Dash Cam
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
Dash Cam
I got a Garmin Mini Dash cam for my birthday and am looking for ideas on mounting & powering it. The cam has a parking monitor mode so I would like to make sure the unit stays powered while my truck is parked. Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 4,247
From: Kaysville Utah
I mounted my Garmin 66 right next to my rearview mirror. I tucked the cable in the headliner, down the door post and into the dash and then landed it on a always hot fuse in the passenger footwheel panel. I drive my truck pretty much every day. Once or twice, I have parked it at the airport for 4-5 days, and it has never run the batteries dead. I'm not sure how many days I could leave it parked and not have a dead battery.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 186
From: Frederick, CO
You'll want to tie into the interior fuse panel and use an add-a-fuse to grab power. I and others have written up install threads here, so searching will be helpful to you. In 2019, the fuse panel is in the passenger kick panel. I wired it up and ran the wires up around my glove box and up through the A pillar. Then, the cables are easily tucked under the headliner as you route them horizontally to the center of your windshield. Easy peasy. I did have to use fish tape, as the clearances around the glove box were super tight.
Garmin may make a wiring harness. If not, Viofo has one that is pretty universal, but the power connection to the camera is the key part. Your truck should have an automatic battery saver (cuts power to parasitic draws like dash cams when a certain voltage threshold is reached), but the Viofo device supposedly has a sensor inside that cuts off at a certain voltage (and it's selectable) -- so, these devices (and trucks) are supposedly smart enough to prevent your battery from draining in the event you parked it for a week or so.
You can look on Amazon et al. for other devices that have more universal connections. Whatever fits Garmin should be similar. But, you want a 3-wire kit: ground, acc power, and power.
Garmin may make a wiring harness. If not, Viofo has one that is pretty universal, but the power connection to the camera is the key part. Your truck should have an automatic battery saver (cuts power to parasitic draws like dash cams when a certain voltage threshold is reached), but the Viofo device supposedly has a sensor inside that cuts off at a certain voltage (and it's selectable) -- so, these devices (and trucks) are supposedly smart enough to prevent your battery from draining in the event you parked it for a week or so.
You can look on Amazon et al. for other devices that have more universal connections. Whatever fits Garmin should be similar. But, you want a 3-wire kit: ground, acc power, and power.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 186
From: Frederick, CO
Here is my install, which will be similar to most brands' instructions and needs.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 914
Likes: 511
In my vehicles I wire them with a switch connected to a12v constant so I can control when it is on and off.
Bob
Bob
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New User
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 10
I have a Viofo 129 plus behind the review mirror next to the support on the passenger side.
Ran the wiring through the headliner and down the A pillar. Getting constant power using an ‘add a circuit’ in fuse 31 (remote entry) and accessory power from 35 (spare).
Ran the wiring through the headliner and down the A pillar. Getting constant power using an ‘add a circuit’ in fuse 31 (remote entry) and accessory power from 35 (spare).
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