Fitting dashcam...what and where?

[John]

Capacitors within the cameras are best as opposed to batteries.

Additional separate battery packs are useful if you want to use Parking Mode.

 

[DetailerDan]

I've got the nextbase 512gw and I can't fault it at all.

 

[kcsun]

Merry Christmas all

I think a polarising filter is very important in your choice of camera

I have a next base 612 on sucker mount connected to cigar lighter socket in passenger footwell, all neat and tidy

kc

 

[219]

Getting a 67 numberplate C200 Sport in the next week or so to replace my previous one which was written off in a recent head on collision. So thinking about fitting a front and rear dashcam on it. What brand is recommended and anywhere in particular that are good fitting them?

I'm looking for non bulky, discrete cameras and fitted so that there are no wires on show.

What do you guys receommend please?

I have the Nextbase Duo HD , hidden out of sight behind my rear view mirror , with the rear facing camera just protruding beyond the left hand edge of the mirror , the whole thing angled to fit snugly behind the mirror . I used the supplied suction fitting to get a position I was happy with , then used the permanent adhesive mount once I was sure it was right . I purchased a hardwire kit , for which I picked up a 12V permanent supply inside the interior light and concealed it up there with just a short length of the USB cable coming neatly out behind the mirror and into the GPS mount .

The installation is very neat , and does not impede my outward vision from the driver's seat . I have it set to record permanently in a loop , even when parked , but if wired through an ignition switched feed , it will start recording , then the screen will go blank after a few seconds ( this can be set in the camera ) .

I bought a second GPS mount and wiring kit so that I could move the camera between my W140 and my R129 - it just slides out of the mount in one car and into the other .

I chose the Nextbase Duo , based on reviews , and for the reason that , when I have the roof down in the SL , there is nowhere else to put a rear facing camera ; It works just as well in the S-Class with the rear camera looking out through the rear screen .

Picture quality is excellent , night and day , and the recordings embed GPS data , time , speed etc .

Although the list price is somewhere around £200 , I picked mine up in eBay for less than half that , still new in the box with all accessories unopened .

 

[219]

I've been looking at both Nextbase and Blackvue models. I'm not quite sure why Blackvue are so much more expensive than the Nextbase models? Especially considering that their cameras have no screens?

So far I am quite keen on the Nextbase 512GW (front and rear) model. Just wanted to ask if there is a more discreet mount for them (from a 3rd party)? First, the mount looks chunky and second, I have never had good experiences with suction mounts.

You can buy alternative mounts , but mine is completely hidden behind the mirror .

First picture taken from my normal driving position



Second showing the camera



The car is steamed up due to not having been started since Friday .

 

[219]

You will need some sort of battery pack whichever brand of camera you buy or parking mode will drain the cars battery

Mine's been lying since Friday ; started fine just now . I use a maintenance charger if cars are going to lie more than a few days .

 

[wongl]

Merry Christmas all

I think a polarising filter is very important in your choice of camera

I have a next base 612 on sucker mount connected to cigar lighter socket in passenger footwell, all neat and tidy

kc

I am interested to find out where the cigar lighter socket in the passenger footwell is located?

 

[iliria]

Capacitors within the cameras are best as opposed to batteries.

Additional separate battery packs are useful if you want to use Parking Mode.

So the capacitor is already included in the camera and doesnt need to be bought separately?

My intention is to use the parking mode hence why I was asking about the battery packs. However, if my only choice is Blackvue's own battery pack which costs a whopping £300 then I am not interested.

 

[Gazwould]

Permanent live every time to take advantage of parking mode .

Choose one that's got selectable power down times and a G shock wake up .


Cameras have there limitations .

A certain focal range - absolutely much get a number plate of a vehicle that's colided with yours .

Windscreen visabiliity -
Rain
Frost
Condensation
Nightime .

 

[John]

So the capacitor is already included in the camera and doesnt need to be bought separately?

My intention is to use the parking mode hence why I was asking about the battery packs. However, if my only choice is Blackvue's own battery pack which costs a whopping £300 then I am not interested.

Not quite.

A capacitor in a dash cam powers the dash cam instead of a battery which means the camera has a longer life as batteries tend to die in them rather quickly (and the capacitor keeps the power running to shut the camera down when switched off when on switched 12v, for example).

The battery pack is something extra you might want to consider if you intend to use Parking Mode so that you don't drain your main (and aux if you have one) batteries.

BlackVue make such an additional battery pack.

I imagine there are alternatives but you'd want one that is both safe and works well.

I don't use Parking Mode and so mine is switched off with the ignition so I don't have much knowledge on alternatives.

 

[Wheelnut58]

A cheaper option is to use the power magic pro, this allows you to leave dash cam on when needed but with set parameters so you don’t drain your battery, I had mine professionally fitted and only leave it on when parked away from home, be aware as somebody has said earlier that condensation,mist, rain and frost can make parking mode useless

 

[Gazwould]

Not to use parking mode is insane .

You park at a Supermarket , your front bumper corner is scuffed , no grovel note on windscreen .

Who are you gonna call... Ghost Busters .

 

[Deleted member 126251]

So the capacitor is already included in the camera and doesnt need to be bought separately?

My intention is to use the parking mode hence why I was asking about the battery packs. However, if my only choice is Blackvue's own battery pack which costs a whopping £300 then I am not interested.

The capacitors are built into the camera.

You can buy a battery isolator e.g. one of these for a VIOFO but there are other brands.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KZGM9LS/?tag=amazon0e9db-21

It will allow your camera to be connected to a permanent live but will disconnect the camera from your car battery at a preset voltage (for car battery). People who do 4wd (proper 4wd) & camping often have a battery isolator so that they can power lights, power inverters and other gear from the car batteries but still leave enough power to start the car in the morning. Modern AGM batteries are more tolerant of taking a deeper discharge than the old lead plate batteries used to be and the draw from a small camera should be fine.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

This is the Blackvue version.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008B8ERIO/?tag=amazon0e9db-21

 

[John]

Not to use parking mode is insane .

You park at a Supermarket , your front bumper corner is scuffed , no grovel note on windscreen .

Who are you gonna call... Ghost Busters .

Depends on your circumstances though.

I park in a work car park with CCTV although I can see my car from the window.

It's in a garage at home.

I hardly ever have to park it in a public car park so the risk of something happening is much less so I decided not to bother.

I wanted the cameras more for crash for cash, an accurate recording of incidents with regards to insurance and in case anything happened where my footage was useful to the police.

If I had to use public car parks / the road for parking more often then I would think differently about it (I'd probably have a beater instead or at least a vehicle that would not easily get damaged or one which I wouldn't care about).

Don't forget though that if you leave your camera(s) in recording, you run the risk of your window(s) being put through and the cameras stolen...

 

[Gazwould]

If they can see it...

 

[John]

If they can see it...

Mine is not obvious from the outside but I suspect as thieves wise up to them, they will become more adept at looking for them and spotting them... and which ones are worth nicking (like the BlackVue!).

Hopefully it won't happen of course.

 

[219]

Before I got the Nextbase , I used a GoPro Session 4 ( for which I have other uses ) and used to leave it in the SL with the roof down , was never a problem .

 

[219]

Mine is not obvious from the outside but I suspect as thieves wise up to them, they will become more adept at looking for them and spotting them... and which ones are worth nicking (like the BlackVue!).

Hopefully it won't happen of course.

Then again , people used to say the same about TomToms ; now nobody gives them a passing glance ; many of our works vehicles have them permanently stuck to the screen .

 

[kcsun]

I am interested to find out where the cigar lighter socket in the passenger footwell is located?

Hi Wongl
here are photos of the power socket in the footwell

kc