Been toying with the idea of installing a dash cam, but I need a power source that's wired to the ignition so I don't have to turn it on and off manually. The lighter socket is no good for this. 

 

Where do I find this, without cutting any wires? I'm thinking some kind of piggyback fuse. Come to think of it, I don't even have any idea where the fuses are on this car. Almost ashamed to admit it. 

 

edit: my car is left hand drive, by the way. I'm not in the UK.  

Edited 17 November, 201312 yr by Perc

There are two fuse boxes, one in the engine bay (to the right of the battery in my car) and another in the passenger compartment. For you, this will be on the left hand end of the dashboard. Open the drivers door, and the plastic cover on the side of the dash then comes off to reveal the fuses. (There's a picture in the manual, on page 288 of the UK one.)

You will need one of these.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Add-A-Circuit-Fuse-Tap-Piggy-Back-MINI-Blade-Fuse-Holder-ATM-APM-12v-24v-volt-/180735824927

 

I used it when I installed my dashcam. Doing it this way will stop you having to hack or cut wires. I would suggest using it on a not critical component. You can earth the device off a chassis bolt.

 

Because this is a plug and play unit you can switch it between fuses to find the one you want with a switch live.

 

Good luck.

Really, really good guide for this done by Fubar, here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/265343-dash-cam-12v-multi-adaptor-hidden-install-driver-storage-compartment/

I fitted mine today with the help of Fubars guide. I kept the lighter plug and got a spare multiple lighter socket on a flying lead, cut the plug off it and put it in the small glove box between the steering wheel and drivers door and then used a piggy back fuse to connect it to a switched live. Theres a few available in some of the spare slots where theres no fuse. As per above if you dont have a voltmeter you can move the piggy back round until you find one.

SO I presume it's fuse 41its attached to?

Not sure of the number as the car's in the garage so I can't get the door open enough to see but it's next to the red one!

 

I got a bit anal with the wire down to the blackvue too as it looked a bit naf just dangling down from the roof lining so I got a black 12" cable tie, cut the ends off and cut it to length so it fitted up inside the roof lining and lay on the back of the bit of the blackvue mount that sticks to the screen. a thin strip of double sided tape down the length routes the cabe neatly and a thinner cable tie secures the cable at the top that can then be pushed up inside the roof lining. another bit of double sided tape on the other side at the bottom of the cut off tie then secures it to the blackvue mount which neatens things up nicely giving a straight run down from the roof lining to the blackvue.

 

I finally got around to buying that camera. I had forgot I made this thread, so I googled my problem and got this as the first hit.  

Thanks for all the answers. I'll probably update with some pictures whenever my camera arrives.

I want to fit a dashcam on my Octavia and Skoda India (that is where i am) told me that the warranty will be void if I use any of the spare fuses to tap a 12V. Any thoughts, anyone?