off if it detects the battery getting too low. Super easy and I can help you through it if needed if thats what you decide what you want to do. feel free to shoot me a PM

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by m.ang

I found a hardwire kit that has 3 wires. Favorable ratings on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07K8...ZZOJUWDA&psc=1

I was going to go with that one and find both a constant fuse and a switched fuse. I did want the parking mode to function and wasn’t aware that I needed an always on fuse.

This looks good, it's very similar to the PowerMagic Pro. As you also said, it's best to do the hookup via fuse taps, plus I'd be very surprised if one could find constant power in the overhead console.

The reason you need both the constant and the switched connection is that this is how the circuit in the hardwiring kit knows when to activate/deactivate parking mode---if it's getting power on both the constant and the switched wires, the car is running and it should be in normal mode, while if it's only getting power on the constant wire, the car is off and the kit activates parking mode with the battery protection timeout.

Good luck with the install, you can reference my linked post about the exact fuses to tap (others had success with different ones, use a voltmeter and you'll be golden no matter what), and let us know if you get stuck