How To Hardwire a Dashcam

Updated on June 20, 2023

Dash cams have become an increasingly popular tool for motorists. Not only do they provide a record of what happened during a journey, but they can also help in insurance disputes or be used as evidence if needed. But many people are confused about the best way to hardwire their dashcam. In this article, we will explain exactly how to hardwire your dashcam so you can make the most of its features and get the protection you need.

The process is not complicated but requires some technical know-how and electrical expertise. To make sure that you get it right, it’s important to understand the process and take all necessary safety precautions when handling electrical components. We’ll show you step-by-step how to safely hardwire your dashcam in your vehicle so that you can enjoy all its features without worrying about running out of power.

We will cover the basics, including what tools and components are needed, how to connect everything up correctly, and any other tips or tricks that will help make sure the job is done right. So if you’re looking for an easy way to maximize the benefits of having a dash cam in your car, read on for our comprehensive guide.

Why Should You Hardwire A Dashcam?

Hardwiring a dashcam can be an excellent decision for car owners who want to ensure they have the highest level of protection. It provides many advantages that a regular camera won’t, such as the ability to record continuously, which is ideal for people who rely heavily on parking mode. 

The primary benefit of hardwiring a dash cam is that it continuously records your journeys. This means you don’t need to constantly worry about it running out of power. With a wired connection, you can also store larger amounts of footage than a traditional camera, meaning you’re less likely to miss important events. Plus, by having the camera connected directly to your car’s fuse box or wiring system, you can keep an eye on what’s happening around your vehicle even when you’re away from it.

Another advantage of hardwiring a dashcam is that it helps protect your vehicle in case of an accident or theft by providing solid evidence for insurance claims and criminal investigations. Additionally, if you ever get pulled over by police and they ask to see video footage, then having a properly installed hard-wired dashcam will make this process much smoother and easier.

Overall, hardwiring a dashcam is an excellent way to maximize convenience while ensuring maximum safety and security for yourself and your vehicle at all times. 

Gather Supplies

Before you start hardwiring a dash cam, the first step is gathering the necessary supplies. You’ll need a hard-wired power cable, a fuse tap, and some basic tools like pliers and wire cutters. All of these supplies can be found at your local electronics store or online.

Next, you’ll need to identify the right fuse in your car for the installation process. The fuse you choose should provide enough power for the dash cam but not overwhelm it with too much power. It’s important to double-check that the fuse isn’t already being used by another electrical device in your car.

Once you have all of the supplies ready and have identified an unused fuse in your car, you can begin the hardwiring process. Make sure to follow any instructions or diagrams that come with your power cable or other equipment. If done correctly, this will ensure that your dash cam has a reliable power source without draining your vehicle’s battery.

Disconnect The Car Battery

Now that you’ve gathered everything you need, the next step is to disconnect the car battery. This will ensure your safety while wiring and prevent any short circuits. Using caution when working around electrical components is essential, as they can be dangerous if not handled properly.

Disconnecting the car battery is simple but requires some precautionary steps. First, ensure the ignition switch is off; this will prevent any unexpected current surge when working on the electrical system. Then, remove both negative and positive cables from the battery terminals; this should be done in that order for safety reasons. After both cables are removed, check all connections in the circuit panel to ensure everything is disconnected before continuing with your installation.

Now that the car battery has been successfully disconnected, you’re ready to start hardwiring your dashcam! Take your time with this process and make sure each connection is secure by double-checking all connections before moving on to the next step. This will help you achieve a successful installation without any mishaps along the way.

Unmount The Dash Cam

Unmounting the dash cam is a crucial step in hardwiring it. To begin, locate the camera and its mount on your car’s dashboard. If the camera has an adhesive mount, use a plastic pry tool to loosen and lift it up from the surface. Once you have removed the mount from the dashboard, pull off any adhesive residue with a damp cloth.

Next, unscrew the mounting bracket that holds the camera in place. This can be done using screwdrivers or a set of pliers. While unscrewing, ensure not to damage any of the wires around it. Once you have removed the bracket and wires, carefully detach them from each other.

Now that you have unmounted your dash cam completely, you are ready to start wiring it. 

Expose The Wiring Harness

The next step is to expose the wiring harness. This typically involves taking off the plastic casing of the dash cam. Depending on the make and model, this could involve removing some screws or clips that hold it in place. After the casing is removed, you should be able to access the wiring harness from within.

Before making any connections, take a moment to familiarize yourself with each of the wires and their corresponding colors. It’s important not to mix them up when connecting them. Once you’ve identified each one, connect them one at a time to their respective points on your car’s wiring harness, ensuring each connection is snug and secure.

Connect The Wiring Harness

Now that the wiring harness has been exposed, it’s time to connect it. This step is relatively straightforward and doesn’t require any special tools. To begin, identify the power leads for the dash cam and the ground cable on the wiring harness. Then, connect each of them to their respective terminals. It may be helpful to consult a wiring diagram or manual if multiple cables are connected to the same terminals.

Once all the power and ground cables have been connected, test out the dash cam with a voltage meter to ensure everything is functioning properly. If all of the connections are secure and no current is flowing through the wrong wires, then you can proceed with mounting your dash cam.

Route The Wires

Routing the wires is an important step when hardwiring a dash cam. Once the wiring harness has been secured, the next step is to pass the wiring from the camera through the firewall. This can be done by routing it along a gap between two panels or using a grommet.

When hiding the wires, it’s important to ensure that they won’t interfere with any other components in your vehicle. This could include being careful not to run it over any sharp edges or pinch it too tightly in any areas. It’s also important to leave enough slack to access and manipulate the wires when needed easily.

Connect The Fuse Box

Connecting the wires to the fuse box is an important step. To begin, locate the fuse box in your vehicle. This can typically be found under the steering wheel or dashboard, or in the engine bay. Check your car’s manual for the exact location. Once you’ve located it, open it up and take a look inside.

You’ll need to find a circuit that matches with the power requirements of your dash cam. This can vary widely depending on the make and model of your camera, so check its manual for more information on what amperage is required. After finding an appropriate circuit, connect one end of the wiring harness to it. Make sure that you secure each wire firmly to ensure no loose connections occur.

Now you’re ready to test out your hardwired dash cam! If all has gone according to plan, then you should be able to enjoy worry-free recording for years to come. Be sure to double-check all the connections and keep an eye out for any signs of damage that could affect performance over time – if anything looks off, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified technician for assistance.

Reconnect The Car Battery

Reconnecting the car battery is an important step in hardwiring a dash cam. This is the last step to ensure that the installation is secure and that the dash cam can correctly draw power from the car’s battery.

To reconnect the car battery:

1. Ensure the ignition key is in the off position.
2. Locate the positive and negative terminals of your battery and attach them accordingly. If you’re using a pigtail kit, follow the instructions that came with it and attach it securely to both terminals.
3. Tighten all connections and turn on your ignition to make sure everything is working properly.

Test The Installation

Now that the dash cam is hardwired and grounded, it’s time to test the installation. To make sure everything is working correctly, start by turning on the ignition. The dash cam should power up automatically when the car does. If it doesn’t, check the wiring for any loose connections or other problems.

Next, review the camera’s settings to confirm they’re correct. Make sure the date and time are set correctly, and all of your desired features are enabled. You may also want to adjust image quality or recording length if you haven’t already done so.

To finish testing:

1. Take a short drive and make sure the dash cam is recording properly.
2. Pay attention to both video quality and audio quality, as well as whether data like speed or G-force readings are being captured accurately.
3. After you’re satisfied with your results, mount the dash cam in its final location and enjoy!

Troubleshooting Tips

When troubleshooting any issue with a dash cam, the first thing to do is to double-check that all connections are properly secured. If a connection is loose or not fully plugged in, it can cause the unit to malfunction and not work as intended. Additionally, make sure that there isn’t any electrical interference from other devices nearby; if there is, try moving the dash cam away from them.

If the above steps don’t solve the issue, then it may be necessary to reset the dash cam itself. To do this, disconnect the device from power and remove any memory cards or external storage devices. After a few minutes, reconnect to see if that resolves the problem.

In some cases, none of these steps will fix the issue, and you’ll need to contact customer service for further assistance with your device. They should be able to offer advice or arrange for a replacement if needed.

Conclusion

Installing a dash cam in your car can be an invaluable asset for recording any incidents on the road. With the right supplies and some basic knowledge, you can hardwire a dash cam to your vehicle. By disconnecting the car battery, exposing and testing the wiring harness, and mounting the dash cam, you’ll have your system up and running in no time.

The process may seem intimidating initially, but it’s quite simple when broken down into steps. Once you understand how to access the wiring harness and mount the device safely, you’ll be able to complete this project quickly and efficiently. With just a few basic tools, you can give yourself peace of mind knowing that your dash cam is optimally installed in your vehicle.