PDA

View Full Version : Dashcam installation



Gladbach
11-04-2017, 02:07 PM
Has anyone installed a USB cable to the top of the windscreen to plug into a dashcam? I've ordered a new dashcam (the one I had in my Jetta stopped working last week) and I don't want the cables exposed.

Hillbilly
11-04-2017, 02:54 PM
Have installed several including a Passat and a Polo I use Blackvue cameras which are neater and dont have bulky USB cable end. I hardwire them into the fusebox and run the cable up the A pillar and across behind the front of the roof lining and just leave enough wire out to reach the camera. I also use 3 M Dual Lock tape to attach the cameras to the screen so that i can remove them and use in a different car

Attached pics of the front and rear cameras in the Passat Also where the cable goes up to the A pillar from the fusebox

Gladbach
11-04-2017, 03:19 PM
Have installed several including a Passat and a Polo I use Blackvue cameras which are neater and dont have bulky USB cable end. I hardwire them into the fusebox and run the cable up the A pillar and across behind the front of the roof lining and just leave enogh wire out to reach the camera. I also use 3 M Dual Lock tape to attach the cameras to the screen so that i can remove them and use in a different car

Attached pics of the front and rear cameras in the Passat Also where the cable goes up to the A pillar from the fusebox

Fantastic, thanks Hillbilly. How hard is it to thread the cable up the A pillar? Just trying to work out if I should do it myself or not. Also, I've seen some USB kits for plugging into the fusebox, do you have any recommendations on which one to purchase?

Hillbilly
11-04-2017, 03:34 PM
You just need a an addafuse and an extra ciggy socket as usually the USB ones are 5V and if you plug it straight into a 12v fuse you will fry it. Just buy some trim tools like these and work it into the front of the A pillar between the trim and the screen so it doesnt get hooked by the airbag. I spread the join at the end of the dash beside the pillar trim and threaded it along there up the front of the pillar and it slid into the front of the roof lining in the Passat The Polo had the lining stuck up so just used some bluetack in dabs along the front edge. The ciggy socket is wrapped in the bubble wrap to stop rattles. Took about 30 mins to do it . The rear one is a bit of a mission though

Lastly start at the camera and work down so the left over cable goes in the dash. Dont ask how I know to do it that way LOL

Gladbach
11-04-2017, 04:59 PM
haha. Thanks mate.

theresanothersteve
12-04-2017, 08:13 AM
I've installed a dashcam in my 205 Jetta. (Well 2 actually, the Mini 0806 failed so has been replaced with a Blackvue.)

The Jetta has a gap between the roof lining and the windscreen. It's a bit tight in the centre by the rear view mirror but after a couple of inches is rust the right size to roll the dashcam power cable into.

I run the wire around the A pillar, where the roof lining meets the A pillar cover. Then I roll back the door seal and run the cables down the seal before rolling it back. The tension from the roof lining gap and door seals keeps the cable in the groove where the roof lining and pillar cover meet.

The Blackvue cable is long enough to use the rear cigarette lighter socket, which is a bonus because it leaves the front socket for phone charging, something that may or may not happen so I like to be able to access a charge point easily.

HTH

Hillbilly
12-04-2017, 10:18 AM
I've installed a dashcam in my 205 Jetta. (Well 2 actually, the Mini 0806 failed so has been replaced with a Blackvue.)

The Jetta has a gap between the roof lining and the windscreen. It's a bit tight in the centre by the rear view mirror but after a couple of inches is rust the right size to roll the dashcam power cable into.

I run the wire around the A pillar, where the roof lining meets the A pillar cover. Then I roll back the door seal and run the cables down the seal before rolling it back. The tension from the roof lining gap and door seals keeps the cable in the groove where the roof lining and pillar cover meet.

The Blackvue cable is long enough to use the rear cigarette lighter socket, which is a bonus because it leaves the front socket for phone charging, something that may or may not happen so I like to be able to access a charge point easily.

HTH
The reason the cable should run up the front of the A pillar is because of the curtain airbag that blows the A pillar trim off when it activates.
If the cable runs across the face of it you could end up wearing the dashcam or the cable Far safer to run it along the edge of the dash at the bottom of the A pillar and up the windscreen edge of it.

theresanothersteve
13-04-2017, 08:08 AM
The reason the cable should run up the front of the A pillar is because of the curtain airbag that blows the A pillar trim off when it activates.
If the cable runs across the face of it you could end up wearing the dashcam or the cable Far safer to run it along the edge of the dash at the bottom of the A pillar and up the windscreen edge of it.
At that point the A pillar cover goes under the roof lining.The cover will hinge at this point if the airbag activates. The dash cam is also behind (in front of?) the rear vision mirror. I think it is designed this way to lift the A pillar cover out of the way if it activates...

Hillbilly
13-04-2017, 08:46 AM
At that point the A pillar cover goes under the roof lining.The cover will hinge at this point if the airbag activates. The dash cam is also behind (in front of?) the rear vision mirror. I think it is designed this way to lift the A pillar cover out of the way if it activates...

Maybe the Tig is different but in both my cars the A Pillar trim is OVER the headlining at the top and fits down between the dash and the side of the car. It therefore will pivot from the bottom
Therefore if you run the cable along the headlining and across the top of the trim it will be in the front of the curtain airbag, if the airbag blows it will fire the trim and the cable outwards The way I run it the airbag can inflate and the cable wont get caught.
I have checked this in the descriptive manual I downloaded from ERWIN


Care must be taken never to impede the action of the airbags and may be a cause for an insurance claim being refused should what an owner has done contribute to the problem. EG fixing your phone to centre of the steering wheel. Yes its been done and you would look good with the imprint of an Iphone hitting your face at 200kph

DV52
13-04-2017, 04:04 PM
You just need a an addafuse and an extra ciggy socket as usually the USB ones are 5V and if you plug it straight into a 12v fuse you will fry it. Just buy some trim tools like these and work it into the front of the A pillar between the trim and the screen so it doesnt get hooked by the airbag. I spread the join at the end of the dash beside the pillar trim and threaded it along there up the front of the pillar and it slid into the front of the roof lining in the Passat The Polo had the lining stuck up so just used some bluetack in dabs along the front edge. The ciggy socket is wrapped in the bubble wrap to stop rattles. Took about 30 mins to do it . The rear one is a bit of a mission though

Lastly start at the camera and work down so the left over cable goes in the dash. Dont ask how I know to do it that way LOL

Hillbilly: Why go the expense of buying an in-line power socket? I know that they aren't that expensive, but the 12v-5v converter becomes so big and unnecessarily cumbersome. Allow me to suggest that you think about what value the USB case provides to the exercise.

I normally discard the USB power supply housing entirely and I don't use an in-line socket. It depends on the USB power unit that you are using, but when the case is removed, they nearly all end-up being a small PC board with the USB connector soldered to the board together with a few components. I just solder a small connector to the 12V end (so that I can remove the unit if needed- then I enclose the assembly in a piece of heat shrink tubing. The result is as shown in the picture below - reduced size and less likely to rattle (I usually wrap the device with foam tape)

Don

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/04/ls8wCnD-4.jpg

Hillbilly
13-04-2017, 04:32 PM
The cameras I use are 12V and so run straight off a fuse The use of the ciggy socket, $2.49 incidentally allow me to use the manufactures plug which also has a fuse in it. Then if I want to I can remove the camera and the cable and use it in another car, like a rental when on holiday. If your cameras are 5V then what you are doing is suitable for them My wires are all hidden regardless of the connectors used. all you see is the wires in the photos above

I now have a spare cable so take that on holiday and use a multi ciggy socket for camera Satnav and camera charging.

Also up till recently I had a voltage sensing unit for allowing the cameras to keep working when parked and ign off As it had a ciggy output on it I figured it was easier to just keep what was there and allow portability.

My post was more intended to describe how to run the cable and I just included the rest as how I do it with the cameras I have. Sort of overlooked the OP was using 5V ones

Delewin
26-04-2017, 07:11 AM
Hi all.

My dash cam has a video out 2.5mm socket and came with a long 2.5mm to RCA lead.

Is there a video-in somewhere connected to the infotainment display in the Tiguan 162TSI?

Thank you
David

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 07:19 AM
Hi all.

My dash cam has a video out 2.5mm socket and came with a long 2.5mm to RCA lead.

Is there a video-in somewhere connected to the infotainment display in the Tiguan 162TSI?

Thank you
David

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Well apart from having to perhaps show a cop the result of what may have happened there is little reason to have the picture on your screen. After all you are looking through the windscreen at what its recording.
Also technically it would be similar to running a DVD whilst driving. Illegal

My cameras have wifi and I can replay them in my phone. However not in real time.

Havent looked at mine for several weeks as nothing has happened to need to.

Saved the footage from mine when on a trip overseas Nothing as boring as hours of tarseal and nothing happening.

Apart from about 10 mins of interesting scenery I scrapped the rest.

Gladbach
26-04-2017, 09:16 AM
Well apart from having to perhaps show a cop the result of what may have happened there is little reason to have the picture on your screen. After all you are looking through the windscreen at what its recording.
Also technically it would be similar to running a DVD whilst driving. Illegal

My cameras have wifi and I can replay them in my phone. However not in real time.

Havent looked at mine for several weeks as nothing has happened to need to.

Saved the footage from mine when on a trip overseas Nothing as boring as hours of tarseal and nothing happening.

Apart from about 10 mins of interesting scenery I scrapped the rest.

Tend to agree. It would be useful to check the viewing angle to make sure the cam is aligned correctly, but I don't think it's worth the hassle.

Delewin
26-04-2017, 10:19 AM
Good point. Agreed. I will drop it.

I just had this wire looking for a home. Nothing lost in reality.
Thanks
David

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 04:00 PM
Tend to agree. It would be useful to check the viewing angle to make sure the cam is aligned correctly, but I don't think it's worth the hassle. Mine is a barrel shape and sits in a spline in the holder so I click it to where it should be and it wont shift without a reasonable effort to do so

bestyjny
26-04-2017, 06:43 PM
Have installed several including a Passat and a Polo I use Blackvue cameras


It looks like you have rear camera at the front of your car. Why?

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 07:12 PM
It looks like you have rear camera at the front of your car. Why?

Whaaaat The pic of the front camera is a DR400G HD which is the old one that I have replaced with a DR500 GW HD which looks the same but is black. I have a FRONT CAMERA in the BACK actually because the normal 2 ch setups only have a 720p quality rear camera, Because the 500 is an HD I just bought another camera and mounted it in the rear A lot less mucking around with wiring and far better quality videos.

You obviously dont know much about Blackvue cameras

bestyjny
26-04-2017, 07:49 PM
You obviously dont know much about Blackvue cameras

Front camera on your photos has one cable connection and rear two cables. That's why I was wonder and thank you for answer.


PS don't, not dont. doesn't not doesnt. haven't not havent. But _obviously_ you know about that, because you live in English-speaking country and using English as main language ;)

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 07:59 PM
Front camera on your photos has one cable connection and rear two cables. That's why I was wonder and thank you for answer.


PS don't, not dont. doesn't not doesnt. haven't not havent. But _obviously_ you know about that, because you live in English-speaking country and using English as main language ;)

Forum doesn't have a spellchecker sadly. To be correct your sentence above should read "that's why I was wondering and thank you for your answer." Pot calling Kettle black eh!!!!!! You may think you know your grammar but we are not here to have an English lesson and while we are on about correctness it is helpful if you put your location in your heading as sometime you are going to ask about a model that we may not have in Australia.
Next time Google the article before making an uninformed comment. The answers are on the Blackvue site and the models are in my signature.
The reason the front camera has one cable is that it has inbuilt GPS The 450 in the rear is cheaper but equal in video quality, but has optional GPS which is why it has a second cable to the GPS.

ian
26-04-2017, 08:25 PM
i have one as well , tail gaters ,people who smash into the back of your car
a picture is worth a thousand words they could say you backed into them , but the camera never lies ,

bestyjny
26-04-2017, 08:39 PM
Again, thank you for your answer :) And of course, It's not an English lessson - especially, when it's not even my second language and I'm not using it good. But I'm always a big fan of people who rather than just answer question, trying to put someone in position "you don't know nothing, I'm a specialist".


Your main answer was enough, so why do not finish at first paragraph? What a purpose was hidden in your additional sentence? Maybe as non-native English speaker I was reading it wrong? ;-)

PS my country location is provided from my first day here.

PS2 I'm sorry to others, it's my last off-topic post in this thread

theitchy
26-04-2017, 08:41 PM
Haha, this gives me an idea, however i should ask before i change mine. I had someone installed Thinkware F770 2 channel on my tig, on the other side, there is another Blackvue 650 2 channel available in the box sitting around for more than 8 months, can i use front Blackvue to replace the back camera of Thinkware? Is it possible?

bestyjny
26-04-2017, 08:48 PM
For me idea to replace back camera with better quality model is awesome. I wasn't happy when ordering my 650-2CH model, but I wanted to have one recording from two sides on one device - I know there are two files, but in one place and time-synced.

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 08:50 PM
Again, thank you for your answer :) And of course, It's not an English lessson - especially, when it's not even my second language and I'm not using it good. But I'm always a big fan of people who rather than just answer question, trying to put someone in position "you don't know nothing, I'm a specialist".


Your main answer was enough, so why do not finish at first paragraph? What a purpose was hidden in your additional sentence? Maybe as non-native English speaker I was reading it wrong? ;-)

PS my country location is provided from my first day here.

PS2 I'm sorry to others, it's my last off-topic post in this thread

Join Date Mar 2017

Location.

Posts 43

Dont see a location and we dont have a list of flags to refer to.

Maybe English is not my first language either. How would anyone know.

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 08:53 PM
Haha, this gives me an idea, however i should ask before i change mine. I had someone installed Thinkware F770 2 channel on my tig, on the other side, there is another Blackvue 650 2 channel available in the box sitting around for more than 8 months, can i use front Blackvue to replace the back camera of Thinkware? Is it possible?

Yes you just need a power cable I ran mine from the fuse box in the dash under the door trims and up through the body to what you can see in the pics. Sorry. I had better say pictures to satisfy the purist.

theitchy
26-04-2017, 09:10 PM
As i knew, with current thinkware system, the front and back cable connect to the battery Bell C or something sorry i cant remember, and from the battery to fusebox. I thought as if i can keep the installed cable for back camera to plug in the main front blackvue then it would be good, otherwise this will be a test that i could never be done due to my bad machanic knowledge and practice ...hehe

Hillbilly
26-04-2017, 10:00 PM
As i knew, with current thinkware system, the front and back cable connect to the battery Bell C or something sorry i cant remember, and from the battery to fusebox. I thought as if i can keep the installed cable for back camera to plug in the main front blackvue then it would be good, otherwise this will be a test that i could never be done due to my bad machanic knowledge and practice ...hehe
I wouldnt be plugging cameras of two different makes together ever as they probably wont talk to each other. Far better to run a power cable only from power source NOT FRONT CAMERA and run them as two independant units. Less chance of ruining them that way.

Your way would be like trying to hook an Apple Iphone to an Android one and expecting it to work

ian
26-04-2017, 10:07 PM
Yes i run one from the fuse box in the front and the rear one off the cigarette lighter in the back ,works ok for me .

bestyjny
27-04-2017, 12:14 AM
Join Date Mar 2017

Location.

Posts 43

Dont see a location and we dont have a list of flags to refer to.

Maybe English is not my first language either. How would anyone know.

Maybe ;-)

29231

Delewin
28-05-2017, 08:13 PM
Hi All,

I came across this dashcam fitting and thought it might solve my problem in that my existing dask cam has a touch screen and the sloping window line of our new Tiguan was too steep for the existing mount to be used without showing the A pillar as well as the centre camera binical for all the safety gear.

I found this T mount elbow jointed fitting by searching:

T-Mount Elbow bracket / mount 2 ball joints for daschamera car dvr dash cam

There are a few suppliers so I have not favoured one over another.

Mine came from England.

It can be seen that this mount puts the dash cam forward and higher than if you are using a conventional mount.

The result no A pillar of middle reversing mirror mount obscuring the image. Also It does not obscure the reverse mirror sensor.

Sorry about the black text. After I pasted the text from eBay, I could not bring back the original font.

Regards,
David

Hillbilly
28-05-2017, 08:39 PM
Looks large and cumbersome to me. Also it is technically illegal to have the screen on when driving as it is NOT a driver aid as described in the ADR rules. The cameras I use can be fitted to any windscreen regardless of its angle and give the same picture at all times. They also sit in front of the rear view mirror and literally cant be seen from the drivers seat. See pics on first page of thread.
Also in QLD you may get pinged for blocking your line of sight in the windscreen.

Delewin
28-05-2017, 09:08 PM
Hi Hillbilly

It is the t mount elbow I am trying to demonstrate. Not the dash cam.

This dash cam turns off the screen after 30 secs.

Also I was very close to the dash cam so it looks larger than it is.

It is also mounted on the passenger side so it does not obstruct the driver's view.

It solved my problem of reusing an existing dash cam.

Everyone is advised to do their own homework and what works for one person may not be a solution for you.

That's what so good about this forum.

David

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Delewin
01-06-2017, 05:02 PM
Hi All,

Does any one have a fuse box wiring diagram for the MY17 Tiguan 162 TSI as I need to find an earth close to the Fuse box so I can power my Dash Cam battery charger. I set up a piggy back fuse for the 12V power but cannot easily see an earth point that I can attach the earth lead of the battery charger.

Plan B would be to tap into the front passenger seat rail as the battery sit below the front passenger. But this is definitely not my preferred option.

Thanks in advance.
David

IsDon
01-06-2017, 07:16 PM
Hi All,

Does any one have a fuse box wiring diagram for the MY17 Tiguan 162 TSI as I need to find an earth close to the Fuse box so I can power my Dash Cam battery charger. I set up a piggy back fuse for the 12V power but cannot easily see an earth point that I can attach the earth lead of the battery charger.

Plan B would be to tap into the front passenger seat rail as the battery sit below the front passenger. But this is definitely not my preferred option.

Thanks in advance.
David

I couldn't find an earth either. Bloody plastic everything.

I ended up putting a self tapper into the metal behind the passenger left side footwell panel.

Hillbilly
01-06-2017, 08:39 PM
Usually some bolts or Tex screws holding various bits on behind trims Meter them out using a door hinge bolt as a known earth and you will find one. Have always managed to find one reasonably close to fuse blocks Failing that run one to neg on battery