Submariner Gold
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2018
- Messages
- 198
- Reaction score
- 27
- Location
- Berkshire United Kingdom
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Dash Cam
- Vicovation MF3
Could use some electrical expertise.
Current Installation:
1x Vicovation Vico MF3 1440p x 30 fps. This requires a 5V 1A USB Micro B power input.
Presently powered by the std. Cigar plug with a moulded lead terminating in a USB Micro B male.
Current Issues:
Takes up my only cigar/ power socket in the front console.
Only supports one camera. I prefer individual cameras re better image quality
Proposed solution:
Buy another Vico MF3 (or possibly even a Nextbase 612GW). To provide a front camera.
Buy One Belkin 2x Output USB Type A Plug charger. To go in the front console Cigar socket. E.g. like a :-
Belkin 2.1 A Universal Dual USB Car Charger for iPhone/iPad/iPad and Android Smartphones and Tablets - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/B00J0NG3Z4
(This has two 2.1A USB outlets - enough to power both dashcams requiring 5V 1A each from the car’s Max. 15A cigar socket .)
£19
Then buy two 3 meter long USB 2.0 ‘High Charge’ Type A cables that terminate in a Micro USB plug (in order to get 5V 1A power to both dash-cams. ) i.e. discard the std. cigar plug and moulded leads that come with the MF3s.
E.g.
ULTRICS® Micro USB Cable [9ft - 3M] - Fastest, Most Durable Charging Cable, with Durable Metal Shell, Nylon Braided & 10000+ Bend Lifespan for Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Nokia, Nexus, LG, Motorola, Android Smartphones Tablets £5.99
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/B01NGZ1ZNQ£5.99 x2
As the cigar socket only works with the ign. On. This would only power the dash-cams when the engine was running.
Then for occaisional use only, if required say in rough areas, or supermarket car parks, use an external power bank, preferably with LiFePo4 internal batteries, to run the two MF3s In ‘parking’ mode. Actually I would not go for ‘parking mode’ per say, but prefer to just run the cams for a short duration, say generally 30 minutes, to 2 hours.
The car is safe at home ( famous last words) in a long, private, driveway off our quiet cul- de-sac.
So buy one of these
Tqka 20000mAh Portable Charger, 3.1A Dual USB Output Smart Charge External Battery, Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with LED Digital Display for iPhone, iPad, Samsung and More - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/B073QQPKVY
£19.
Sadly this would mean manually unplugging the USB 2.0 Type A plugs and putting them into this units output ports. And swapping them back.
Not nice. but as I said for occaisional use.
The dashcams would at least come on automatically as soon as they sense power. Hopefully there is an on off switch.?? I Can’t see from the pics. :-/
Q. I assume it would be OK to just pull the USB cables out , whilst they are running ( I know when the cams loses acc. power they do shut down elegantly . And assume pulling the cables out would give the same result?
As for recharging the power Bank; This unit comes with a cigar plug charger terminating in a USB Micro B plug, so I could always top this up in the car using the cigar/power socket in the boot. I.e. when driving the boot socket tops up the power bank.
As the input is a micro B , 5V 2A I have a spare Samsung wall wart charger with those same specs.
Q I assume if the power bank’s input is a 2A USB 2 Micro B plug, then the samsung charger would be OK?
Total rewire and component cost £50. Plus another camera.
I can’t see anyway around replacing the cables i.e. the std power leads incorporating the charger plugs, as they are sadly moulded ones.
A) To support 2 cameras and B) if I want to use the Parking mode power bank.
I have discounted using the voltage limit cut off devices , as for me these are a “shutting the door after the horse has bolted” solution. I.e. you have already crucified your battery till its nearly on its knees.
Maybe fine for regular long haul drives, but problematic only doing add hoc short trips circa 2,400miles per annum
And a car laden with toys and gizmos, munching electricity.
Pros if this solution :
I can have 2 cameras , and run Parking mode off external ( safe ) battery power, and it can never degrade the cars battery voltage.
But will it work??
This all assumes that a device such as a dashcam will never draw more current than its spec. Declares. And no matter what marketing hype they spin on USB chargers it will never for the device to take in more current than is specified.
I.e. 2.1A sockets in the power bank, cant blow the cameras as they are 5V 1A.
Apologies if its long winded but the devil is always in the detail!
Any views on this proposed instalation is appreciated.
Current Installation:
1x Vicovation Vico MF3 1440p x 30 fps. This requires a 5V 1A USB Micro B power input.
Presently powered by the std. Cigar plug with a moulded lead terminating in a USB Micro B male.
Current Issues:
Takes up my only cigar/ power socket in the front console.
Only supports one camera. I prefer individual cameras re better image quality
Proposed solution:
Buy another Vico MF3 (or possibly even a Nextbase 612GW). To provide a front camera.
Buy One Belkin 2x Output USB Type A Plug charger. To go in the front console Cigar socket. E.g. like a :-
Belkin 2.1 A Universal Dual USB Car Charger for iPhone/iPad/iPad and Android Smartphones and Tablets - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/B00J0NG3Z4
(This has two 2.1A USB outlets - enough to power both dashcams requiring 5V 1A each from the car’s Max. 15A cigar socket .)
£19
Then buy two 3 meter long USB 2.0 ‘High Charge’ Type A cables that terminate in a Micro USB plug (in order to get 5V 1A power to both dash-cams. ) i.e. discard the std. cigar plug and moulded leads that come with the MF3s.
E.g.
ULTRICS® Micro USB Cable [9ft - 3M] - Fastest, Most Durable Charging Cable, with Durable Metal Shell, Nylon Braided & 10000+ Bend Lifespan for Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Nokia, Nexus, LG, Motorola, Android Smartphones Tablets £5.99
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/B01NGZ1ZNQ£5.99 x2
As the cigar socket only works with the ign. On. This would only power the dash-cams when the engine was running.
Then for occaisional use only, if required say in rough areas, or supermarket car parks, use an external power bank, preferably with LiFePo4 internal batteries, to run the two MF3s In ‘parking’ mode. Actually I would not go for ‘parking mode’ per say, but prefer to just run the cams for a short duration, say generally 30 minutes, to 2 hours.
The car is safe at home ( famous last words) in a long, private, driveway off our quiet cul- de-sac.
So buy one of these
Tqka 20000mAh Portable Charger, 3.1A Dual USB Output Smart Charge External Battery, Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with LED Digital Display for iPhone, iPad, Samsung and More - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/B073QQPKVY
£19.
Sadly this would mean manually unplugging the USB 2.0 Type A plugs and putting them into this units output ports. And swapping them back.
Not nice. but as I said for occaisional use.
The dashcams would at least come on automatically as soon as they sense power. Hopefully there is an on off switch.?? I Can’t see from the pics. :-/
Q. I assume it would be OK to just pull the USB cables out , whilst they are running ( I know when the cams loses acc. power they do shut down elegantly . And assume pulling the cables out would give the same result?
As for recharging the power Bank; This unit comes with a cigar plug charger terminating in a USB Micro B plug, so I could always top this up in the car using the cigar/power socket in the boot. I.e. when driving the boot socket tops up the power bank.
As the input is a micro B , 5V 2A I have a spare Samsung wall wart charger with those same specs.
Q I assume if the power bank’s input is a 2A USB 2 Micro B plug, then the samsung charger would be OK?
Total rewire and component cost £50. Plus another camera.
I can’t see anyway around replacing the cables i.e. the std power leads incorporating the charger plugs, as they are sadly moulded ones.
A) To support 2 cameras and B) if I want to use the Parking mode power bank.
I have discounted using the voltage limit cut off devices , as for me these are a “shutting the door after the horse has bolted” solution. I.e. you have already crucified your battery till its nearly on its knees.
Maybe fine for regular long haul drives, but problematic only doing add hoc short trips circa 2,400miles per annum
And a car laden with toys and gizmos, munching electricity.
Pros if this solution :
I can have 2 cameras , and run Parking mode off external ( safe ) battery power, and it can never degrade the cars battery voltage.
But will it work??
This all assumes that a device such as a dashcam will never draw more current than its spec. Declares. And no matter what marketing hype they spin on USB chargers it will never for the device to take in more current than is specified.
I.e. 2.1A sockets in the power bank, cant blow the cameras as they are 5V 1A.
Apologies if its long winded but the devil is always in the detail!
Any views on this proposed instalation is appreciated.
Last edited: