Fitting a Nextbase dashcam - which hardwire kit to use?

[glasgowcyclist]

I’ve ordered a Nextbase 322GW which should arrive today. I want to hardwire it and note that Nextbase offers two options; an OBD type kit and a piggy-back fuse kit.

The OBD would appear to be the simpler of the two, and it’s cheaper. Is there any advantage to using one over the other? I’d like to have it powered permanently to make use of the parking bump feature, if that makes any difference.

I’ve tried asking their support but it’s just a useless chatbot.

 

[fossyant]

I've used the fuse piggy back kits on two cars - Literally plug into a fuse (I used the 12v socket's fuse) and off you go. This leaves the ODBC port free.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I've used the fuse piggy back kits on two cars - Literally plug into a fuse (I used the 12v socket's fuse) and off you go. This leaves the ODBC port free.

Do I need the OBD port freed up for anything other than diagnostics? I’ve used it twice in 12 years!

 

[fossyant]

Do I need the OBD port freed up for anything other than diagnostics? I’ve used it twice in 12 years!

No, but you might 'see' more wires - the piggy back fuse is hidden.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

No, but you might 'see' more wires - the piggy back fuse is hidden.

Ok. My OBD connector is located within the fuse panel, so it won’t make a difference in that regard.

 

[Fastpedaller]

I've used the fuse piggy back kits on two cars - Literally plug into a fuse (I used the 12v socket's fuse) and off you go. This leaves the ODBC port free.

I've just got three dashcams for the family cars, as the cams were only £10 each at our local shop. They plug into the 12v accessory point, and seem to work well and have 1080 definition and micro sd. I'll have to source some hardwire kits and some piggy-back fuses. My kit car should be easy to do, but my Wife and Daughter's car are both Ka+ which may have, smaller fuses! I'll have to look behind the glove box. They are a real pain because the owner's manual doesn't show which size/type of fuse are in each of the 2 fuse boxes (the other one is next to battery), just the 3 types of fuses used throughout the car. When we had a fuse blow it was only after trying 4 motor factors that we got one of the correct physical size and rating.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

I've got one fitted with the piggy back fuse kit

I'm not sure I'd want a dashcam connected to the OBD port on any car - that just sounds a bit iffy to me. With the fuse kit, the dashcam is for sure only stealing electricity.

Anyway, whether you want it to stay 'live' in parking mode, or not, depends which fuse you piggy back from. At least with that kit, you have the choice. Not sure whether the OBD kit gives that option - whether it be switcheable or programmable.

FWIW, I find parking mode is next to useless as the dashcam doesn't not start recording soon enough when triggered by an event.

 

[figbat]

We have a 322GW in both of our cars. It has a battery so doesn’t need continuous power to enable the parking sentry mode.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

We have a 322GW in both of our cars. It has a battery so doesn’t need continuous power to enable the parking sentry mode.

The battery doesn't last long

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Well I plumped for the piggy back fuse kit and got it all wired up today. Fairly simple and plenty cable length.

I have to say that I’m quite underwhelmed by the quality of the video. My Cyclic 12 and 6 both give better quality and clarity!

What I didn’t realise is that with the rear camera attached, my 1080p video drops from 60fps to 30 fps.

And for some reason it doesn’t stop recording when I turn off the ignition. I need to do that manually. (No, it’s not connected to a permanent live.)

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

And for some reason it doesn’t stop recording when I turn off the ignition. I need to do that manually. (No, it’s not connected to a permanent live.)

I had one permanent live in the old van and the one in the mini is on-ignition live. Never had issues with either switching off.
Sounds like a setting that's not right?

The video quality on these things is 'okay' in good light. It's not hot in low light at all.

 

[figbat]

I think mine stays on for a few minutes after ignition off then shuts down.

 

[Adam4868]

And for some reason it doesn’t stop recording when I turn off the ignition. I need to do that manually. (No, it’s not connected to a permanent live.)

Male sure you have parking mode switched off if it has one ?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Male sure you have parking mode switched off if it has one ?

Parking mode is off.

Next time I arrive back home I’ll leave it running and check it evry ten minutes to see if it’s maybe on a delay.

 

[Drago]

Some canbus cars have a bit of a delay between switching the vehicle off and everything shutting down. In my olde Mini, for example, it took 2 or 3 mins after switch off before the power to the fag lighter socket (prom which I powered the dashcam) closed down.