I'm just curious why everyone here wants a dash cam? Is it just to deter vandals? I think its a good idea, just curious about the motivation.

Accident insurance claims (In cases where there are no witnesses), vandals, Hit & Runs...etc

Yes. It also is good for recording stuff which doesn't happen to you. Like this


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3SN8xF1Z7U"]2012-12-06_Accident.mov - YouTube[/ame]

After reading a few sources, they all claim 12.0v is 25% battery charge. And 11.8v is 0% charge. But then cars can normally crank as low as 10v.

I was gonna return my PMP, but now I think I'll keep.

BTW, if anybody is looking for Power Magic Pro with a lower voltage cut-off. Newegg has one with 11.6v, 11.8v, 22.8v, and 23.2v settings.

I've set mine at 12V... For a new battery it should be good enough... Unless you are planning to leave it on while parked for a long long time.

So, is there any rason NOT to go direct to the battery (through a fuse) for the hot lead, and get the accessory lead from the outlet in the glovebox? That would keep the entire installation away from the fusebox and ECU area.

If we go directly to the battery (assuming there is no PMP) then the camera will continue to draw from the battery. At some point the car won't start anymore. If no fuse is used, then connecting to the battery is a fire hazard.

If no fuse is used, you risk damage (fry) to the BlackVue device from the amperage spike.

Don't risk it with a $200+ camera...

Bridge it through the fuse on the opposite side of the live wire via the fusebox; or get some "Add-A-Circuit".

I mean through an inline fuse on the hot wire of course. My way we wouldn't have to go into the fuse box at all.

It'll work; just that some of us rather not splice into the factory lines for easy removal.

Same here, I was just suggesting an alternative for those reluctant to go near the fuse box or ecu for warranty purposes.

Thanks F1point4 for the install guide. I got mine all wired in today and set up. Looks great and seems to be working. I need to mess around with parking mode sensitivity, and maybe work on stealth of the camera, but so far I'm happy with the end result.

I have one question and I haven't been able to find anything out about this online. The camera records in dates from April 2011. I have no idea how to update this. I've already updated settings and time zone on the configuration but the camera is still stuck in the wrong date. Does anyone know how to set it to the correct date/time so my recordings are actually correct?

Doesn't it just use the GPS date/time for that? Has it gotten a good GPS fix yet?

That would make sense. One of my test videos had the right location data when I checked on the laptop after, but it was in a garage at the time.

Some of the empty/open slots on our fuse boxes are hot slots (always powered) so you don't have to tap into your brake light fuse.

Another fun reason for a dash cam:


[ame="www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Va1t7OF1U"]Lightning caught on my DashCam - YouTube[/ame]

Thanks for creating the excellent guide, F1point4! Very thorough, informative, and complete with pictures. Like someone mentioned earlier, it really helps with those (like me) who are unfamiliar with the car wiring/electronics.

I was actually looking into the GoPro cameras for internal and the occasional external mounting, but given the benefits of having a hard-wired dashcam, a Blackvue seems more logical for my needs. Again, thanks for the write-up.

Another Gem:

Person decides to jump out into the open lane when the light is green just to get ahead. Demonstrates the suspension work i've been doing ;)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8xDuqVytjw"]Near Miss.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

I hate when it happens so fast you don't even have time to get mad at the dumbasses. By the time you want to lay on the horn or flip the bird, you're already way off in the distance.

Great driving on the near Miss video,

Also um Im not confident in doing this myself to you reckon if I brought this guide to a tech shop they would install it for me?

Just follow the step by step. Scale of 1 to 10, 10 being hardest, a 2.5. I am no pro, but I was able to do it thanks to @F1point4 's tutorial. Plan on paying a lot for a "pro" install.

Ok but when I break my car Im sending it to you in America to fix!

jks jks :P


Also may have missed where the guy said it but how does the info get stored as in recordings and how do you access it? this is my first time with a dash cam so be gental ;)

You just pop the micro SD card out and put it in your Windows computer. You install the software that the camera automatically puts on the micro SD card. The installed software reads the dash videos that are stored on the micro SD card. Pretty cool system actually.

guys, i saw someone on youtube hard wire the wire from magic power pro to the existing fuse without using additional circuit and fuse. I believe this will solve the problem where the fuse box cover cannot be closed after the installation. Anyone can tell is there any problem by doing this?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Gow5pbeEg"]How to Hardwire a Blackvue Power Magic Pro - Blackboxmycar.com - YouTube[/ame]

I didn't watch the entire video but I can already see two issues with our cars.

Sticking wire in there, you risk a short between two circuits. This next sentence is purely an example: you could join the cigar lighter to the AC! Could be a fire hazard.


I"m not 100% sure how he got the wire in there but some other articles I read involve wrapping the [blackvue power magic pro] wires around the legs of the fuse. THis works on regular fuses but on our cars there isn't much leg to wrap wire around.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/7...868d84ca_c.jpg
20120831-LolaBlackVue400DIY-40 by VictorN07, on Flickr

may be this would fit?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1A-1-Amp-...610386f&_uhb=1

Hey guys. So I just bought 2 of these off ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/280996426137...84.m1497.l2649

It supposedly works with low profile mini fuses, so I won't have to change my low profile with normal mini fuses. It should work correct?

Now, it seems that I cannot find low profile mini-fuse lower than 7.5A. Can I use 7.5A with this and add it to either an empty fuse slot, or to an already used slot, together with the current fuse in that slot?

Fuses are there to save the car's wiring, not the device. If you plug into a circuit of 7.5 A or more, the 7.5 A fuse is fine.

So I picked up the Series 2 and am only planning on running it while i'm driving. I currently already have my Valentine wired to the cigarette lighter in the glove box. Does anyone know if I purchased a 2 into 1 adapter for the the cigarette lighter if I could run the camera and the radar without blowing any fuses?

Regards,

Should be fine. The circuit is protected by a 15amp fuse. The radar detector and the camera combined won't trip that.

How do you change the date to current, dont see it in the settnigs

It updates via GPS I think, you just need to set your timezone.

@b.e, thanks for the tip. Then I'l just buy 2 7.5A low profile mini-fuses and either use it in empty slots or together with other fuses (and put the bought 7.5A into the top bracket of add-a-circuit)

Now, another question. Unfortunately I have slightly put the camera un-even. Is there any way to remove it, and re-attach it correctly? It looks like the camera is attached to the window real good, and I think the only way to remove it is to destroy the tape that keeps the camera in place.

Any tips "if" it's possible to actually remove it without braking the bracket, or destroying the tape?

I mounted mine uneven as well. When I looked at the video it's evident, but barely so. A consequence of the wide-angle lens, I think. See if the video looks crooked before messing with it.

One of mine: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zga7TPfkes"]4x Fall Nebo Loop Run Scion FRS Dashcam - YouTube[/ame]

It is evident, but yes, quite barely I could say.

But my question still is. Is there a way to remove it for reposition without destroying the tape that holds the camera? or if I remove it, I need extra double sided tape (and where do you buy it anyway?)

Not sure about repositioning, but the adhesive is 3M double sixed tape. I think they refer to it by gorilla tape.

You can buy it at auto zone. Loom for 3M tape with the red backing.

Ok, I am trying to get mine to cooperate here....

Bought it from ebay, the listing said english firmware. But when I plug the thing in it starts jabbering in korean. Downloaded the latest english firmware 1.040-400-E. THe software says version 1.038-400-E.

Install the 1.040 to the card and let that finish. No errors. Insert the card in the camera and switch the power on. LEDs flash in an assortment of colours for approximately 20 seconds, then the LED flashes blue and some korean chick starts going on...
Pull the power and after a few seconds she says something else and the light goes read, and the camera switches off.

What do I do wrong?

That's the normal start-up, shutdown. Did you even checked your SD card to see what it recorded?
@F1point4 unfortunately I live in Canada, so I'm guessing if this Auto zone is a shop, it's not available here.

Apparently all the firmwares I found was for the original HD, not the HDII. The firmware installed was 2.01K or something.

Found an English firmware, all is well! :-)

mine just came in today. i ordered it off massdrop.com along with a power magic pro for just under $250 ($227 i think). Thanks for the DIY. i guess im gonna buy some fuses and a tapper tomorrow and get to work on it thursday.

My power pro sometimes has issues when I use the switch to turn it off, then try turning on, it won't turn on. Is it possible I have a short or a bad box?