dash cam wiring

[hemioiler]

I was gifted a little dash cam which comes with a cigarette style plug on the one end, and the other/camera end is USB C.

My only cigarette power in the truck is on top of the dash which would make for an ugly permanent installation.

I do have both USB A and C ports in my truck which are hidden much better for this kind of thing, I'd like to use those instead.

I'm worried about power delivery, when I plug the camera into a USB A computer connector (this cable is USB A on one end and C on the other) the camera powers up fine. When I plug it into my samsung fast wireless charger type C, the camera won't power on. If I plug it into the USB C on my almost new macbook pro it won't power on either.

The camera requires 5v/1 amp. Am I safe just getting a super thick USB C cable and running it that way into my truck? Any concerns I should have about heating wires up and getting them too hot? Or can I just safely assume that if the camera powers on with whatever cable I'm using, then the port and cable are good enough to handle running the camera permanently?

The cigarette adapter included has a pretty beefy cable, seems thicker (exterior anyway) than the USB cables I have lying around in my breeder box.

 

[Escape08]

Hard wire it,,,, if it was me. Very EZ to do. All you need is a hard wire kit and a multi tester. No messy wirings on your dash board

 

[Hall]

You can use a variety of different power options, just find the one that works. Dash cams draw minimal power so as long as the cable is correct, it will be fine. When I first got mine, I used one of the shorter cables to pre-charge it and set it up in my kitchen plugged into a wall charger but it wouldn't even power on. Don't know why that cable didn't work (maybe it was a 'data' only cable, missing the 5v power wire).

 

[Propflux01]

If your cam is mounted near the rear view mirror, and that mirror has garage door opener buttons on, (homelink) there are several adapters that plug into that and make a very clean and very easy install.

 

[hemioiler]

If your cam is mounted near the rear view mirror, and that mirror has garage door opener buttons on, (homelink) there are several adapters that plug into that and make a very clean and very easy install.

I do have home link but its on the drivers side visor.

 

[Propflux01]

What is the year and model of your truck?

 

[hemioiler]

It's a 2019 ram 1500 big horn, "5th gen" or "dt". Not the older classic style which is a "ds".

 

[Patrick0525]

I was gifted a little dash cam which comes with a cigarette style plug on the one end, and the other/camera end is USB C.

My only cigarette power in the truck is on top of the dash which would make for an ugly permanent installation.

I do have both USB A and C ports in my truck which are hidden much better for this kind of thing, I'd like to use those instead.

I'm worried about power delivery, when I plug the camera into a USB A computer connector (this cable is USB A on one end and C on the other) the camera powers up fine. When I plug it into my samsung fast wireless charger type C, the camera won't power on. If I plug it into the USB C on my almost new macbook pro it won't power on either.

The camera requires 5v/1 amp. Am I safe just getting a super thick USB C cable and running it that way into my truck? Any concerns I should have about heating wires up and getting them too hot? Or can I just safely assume that if the camera powers on with whatever cable I'm using, then the port and cable are good enough to handle running the camera permanently?

The cigarette adapter included has a pretty beefy cable, seems thicker (exterior anyway) than the USB cables I have lying around in my breeder box.

Since my car is a late model, I was able to purchase an integrated dash cam on the Chinese BF day 11/11 for $132 which included free shipping. They took the power from the sun roof so no exposed wiring. It took 7 days to arrive with no custom duty.


I just found this on AliExpress: $168.00 | Dash Cam for Lexus RX (AL20) 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024, FITCAMX 4K Car DVR WIFI APP Control
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqNOqBl

 

[Propflux01]

It's a 2019 ram 1500 big horn, "5th gen" or "dt". Not the older classic style which is a "ds".

https://dongar.tech/products/10pin-type-d

You can get these on the Bezos site as well. The one above lists for the DT model as you described. You hide all this in the black plastic behind the mirror, or up underneath the headliner.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I’ve had the same problems with an android box. To use USB C you will need to get a USB C to USB A adaptor and then run a USB A to USB C cable. I believe this limits the usb c to 5v which works with your camera.

 

[Expendable]

https://dongar.tech/products/10pin-type-d

You can get these on the Bezos site as well. The one above lists for the DT model as you described. You hide all this in the black plastic behind the mirror, or up underneath the headliner.

I have one of these for an F150 and one for a Honda CRV, they work good.

 

[Propflux01]

I have one of these for an F150 and one for a Honda CRV, they work good.

I have one in my Mazda and just last night put one in the wife's new KONA. makes it so much easier.

 

[hemioiler]

Since my car is a late model, I was able to purchase an integrated dash cam on the Chinese BF day 11/11 for $132 which included free shipping. They took the power from the sun roof so no exposed wiring. It took 7 days to arrive with no custom duty.


I just found this on AliExpress: $168.00 | Dash Cam for Lexus RX (AL20) 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024, FITCAMX 4K Car DVR WIFI APP Control
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqNOqBl

I've had my visa stolen from that site, never again. Appreciate the suggestion though.

 

[hemioiler]

https://dongar.tech/products/10pin-type-d

You can get these on the Bezos site as well. The one above lists for the DT model as you described. You hide all this in the black plastic behind the mirror, or up underneath the headliner.

Thank you sir, that looks really great, nice price/reviews as well.

 

[dogememe]

In theory any USB-C cable and USB-C power supply should work to power your camera. Problem is many cheap devices use improperly implemented USB-C and are picky about it. Likely using a USB-C to USB-A cable with a 12V to USB-A adapter/plug would work.

There are OBD-2 to USB-A adapters for dashcams. That’s how will eventually wire mine in on both cars. For now they’re just plugged into the 12V sockets using adapters. But because GM is stupid the 12V sockets are ignition switched. Every Ford I’ve had left them permanently powered which is great as my Garmin dashcams are supposed to go into parking mode after the vehicle is stationary for a few mins and this feature doesn’t work as the camera loses power when I turn off vehicle. I’ll get around to it some day!

 

[Hall]

Every Ford I’ve had left them permanently powered

For around a decade, Ford keeps them powered for varying amounts of time but the default is never to remain on continuously. You sure yours wasn't turning off after 30, 45, 75, etc minutes ?