In Car Camera (Again)

[south_bound]

I know there have been a few threads on cameras in recent weeks but please bear with me.

This one seems to tick most of the boxes for me - discrete and simple

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-PRANCE-Original-Ambarella-Recorder-Resolution/dp/B00F5WP990

http://www.blackvue.co.uk/index.php/online-shop/blackvue-products/blackvue-dr350-detail or

http://domestic.roadhawk.co.uk/roadhawk-720-dash-camera.

There are a GPS versions but I don't see the point - I know where I was if I ever need to review any footage. The first one looks great, but would bebetter if available from a UK seller in the event of being sent a dud.

The main question I have is whether anyone has thought of connecting the power to the map lights console no the roof near the rear view mirror, rather than having to take the cables around the windscreen to the power plug? If I disconected the bulb and connected in the camera, and set the switch to permanently on would this work? I think the light goes off a certain time after switching the engine off and locking the door, but thats no different (or even better) than a cig lighter plug that is switched by the ignition - it will keep recording a few minutes longer but no chance of the draining the battery. What do you guys think, would this work?

[minnis]

I know there have been a few threads on cameras in recent weeks but please bear with me.

This one seems to tick most of the boxes for me - discrete and simple

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-PRANCE-Original-Ambarella-Recorder-Resolution/dp/B00F5WP990

http://www.blackvue.co.uk/index.php/online-shop/blackvue-products/blackvue-dr350-detail or

http://domestic.roadhawk.co.uk/roadhawk-720-dash-camera.

There are a GPS versions but I don't see the point - I know where I was if I ever need to review any footage. The first one looks great, but would bebetter if available from a UK seller in the event of being sent a dud.

The main question I have is whether anyone has thought of connecting the power to the map lights console no the roof near the rear view mirror, rather than having to take the cables around the windscreen to the power plug? If I disconected the bulb and connected in the camera, and set the switch to permanently on would this work? I think the light goes off a certain time after switching the engine off and locking the door, but thats no different (or even better) than a cig lighter plug that is switched by the ignition - it will keep recording a few minutes longer but no chance of the draining the battery. What do you guys think, would this work?

GPS isn't so much for knowing where you are (it'll be pretty obvious where you are at any time just by looking at the footage) but if it knows where you are, it also knows how fast you were going. So perfect for if someone hits you and then tries to claim you were speeding.

I have no idea if you suggestion will work but a much simpler idea would be to connect it up to the radio ignition live.

[L666JER]

James (jeebowhite) has reviewed a dash cam here - http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/50774-gs8000l-dashcam-review/

I've almost bought this one myself (after reading James' review) seems very good for the money. There's a bewildering amount of units out there but I'd say (after researching it myself) if you were on a budget this is the one to go for.

I agree with the comment above about wiring it to the ignition live, then it comes on when you start the car and goes off when youre done - no worry at all about battery

[jeebowhite]

for me I have just still got it wired into a 4 port switched extension, works a treat at the moment :D

I still cant get enough of my cam though... Its already recorded a few moments that could have been fun to explain to the insurers!

If you want GPS, use a smartphone. Torque + GPS will allow you to record your tracks and that should save you a darned site of money!

[artscot79]

except suction cup cameras are one illegal to use in the uk and as such any evidence is not valid http://news.mi-witness.co.uk/suction-mounted-car-c...

Be
warned, if you use a suction mounted car camera in the UK, if the
device (camera and / or cradle and / or suction cup) intrudes more than
4cm into the secondary (pink) wiper clearance zone, or intrudes more
than 1cm into the primary (red) wiper clearance zone of the windscreen,
you are committing a serious traffic offense (dangerous driving) under
the UK Road Traffic Act 1988, and your vehicle is not roadworthy (it
would fail an MOT).

Also / in addition, if you use a car camera
with an LCD screen, if the screen is on for any of the time while you
are driving and you, the driver, can view that screen, you are also
committing a serious traffic offense.

anyone using these cams cant use the video evidence so beware what you buy

[Invisible Man]

I have a suction mounted camera installed in my car that sits behind the Rear View Mirror.

Just last night I changed the power source so I didnt have to plug the camera into the cig lighter everytime I got in it.

I bought one of these....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LUPO-Cigarette-Lighter-Charger-Adapter/dp/B001O462I0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389953047&sr=8-2&keywords=car+charger+extension

Cut the end off it and ran the the negative wire to a bolt under the dash and put the positive wire into one of these fuse holders....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Add-A-Circuit-Fuse-Holder-Standard-20amp/dp/1550063146/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1389953288&sr=8-3&keywords=add-a-circuit+holder

Then removed the fuse for the rear wiper and put it into the fuse holder and plugged it into the socket where the fuse came from.

I then mounted the Cig Lighter Extension in the glove box and ran the wire from the camera into the headliner, through the headliner to the door seal and ran it under there and down into the glove box.

The reason I did it this way was because the camera I have has a convertor built into the plug and didn't want to remove this and wire it directly into the fuse box and risk over powering it.

Maybe not the most conventional way, but it works for me

[jeebowhite]

The GS8000L that I reviewed is 3.43" wide. its mounted in such a way that its alongside my rear view mirrorm with the lense part resting in line with the edge of the mirror, so at any point, it is only protruding onto the windscreen by about 2 inches maximinum.

[south_bound]

Thanks and will look up some of these. This one http://dashcamtalk.com/mobius/ gets a good write up on the Dash Cam Talk website. Do things bought on ebay from Korea or China normally turn up alright, and what about getting hit for customs fees or problems with having things replaced or refunded under warrenty?

No comments from anyone on the idea of connecting into the light switch in the roof liner - any reason not to do it that way?

[Nighthawk]

Only reason I can think is drawing too much power through the light circuit?

Sent from my HUAWEI P2 using Ford OC mobile app

[Stoney871]

The courtesy light circuit is very sensitive to voltage fluctuations.

Even changing a bulb invariably results in a blown fuse.

A camera wired into that circuit may result in constantly fishing around in the fooywell swapping out fuses.

The ignition live on the radio loom is a far more stable and reliable source if a bit faffy to run a wire to.

[billybob66]

http://www.smartcamdirect.com/index.php

this is where i got mine. and the selection of smaller cameras is now better then when i got mine.

also best to get a class 10 32gb sd card, greater picture and less formating of the card.

[south_bound]

Sorry, I messed up the link - here it is again - http://dashcamtalk.com/mobius/

Thanks for the feedback on messing about with the light cluster, and so I'll go with the radio loom option. Now I just need to decide on the camera.

[Micro]

Sorry, I messed up the link - here it is again - http://dashcamtalk.com/mobius/

Thanks for the feedback on messing about with the light cluster, and so I'll go with the radio loom option. Now I just need to decide on the camera.

I've got a mobius - cracking little camera with lots of features (and more being added). 1080p footage at 30fps day and night. Night footage is good enough for what I need it for! Just make sure you use a class 10 card!

[Stoney871]

I just use Daily Roads Voyager on my S3.

[south_bound]

The Mobius does look good, but the only thing is that it doesn't have an LCD screen, so how do you know its pointing the right way and is not picking up too much bonnet or sky? How have you got yours mounted to the screen - I would prefer the sticky pad rather then suction cup? Is it easy to pull on and off, or is it fixed once in place? Sorry about all the questions.

[Micro]

You can connect it to a computer and use it as a webcam - or as I do just get in the general direction! The view is wide enough that as long as its vaguely in the right direction you can see what's important, also as there is no screen it's a lot smaller and unobtrusive.