Dash cam fitted to 981

[DJMC]

I've fitted one of these: http://www.viofo.com/home/30-a119-1080p-60fps-dash-cam.html

I chose the non-GPS version. GPS plotting mount is around £10 more. Recording speed can work against you too!

From: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SpyTec-A119-1440p-Dash-Camera/dp/B01HMZVYLY/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1477570423&sr=1-4&keywords=a119

 

Plus one of these ("right angled"): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141933998497?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00WIMBZGQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Fitted here...

 

 

 

So this is my view...

 

 

May need to be removed from its mount for future MOTs: http://www.driving.co.uk/car-clinic/car-clinic-will-having-a-windscreen-camera-mean-ill-fail-my-mot/

 

From the mirror, the cable is hidden completely under top windscreen trim, down left hand side...

 

 

...behind glovebox, to the 12v socket under the glovebox...

 

 

My first test run had some buzzing on playback (see my other Youtube test videos) from the lower three buttons. https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNkMAE0tTit2VQbodmmVb6_gGYrtkaQSZPpUg0U

I know this is the source as I taped them over and the buzzing went. (I've now dropped a tiny drop of UHU clear glue on the gap between the lower buttons and the case and the buzzing has gone) Here's the result...

 

 

...and some night time footage too...

 

https://youtu.be/_2D8qN8Lsfg

 

NOTE: YouTube degrades picture quality from original 2560 x 1440P 30fps. It's very detailed on my MacBook.

 

If I'm really fussy (I am!) I just need a CPL filter (polarising) to reduce the reflections from the top of the dash. The manufacturer is about to release one as an accessory which may or may not fit the non-GPS version of the dash cam as it has a slimmer mount and so the lens surround is fairly close to the screen.

 

Playback is via http://vlc-media-player.en.softonic.com or https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201288 on a MAC. (Windows versions available).

 

When parked the other day, I found the cam continued recording after ignition off for 32 minutes before the 12v socket cut out.

 

THE END.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2016 by DJMC

[twopointnine]

That camera looks quite small and unobtrusive compared to some I've seen. Do you have to erase old recordings from time to time or does it just record over previous footage every journey? Does it 'wake up' and record if your car is hit when stationary and unoccupied?

[magic8080]

I've always been put off adding a dash cam for purely cosmetic reasons, looks very neat.

[DJMC]

16 hours ago, twopointnine said:

That camera looks quite small and unobtrusive compared to some I've seen. Do you have to erase old recordings from time to time or does it just record over previous footage every journey? Does it 'wake up' and record if your car is hit when stationary and unoccupied?

 

Continuous loop recording so it erases earliest video as you go. 

 

It has a "motion detect" mode (switchable) which records from the point of any movement in front of the lens and "G-sensor" (constant) which records from the point of any impact. A future version may also include pre-buffering so that the moments leading up to a bang are recorded when parked. All these rely on power being on. You can buy battery protection devices which cut the power when the battery gets low, or a power bank. This is what I would get in this respect: http://www.vicovation.com/productdetial.asp?id=E61BAB5B-D4D8-4BDB-9B97-D7064A93C859&lang=eng

 

There are other more expensive dash cams which switch to parking mode when they sense no movement. The DDPai M6+ is one I looked at but I didn't like the danger of its Li-Ion battery being left in the car when unoccupied. The A119 has a capacitor instead which retains enough power to shut it down when power is cut.

[twopointnine]

Thanks for the additional details. I may well put one on my 'wish list'.

[magic8080]

Folks, I've just got a NextBase 512GW for Christmas and I'm looking to site this.

I see the wire can be push in to the screen seal around the top

Do you need to remove the A pillar trim to totally conceal the wiring. I'm hoping to hard-wire it in the right hand fuse box

 

Any assistance would be appreciated

Stuart

[Beanoir™]

I think @barryb fitted a rear view mirror with built in camera for reversing too, so I’m guessing the wiring for that would have been the same route at least for the power anyway.  

 

A pillars do pop off fairly easily to route the wires behind.  

 

Happy new year Stuart! 

[DJMC]

No need to remove trim. I used an old credit card to prise the trim away as I fed the cable in. Fairly easy. See pic in my post #1.

 

There's a plug in rear cam for the 512GW out soon too: Keep an eye on: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/any-more-news-on-the-rear-plug-in-camera-for-512gw-ultra.30950/page-5

 

Also, if you wish to leave the cam running while parked, I just invested in one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073QQPKVY/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B073QQPKVY&linkCode=as2&tag=das0d2-21

 

This differs from most power banks in that it has lithium iron phosphate cells inside. Far safer than Li-ion or Lipo cells. See: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion

 

There are other dash cam power banks with this cell type but too expensive if, like me, you just wish to leave the cam running in the occasional "dodgy" area.

[graham.reeds]

I just plonked down for the Thinkware F800 Pro. Will start new thread and post once I have get around to fitting. Good to see tips on stealthier installations as the amount of people I see with wires taped around the screen bugs the life out of me. Surprised that they can see anything at times!

[mactrack]

Apologies for the tread resurrection but as I was inspired by it (basically I didn't know there was a 12V socket underneath the glovebox on my 981CGTS and also that the wiring could be easily hidden) I've recently purchased a cheap Garmin dash cam mini purely for it's small size which can be hidden behind the rear view mirror so from there driver's seat there's no difference at all in my windscreen vision.

 

I've had a few issues setting it up as I was using a non-supplied USB cable into the 12V socket in the centre console/smokers pack (I was just making sure the camera worked before I affixed it to the windscreen and installed the wiring`) and this was causing memory card errors. As I spent some time trying to figure what was causing the issue I did get a warning the battery was running low and to go for an extended drive not that I needed an excuse to!

 

When I used the supplied cable everything worked fine and I've just installed the wiring and set up the camera this morning and everything appears to be working fine. However my concern is that, given the previous car battery warning, that the extended half an hour runtime after the ignition is switched off that I'm going to come back to a flat battery and unable to start the car!

 

I've never had a dash cam, nor a Porsche, before so am I worrying unnecessarily? Thanks to the OP for this write up as I wouldn't have got a dash cam as my car is in warranty and therefore not had a hard-wired one installed.