Dashcam Recommendations

[Revnato]

Whats up guys, I've been mulling over the idea of installing a dashcam for quite some time now and I think its finally time I got one.

I live in Los Angeles where everyone drives with a f**k you mentality. So, I think its necessary to get a front and rear dashcam equipped to prove my innocence in the case of an accident.

Ideally I'd like to get one that continues to record after the car is turned off. I haven't done a whole lot of research, but I think there are some that do that.

Then of course front & back is a must. Whats the point of only having one up front when you're just as vulnerable from behind!?

Let mw know if you guys have any recommendations, thanks!

[m5james]

I'm quite happy with my Blackvue D550, got it for like $250. Only option I want to get going now is to have the cameras running even when the car is off. I've seen Blackvue specific batteries for like $180 but I've read on dashcam forums about how people have used simple 10000mah extended battery packs used on phones and adapter them to work on their dashcam for like $30.

[trucky2]

I use a 15000 battery pack to power my dash cam after the car is shut off. You need to make sure to get one that has pass thru charging capabilities. In other words, when you start your car it starts to charge the battery but also passes along power to whatever is plugged in. Dash cams are mostly USB powered so don't draw much juice. You should get a few hours minimum after your car is turned off.

[denaliman]

I have a blackvue 650 front and rear , powered by a Cellink battery b made for dash cams. Battery is in the trunk tucked down in the storage box. Depending on power draw will last 72 hours. It recharges when driving.

[dudezi]

I'm using thinkware F750

[SyL3nTFoRcE]

I'm in the same boat as you right now. I've been researching which camera to buy for months now. I heard good things about the blackvue but the one thing that gets me is whole recording while parking and how you need another batteyr for $180. I was going to go with ventrue dash cam but ive seen alot of mixed reviews. There is also Anker dash cam but again mixed reviews. They is also Rexing dashcam brand which is good for basic recording. If people can post pics of how the camera is mounted i feel like that would help alot.

I will probably end up with the blackvue if i cant find anything soon

[pers785]

I also have a Blackvue 650 front and rear on both my car and my wife's BMW. Came to terms with not having it on when the car is powered off as I didn't want to buy a Cellink Battery, but maybe Ill change my mind in the future.

This is the video that convinced me I need a dashcam. Scumbags trying to run scams!

[omgboost]

I use the power magic pro which allows me to have parking mode on my blackvue. It is connected to the cars battery.

I also have a external cell phone battery charger and you can buy a 5v usb to 12v adapter on ebay and use that to power your blackvue cameras as well. I got about 8 hours recording time out of my 13k mah 5v battery

[austin4224]

Does everyone just let the wire hang loose or do you have a way of making it look invisible?

[jason0]

I hard wired mine. I ran the wire by the rubber grommet for the rear-view mirror.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by trucky2

I use a 15000 battery pack to power my dash cam after the car is shut off. You need to make sure to get one that has pass thru charging capabilities. In other words, when you start your car it starts to charge the battery but also passes along power to whatever is plugged in. Dash cams are mostly USB powered so don't draw much juice. You should get a few hours minimum after your car is turned off.

Can you give more details of this battery and pics of how you've wired it?

[m5james]

Originally Posted by SyL3nTFoRcE

I'm in the same boat as you right now. I've been researching which camera to buy for months now. I heard good things about the blackvue but the one thing that gets me is whole recording while parking and how you need another batteyr for $180. I was going to go with ventrue dash cam but ive seen alot of mixed reviews. There is also Anker dash cam but again mixed reviews. They is also Rexing dashcam brand which is good for basic recording. If people can post pics of how the camera is mounted i feel like that would help alot.

I will probably end up with the blackvue if i cant find anything soon

I'll create collages of my install pics and upload them when I can. I'm happy with my Blackvue 550 though, especially for the price.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by omgboost

I use the power magic pro which allows me to have parking mode on my blackvue. It is connected to the cars battery.

I also have a external cell phone battery charger and you can buy a 5v usb to 12v adapter on ebay and use that to power your blackvue cameras as well. I got about 8 hours recording time out of my 13k mah 5v battery

I bought the Power Magic Pro as well, thinking it was a battery AND something that kills power to the cameras if the battery is low to make sure I can still start the car. I never installed it as that seems useless to me.

Can you post links...I don't wanna be buying the wrong stuff here.

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by m5james

I bought the Power Magic Pro as well, thinking it was a battery AND something that kills power to the cameras if the battery is low to make sure I can still start the car. I never installed it as that seems useless to me.

Can you post links...I don't wanna be buying the wrong stuff here.

the power Magic is pretty useless for BMW. I had one and uninstalled it . Go with the cellink battery B, easy to install and I have had no problems. If at some time you need more juice you can daisy link more than one.

[trucky2]

Originally Posted by m5james

Can you give more details of this battery and pics of how you've wired it?

I don't have anything hard wired yet. For my dashcam I was able to hide the USB power cable between the windshield and headliner easily just by pressing it up and in. Coming down the passenger pillar I used some trim tools to gain just enough room to press the wire in and route it neatly back up under the dash.

From there I have a high power USB lighter plug adapter that runs down the passenger side of the console to a 4 port USB hub. From the hub I run into the battery pack input. Output from the battery pack runs to the dashcam. The other ports on the USB hub are used for a radar detector, a scanner and a spare for passenger use. This pack of wires hides under the upper left passenger floor mat, out of sight and really not touched by feet. There's a bunch of ways to do all this. This is just how I have mine right now and it works well.

[WuCreW]

Originally Posted by trucky2

I don't have anything hard wired yet. For my dashcam I was able to hide the USB power cable between the windshield and headliner easily just by pressing it up and in. Coming down the passenger pillar I used some trim tools to gain just enough room to press the wire in and route it neatly back up under the dash.

From there I have a high power USB lighter plug adapter that runs down the passenger side of the console to a 4 port USB hub. From the hub I run into the battery pack input. Output from the battery pack runs to the dashcam. The other ports on the USB hub are used for a radar detector, a scanner and a spare for passenger use. This pack of wires hides under the upper left passenger floor mat, out of sight and really not touched by feet. There's a bunch of ways to do all this. This is just how I have mine right now and it works well.

Any pics?

[omgboost]

Originally Posted by m5james

I bought the Power Magic Pro as well, thinking it was a battery AND something that kills power to the cameras if the battery is low to make sure I can still start the car. I never installed it as that seems useless to me.

Can you post links...I don't wanna be buying the wrong stuff here.

The power magic pro connects to the cars battery and will shut off the power to the dashams if the battery falls below the set voltage. I've only had high battery discharge once and have been able to start my car everytime.

As for the 5v to 12v converter, this is what I have https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J67JIOQ/

Here is a picture of the converter attached to my anker battery powering my blackvue dual cameras

View post on imgur.com

[m5james]

I know what it's for...now

Thanks for the links Does the battery come with a cord to charge the battery via the trunks lighter outlet or did you have to buy other cords as well, and if so, which ones.

[omgboost]

The external battery packs, they should come with a usb cable for charging. You can use any cell phone charger to charge the battery while the car is on.

Also, like one poster said above, if you go the cheaper diy battery route, you'll have to make sure your external battery is capable of powering your dashcam and charging at the same time. Some batteries will only do one at a time so when your car is on, your dashcam won't be powered on unless you plug it to the cars cigarette socket. Having a battery that can do both at a time means you don't need to keep switching the power. Also, if you buy a battery with fast or quick chargr, that means you can have most of your battery charged up from your commute after after night of usage, otherwise your external battery won't last long.

[boneca]

I bought Blackvue DR650GW-1CH 16GB Dashcam and power magic pro about year ago, mounted but never got around installing power magic pro or hide the cables from the dashcam, so I ended up just not really using it.
I heard different comments on power magic pro, good and bad so I wasn't very comfortable installing it!