8 tips for keeping your dash cam running smoothly in extreme weather

Should I hardwire my dash cam? That was something I never even thought about when I installed my first model a number of years ago. Back then, the most popular way of powering a dash cam was to plug it into a 12V power port, which was a standard feature in most vehicles. Even now, I still use a 12V power source if it’s available when I’m testing dash cams.

The great thing about this plug and play route is that I’m not stuck with the dash cam fitted to one vehicle. I test a lot of cars and dash cams too, so having that flexibility is mighty handy. The downside? Well, many of the best dash cam models come with a extra features and functions that only to work if the unit is hard wired into the vehicle.

Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, agrees: “A dash cam is powered in two ways, either through hard wiring or by plugging in to the car’s 12V power socket,” he says. “Drivers may opt for the 12V because it requires a less thorough set-up; however, while a dash cam might not necessarily need to be hardwired, those who want to get the best out of their models should consider doing so.”

What is hardwiring a dash cam, and how is it done?

Hardwiring a dash cam into a vehicle means that instead of the plug and play route for power, generally using a 12V power source, the unit is plumbed directly into the wiring loom. This task can be made much easier because many of the dash cam manufacturers sell supplementary hardwiring kits, which take much of the strain out of the process.

However, as the installation process does involve fiddling with the wiring and fuses in a vehicle, it could be wise to get the work carried out by a professional. This can include someone like a vehicle electrician, a qualified mechanic, or anybody who is confident with their understanding of vehicle electronics. It’s also worth consulting the owner’s manual and the relevant dash cam documentation or website to ensure the dash cam model and vehicle are compatible.

Some models offer a variation on this theme using the ODBII port as the connection point. The ODBII port is primarily used for plugging in diagnostic tools for fault checking in newer vehicles. However, it is also a quick way of connecting a dash cam that can subsequently use an always on source for power.

This method is also less permanent as the ODBII port connector allows the dash cam to be unplugged. It’s worth noting that ODBII ports can often be quite hard to find but are usually located somewhere under the dashboard area.

So that’s the what and the how, but what about the why? There are three key benefits to hardwiring.

Always-on monitoring