If you read the instructions again (page 9 and 10) it's says several times to only fit it to a switched supply for normal use and to only use a permanent supply for surveillance purposes. That's the reason it has an auto shutdown and a parking mode. The parking mode only records for 30 seconds once activated and not triggered again and the internal battery when in good condition is good for 12-15 minutes use so has plenty of power for what it's intended for.
If you read the instructions again (page 9 and 10) it's says several times to only fit it to a switched supply for normal use and to only use a permanent supply for surveillance purposes. That's the reason it has an auto shutdown and a parking mode. The parking mode only records for 30 seconds once activated and not triggered again and the internal battery when in good condition is good for 12-15 minutes use so has plenty of power for what it's intended for.
Is a rear window heater fuse likely to be a constant 12v live?
Fairly confident that the rear window heater F53 fuse will be a switched live and it seemed to work that way though she's mentioned the car seemed sluggish to start today. Perm. live is using the 12v sockets fuse F40. (2016 Audi A3.)
Aside from parking mode running the battery low and/or failing to shut the camera off at the 12v limit set perhaps it's not?
I'll switch it to F26, seat heating, if there isn't a consensus! thanks.
https://fuse-box.info/audi/audi-a3-s3-8v-2013-2018-fuses
Fairly confident that the rear window heater F53 fuse will be a switched live and it seemed to work that way though she's mentioned the car seemed sluggish to start today. Perm. live is using the 12v sockets fuse F40. (2016 Audi A3.)
Aside from parking mode running the battery low and/or failing to shut the camera off at the 12v limit set perhaps it's not?
I'll switch it to F26, seat heating, if there isn't a consensus! thanks.
https://fuse-box.info/audi/audi-a3-s3-8v-2013-2018-fuses
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F53 could be a permanent supply rather than switched and may well be a permanent supply to the relay which turns the window heat on and off. Can you not check if F40 turns off after ten minutes of the car being locked and use that?
Thanks, will report back at the weekend.
Should have said I'm using F40 for the perm. live. F26 and F40 seem to be the recommended but at the time of googling F53 seemed to be recommended too.
Man of Honour
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- 21 Nov 2004
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After coming across today’s daily idiot I think it’s time to take the plunge.
What are my options? Am I crazy considering Halfords to fit a dashcam? Not confident to fit it myself.
Dashcam recommendations? Either from Halfords or equivalent or perhaps Amazon offerings? I’m looking at the next base 422gw currently.
Thanks!
What are my options? Am I crazy considering Halfords to fit a dashcam? Not confident to fit it myself.
Dashcam recommendations? Either from Halfords or equivalent or perhaps Amazon offerings? I’m looking at the next base 422gw currently.
Thanks!
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Definitely get front & rear cameras; do consider getting front & rear & interior to counter any accusation of you being on your phone or otherwise distracted.
They're easy to fit and you don't need to hard-wire them. Indeed, I think that an initial hardwire is a mistake in case you find the dashcam is not what you want. Have it hardwired once you're happy with it. If you have an Audi / VW / Skoda / Fiat then beware draining your battery. Get a Rearmaster OBD cable.
I have an Aukey DR02 dual dashcam with which I am very happy; my next one will be a triple.
Some reviews here.
Man of Honour
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- 21 Nov 2004
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That’s an interesting thought about front and rear - I guess being a soft top it prevents a problem for the rear camera?
Would a dashcam hold a charge for a short journey? I didn’t consider not having it hardwired in - I guess if needed I could temporarily plug it in somewhere? I haven’t worked out what connections I have in my car yet - I think there’s some USB’s down there.
Just put the rear camera on the back shelf. Or you could do the James Bond thing and mount it so it's by your number plate. You'll need to route the cable carefully, though.
Dashcams need to be plugged in to some source of power. They typically work off the 12V cigarette lighter socket; mine is plugged into the OBD socket after I killed the battery after accidentally leaving it plugged in too many times.
Man of Honour
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Interesting points. Thanks. Looks like I need to look at my options more closely.
Caporegime
hes a tool, you heard him have a go at the other lady in the other car, he clearly thinks woman are not intelligent 
Same here, Iv been considering one for sometime now and this last week had a close call when some pulled out in front of me when they should have been giving way as they where pulling out of the car park. Then a few mins later the same car, decided change lanes without indicating and forced me to brake hard from 70mph.
Man of Honour
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- 21 Nov 2004
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So I’ve taken the plunge and have ordered a Nextbase 522GW, 64gb SD and also the rear view module that plugs in. I think this is the best solution for what I need given the nature of the soft top. I’ve seen videos and the rear view video seems decent enough. Halfords offered mobile fitting on this one, so I’ve gone for that option.
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Might be best cancelling the HellFraud's "Fitting",
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...s/mums-christmas-ruined-after-cowboy-22599688
Caporegime
just depends on which one you use, some are pretty good
Associate
i just bought 2 dashcams from blackvue's outlet site of their homepage for my 2 cars. They included the hardwire kit in addition to the normal socket plug and an SD card in the box which for a lot of other sites I looked at would be additional costs. Watching threads and videos like above was the reason taking the plunge.
Has anyone used anything like this? Recently got a van, and while I don't have any major issues reversing it - some others do - and this would be handy if I could add in a camera at the same time. They seem to go for about £50 on Chinese import sites.
I've seen a few videos about that style of dashcam. IIRC they're primarily designed for LHD cars / countries which drive on the other side of the road. They don't work so well over here. Just fix a camera behind the RVM where it's hidden.If you get a dual or triple camera dashcam (and you should), just route the cable to the rear dashcam via the door hinge.