mikejward
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My first post of this sort so I hope it's okay.
I've always hardwired my dashcams so they aren't taking up a 12v socket. Always done it the same way using the same devices so I did the same with the Stinger last week and it seems to be working really well.
I'm in the UK so I can only talk about Right Hand Drive Stingers but maybe it will help others.
Obviously I take no responsibility if you break your cars or whatever, but it's fairly simple to do.
For this we'll be using the fuse box just to the right of the steering wheel.
Here's what you need:
- Dashcam and it should come with a long power cable. This will either end with a cigarette 12v charger, or a usb end (in which case you'll need the usb to 12v adaptor).
- Add-a-circuit. This is how we're going to tap into the fusebox. The stinger uses a different kind of fuse called "micro2" (not mini) so make sure it looks like this one:
- We need a 12v port to plug the power cable in to, so we use one of these:
How to:
1) Cut the crocodile clips off the 12v socket adapter, we don't need these. Strip a bit of wire at the end of each.
2) Red wire goes in the connector for the Red add-a-circuit, then crimp it with pliers. I also put some tape just in case.
3) Put the new fuse (10-15amp should be fine) in the top connection of the add a circuit, this is the new circuit to the dash cam.
4) Choose the fuse you're tapping in to. I've chosen the one which controls the interior lighting so my dashcam comes on when the dome lights come on, and goes off when the car is locked and the dome lights go off.
5) Take this fuse out, place it in your add-a-circuit then put the add-a-circuit in it's place
6) Now we need to earth/ground it to the car's body with the black wire from the 12v adaptor. Luckily to the right of the fusebox there's 2 nuts, the bottom of which is just accessible with a small spanner. This is the most difficult bit but with some patience you can loosen it just enough to slip the bare end of the black wire behind, then tighten it up again. Took about 15 minutes.
7) We've now wired in a 12v charger to the fuse box! Go ahead and test it.
8) Now install the dashcam on the windscreen. I have mine just to the left of the rear-view mirror. It's not a perfect location due to the cameras and sensors but it's the best discreet location I could find. Then the cable tucks nicely into the headlining where it meets the windscreen. Route it towards the drivers side.
9) Now it goes around the A pillar and tucks into the door seal rubber. When you're done this is the only bit if cable you'll see, apart from where it enters your dashcam.
10) Now just run it down the door seal. Gets a bit tight near dashboard so I had to use a trim remover tool to poke it into place. Kia have used very heavy duty seals.
11) Just below the dashboard there's a handy gap where the next piece of trim slots into place. This is perfect to run the cable around, then up into the fuse box and out the front.
12) Connect the power cable into the cigarette lighter, bundle all the spare cable up and get it all nice and compact. (I'm going to go back and tidy mine up now it works).
13) Push it all into the gap to the right of the fuse box, where the nut was we used to earth it. It's a large space and it all tucks up there nice and neat (unlike mine!).
14) All done! Neatly wired in and you don't have to think about it any more
Hope this helps. It's really simple, the hardest part is getting to that nut to put the ground wire, but it was even more difficult in my last car so be grateful for that.
I've always hardwired my dashcams so they aren't taking up a 12v socket. Always done it the same way using the same devices so I did the same with the Stinger last week and it seems to be working really well.
I'm in the UK so I can only talk about Right Hand Drive Stingers but maybe it will help others.
Obviously I take no responsibility if you break your cars or whatever, but it's fairly simple to do.
For this we'll be using the fuse box just to the right of the steering wheel.
Here's what you need:
- Dashcam and it should come with a long power cable. This will either end with a cigarette 12v charger, or a usb end (in which case you'll need the usb to 12v adaptor).
- Add-a-circuit. This is how we're going to tap into the fusebox. The stinger uses a different kind of fuse called "micro2" (not mini) so make sure it looks like this one:
- We need a 12v port to plug the power cable in to, so we use one of these:
How to:
1) Cut the crocodile clips off the 12v socket adapter, we don't need these. Strip a bit of wire at the end of each.
2) Red wire goes in the connector for the Red add-a-circuit, then crimp it with pliers. I also put some tape just in case.
3) Put the new fuse (10-15amp should be fine) in the top connection of the add a circuit, this is the new circuit to the dash cam.
4) Choose the fuse you're tapping in to. I've chosen the one which controls the interior lighting so my dashcam comes on when the dome lights come on, and goes off when the car is locked and the dome lights go off.
5) Take this fuse out, place it in your add-a-circuit then put the add-a-circuit in it's place
6) Now we need to earth/ground it to the car's body with the black wire from the 12v adaptor. Luckily to the right of the fusebox there's 2 nuts, the bottom of which is just accessible with a small spanner. This is the most difficult bit but with some patience you can loosen it just enough to slip the bare end of the black wire behind, then tighten it up again. Took about 15 minutes.
7) We've now wired in a 12v charger to the fuse box! Go ahead and test it.
8) Now install the dashcam on the windscreen. I have mine just to the left of the rear-view mirror. It's not a perfect location due to the cameras and sensors but it's the best discreet location I could find. Then the cable tucks nicely into the headlining where it meets the windscreen. Route it towards the drivers side.
9) Now it goes around the A pillar and tucks into the door seal rubber. When you're done this is the only bit if cable you'll see, apart from where it enters your dashcam.
10) Now just run it down the door seal. Gets a bit tight near dashboard so I had to use a trim remover tool to poke it into place. Kia have used very heavy duty seals.
11) Just below the dashboard there's a handy gap where the next piece of trim slots into place. This is perfect to run the cable around, then up into the fuse box and out the front.
12) Connect the power cable into the cigarette lighter, bundle all the spare cable up and get it all nice and compact. (I'm going to go back and tidy mine up now it works).
13) Push it all into the gap to the right of the fuse box, where the nut was we used to earth it. It's a large space and it all tucks up there nice and neat (unlike mine!).
14) All done! Neatly wired in and you don't have to think about it any more
Hope this helps. It's really simple, the hardest part is getting to that nut to put the ground wire, but it was even more difficult in my last car so be grateful for that.
