Any reccomended auto electrician in South Manchester / Cheshire for a dash cam job?

[fab1975]

Hi there, after days of failed attempts at fitting a dash camera in my new C300 Hybrid, I decided to throw the towel and get the job done by a specialist.
I did manage to hard wire a couple of dashboard cameras on two other cars, including my previous one, a 2010 Audi A4, but I did not manage to make it work on the C300. I have located a live fuse and an acc. one, used the fuse taps, then reverted to the barbaric method of wrapping wires around the existing fuses, but I did not manage to get power to the battery discharge prevention device and now to be honest I am fed up.

Would anyone recommend a good auto electrician in the South Manchester / Cheshire area, please? Possibly somebody with specific Mercedes knowledge, as I suspect that there is some kind of setting that prevents power from being utilised by any "alien" device. It goes without saying that if I connect the camera directly to the cigarette lighter everything works fine.

Many thanks

Fab

 

[Jay2512]

Hi there, after days of failed attempts at fitting a dash camera in my new C300 Hybrid, I decided to throw the towel and get the job done by a specialist. I did manage to hard wire a couple of dashboard cameras on two other cars, including my previous one, a 2010 Audi A4, but I did not manage to make it work on the C300. I have located a live fuse and an acc. one, used the fuse taps, then reverted to the barbaric method of wrapping wires around the existing fuses, but I did not manage to get power to the battery discharge prevention device and now to be honest I am fed up. Would anyone recommend a good auto electrician in the South Manchester / Cheshire area, please? Possibly somebody with specific Mercedes knowledge, as I suspect that there is some kind of setting that prevents power from being utilised by any "alien" device. It goes without saying that if I connect the camera directly to the cigarette lighter everything works fine. Many thanks Fab

Did you take power from the fuse box under the boot floor? I have my möbius dash cam hard wired to a switched acc accessory fuse under the boot floor.

 

[fab1975]

Did you take power from the fuse box under the boot floor? I have my möbius dash cam hard wired to a switched acc accessory fuse under the boot floor.

Thanks for your reply Yes, apart from trying a couple of fuses combinations in the fuse boxes under the dashboard, I also tried the fuses under the boot floor, but they do not seem to work :-( If I remember correctly, I used fuses 406 (for yellow wire) and 450 (for the red one).
By the way, I had read your post about fitting a small cam in the top lights compartment and I really liked it. Did you upgrade to a Mobius at the end? Brilliant idea in any case

 

[s70rmp]

Try ACS on 07791598849 and ask for Simon
top bloke - only guy I'll let touch my cars for the last 20 years.

 

[ringway]

Hanstons in Altrincham install the Roadhawk camera range.
They are a top notch M-B approved bodyshop with a great team of in-house technicians. LINK.

 

[fab1975]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys! Actually Hanstons is quite close to where I live and their facilities are impressive, so I will call them and get a quote tomorrow.

This morning I have made a last attempt and followed a different method (Blackvue Install - MBWorld.org Forums) but even that did not work.

I wonder whether the hybrid models such as my C300 have some kind of weird power management system that prevents any non-authorised devices from draining power from the battery.

On a separate note, it would be nice if Mercedes offered the option to record footage from the 360° camera.

 

[Ted]

Why not take a tap from the fag lighter?

 

[Jay2512]

Thanks for your reply Yes, apart from trying a couple of fuses combinations in the fuse boxes under the dashboard, I also tried the fuses under the boot floor, but they do not seem to work :-( If I remember correctly, I used fuses 406 (for yellow wire) and 450 (for the red one). By the way, I had read your post about fitting a small cam in the top lights compartment and I really liked it. Did you upgrade to a Mobius at the end? Brilliant idea in any case

I did upgrade to a möbius, the picture quality is unrivalled. However I have moved the camera position as I decided to use a wide angle lens and this wouldn't fit in the small window area. I will post a pic of what I did.

 

[Jay2512]

View attachment 50850



View attachment 50848



View attachment 50849

Not the best pictures but you may see what i have done. I cut a slot out of the vent area at the front of the plastic windscreen trim to mount the camera in. From the outside you cant see it plus at this mountin point it provides a nice clear view of the road.



View attachment 50851

Sent from my Samsung using MBClub UK

 

[fab1975]

Why not take a tap from the fag lighter?

Because I would like to be able to keep recording even in parking mode. Besides that, incredibly enough there is only one cigarette socket in my car (vs 3 I had in my 2010 Audi A4), which is not really suitable, as I would need to leave the central storage compartment lid permanently open.

 

[fab1975]

View attachment 50850



View attachment 50848



View attachment 50849

Not the best pictures but you may see what i have done. I cut a slot out of the vent area at the front of the plastic windscreen trim to mount the camera in. From the outside you cant see it plus at this mountin point it provides a nice clear view of the road.



View attachment 50851

Sent from my Samsung using MBClub UK

Nice job mate!

 

[Bonecho]

I have a C200 on order and was thinking about running the cable under the passenger seat as I have been told the twin lids of the central storage compartment can still be closed with a cable run in from the back. If that is the case I will use one of the USB's located in there as a power source as my dashcam has a USB power connector on it.