Getting strange results trying to wire in my Nextbase dash cam.

[Paul C]

My dash cam works fine plug into the 12v cigarette lighter socket but I’m trying to make a permanent connection to tidy things up. I’ll add here that the camera fires up simple by turning on the ignition (engine not running).

Reading elsewhere, a recommendation is to use a piggyback fuse connection via fuse #40 which is indeed the 12v socket.

With the camera plugged into a lead that’s drawing the power via the piggyback connection, it will only fire up when the engine is running, not just with the key turned for the ignition.

Without the engine running, the battery is showing 11.7v which could suggest its not in the best of health but to me that doesn’t explain why it will work in the 12v socket without the engine running but not via the piggyback fuse under the same condition.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bakewell]

That is an odd one... Does the dashcam utilise a second piggyback fuse connection which is on 24/7 for an active monitoring system? I found mine only worked via piggybacking once I successfully installed both fuse taps

 

[Paul C]

That is an odd one... Does the dashcam utilise a second piggyback fuse connection which is on 24/7 for an active monitoring system? I found mine only worked via piggybacking once I successfully installed both fuse taps

Um no, there is just the one connection. But thanks anyhow.

 

[Mr Pig]

You want to piggy back off the fuse for the cigarette lighter. That fuse has two positions, one for on permanently and one which only switches on when the ignition is turned on. Use the latter as you don't need the dash cam working 24/7.

I've done this on multiple VW/Seat cars and never had a problem. The only thing you need to watch for is that the piggyback plug work lose because of the weight of the cable. Tape it in place.

 

[nd-photo.nl]

@Mr Pig I think that depends if you want make use of the "sentry" function of newer dashcams

 

[Paul C]

I've now sussed it. On my first drive, the camera kept powering up and down randomly and eventually stopped working. When I subsequently checked the piggyback 'fuse' connection, it was not seated in properly; it had come loose.
On pushing it back in I realised it was fouling part of the fuse box moulding. So I turned it 180, it felt better and now the camera performs on the first turn of the key.
Thanks for the responses though.