Wiring a dashcam?

[Yzfguy]

Okay I realize this may be a newbie question
I have a dash cam that is using a cigarette lighter adapter to power it when the vehicle is turned on. I want to lose the adapter because I hate clutter and want to hook it to the fuse under the hood for that same outlet so that it is switched on and off with the vehicle. I would be using a fuse tap, however I am not 100% sure about which wire would go to the ground and which wire would go to the fuse. I am assuming if I take apart the adapter the wire going to the outside prongs would be the ground and the center would be the hot wire, anyone know if that is correct? I don't want to blow up this camera
Yes I know they sell a direct wiring kit but it seems like this would be doing the same thing and not cost anything. Thanks for any advice.

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[Fudster]

Okay I realize this may be a newbie question
I have a dash cam that is using a cigarette lighter adapter to power it when the vehicle is turned on. I want to lose the adapter because I hate clutter and want to hook it to the fuse under the hood for that same outlet so that it is switched on and off with the vehicle. I would be using a fuse tap, however I am not 100% sure about which wire would go to the ground and which wire would go to the fuse. I am assuming if I take apart the adapter the wire going to the outside prongs would be the ground and the center would be the hot wire, anyone know if that is correct? I don't want to blow up this camera
Yes I know they sell a direct wiring kit but it seems like this would be doing the same thing and not cost anything. Thanks for any advice.

Hey Brent:

If I am reading you correctly you wish to effectively snip the two wires that lead to the existing cigarette adapter plug of the dash cam, and then direct those wires to the correct places.

The wires that leads to the center prong at the tip of male cigarette lighter plug is positive and goes to your fuse tap. The other wire goes to ground.

I hope that helps.

 

[Yzfguy]

Hey Brent:

If I am reading you correctly you wish to effectively snip the two wires that lead to the existing cigarette adapter plug of the dash cam, and then direct those wires to the correct places.

The wires that leads to the center prong at the tip of male cigarette lighter plug is positive and goes to your fuse tap. The other wire goes to ground.

I hope that helps.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was asking
I'm assuming it is just as effective to do it this way as to by their kit.

 

[jaymz]

If your cable has the plug that Fudster referenced, just follow his advice. If it’s a USB cable that plugs into an adapter - buy the kit.

 

[Ratbert]

This works: https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/12-volt-power-adapter-jeep-wrangler-tj-jk-jl-jt

I assume that you don't have aux buttons from the tow package. Those give additional options.

 

[Apples491]

Adjacent to your question. Instead of fighting with running through the firewall, you could just run it behind the dash and tap it into the wire running off the the 12v outlet.

 

[Apples491]

This works: https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/12-volt-power-adapter-jeep-wrangler-tj-jk-jl-jt

I assume that you don't have aux buttons from the tow package. Those give additional options.

This is the non-tap version to what I just said. Plug and play and none of the mess.

 

[Yzfguy]

This works: https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/12-volt-power-adapter-jeep-wrangler-tj-jk-jl-jt

I assume that you don't have aux buttons from the tow package. Those give additional options.

I e seen that, but it seems like a bunch of wire with no advantage of tapping off a fuse? Unless I'm missing something.
New glitch... I went out to look at the adapter in the power outlet, and it's actually a USB plugged into the lighter adapter. Is there an easy way to tell which wire in a USB type cord is the positive?

 

[Yzfguy]

I think I answered my own question here.... I'm guessing if I cut it, there will just be black and red wires.

 

[Mx5red]

You can’t just splice in the usb cord, that’s why someone mentioned that.
USB are 5V. So you either need to wire in a buck converter to step down to 5V then splice it, or keep some kind of 12v adapter like you have.
There may be a hard wire option for your model that would bypass this step but would be another thing to buy just like the voltage converter.
To answer your other concern, that “quadratec” harness behind the dash connects to the same fused 12v outlet circuit that you are talking about tapping under the hood. You are just tapping at a different point, and it’s easier to pop off the dash trim than it is to run wire to the fuse box (I’ve done both).
There are many good write-ups on here for what you’re doing. Search dash cam or phone charger wiring, buck converter, etc.

 

[Yzfguy]

You can’t just splice in the usb cord, that’s why someone mentioned that.
USB are 5V. So you either need to wire in a buck converter to step down to 5V then splice it, or keep some kind of 12v adapter like you have.
There may be a hard wire option for your model that would bypass this step but would be another thing to buy just like the voltage converter.
To answer your other concern, that “quadratec” harness behind the dash connects to the same fused 12v outlet circuit that you are talking about tapping under the hood. You are just tapping at a different point, and it’s easier to pop off the dash trim than it is to run wire to the fuse box (I’ve done both).
There are many good write-ups on here for what you’re doing. Search dash cam or phone charger wiring, buck converter, etc.

Thank you. I didn't realize that power adapter was converting anything. I guess I would have fried the whole thing!

 

[jludave]

but it seems like a bunch of wire with no advantage of tapping off a fuse? Unless I'm missing something.

You're not getting how this works. This piggy backs off the cigarette lighter circuit which is already fused. Plus if you look, this also has a fuse for extra protection of the devices connected to it.

 

[Yzfguy]

You're not getting how this works. This piggy backs off the cigarette lighter circuit which is already fused. Plus if you look, this also has a fuse for extra protection of the devices connected to it.

I guess I'm not, because according to above info, it looks like it wouldn't work...
I'd still need something to change the 12v to 5 v in addition to that wiring.

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

This is what I did for the Dash cam power:

Amazon.com: Hard Wire Charger Cord Cable Mini USB Left Angle Shape 3.5 Meters DC 12V to 5V Power Inverter Converter Regulator Kit for Car GPS Tablet Android DVR Camcorder Recorder by HitCar : Electronics

In my case I took the power from the connector that illuminates the "Passenger Aig Bag" light on the rearview mirror assembly... it works for me because I always drive with the headlights on.. which forces the "Passenger Aig Bag" light to be "On" all the time... but as suggested.. you can use that adapter that piggybacks from the cigarette lighter and run it to the dash cam.. easy.. clean...

I am good with electronics.. I can provide you with more details if required..

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

Also.. I discussed this topic on another thread... here

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/invest-in-a-dash-camera.102150/post-2200701

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