Afternoon all,

Recently installed a dash cam, piggybacked via the rear wiper fuse.

My understanding is that this fuse is a switched live, I.e. won't draw a current until ignition is on.

Unfortunately my car wouldn't start this morning and the only thing that has changed is installing the cam (parking mode etc is off and shows its not recharging when ignition is off).

Can anyone help with this potential issue?!

Cheers.

Jamie.

did you check that it was a switched live?

I didn't use a multimeter no, but from what I've read, I assumed the rear wiper was a switched live?

I connected mine to the switched live connection under the dash drivers side (10mm nut) it's next to the earth connection too.

I used the upper earth, but have looked and may just have to chuck it on that one.

I used the fusebox purely for ease and to have the protection of another inline fuse before the device.

I would always say it is best to check

 

Some items in the car use a switched earth or relay to operate

I used the upper earth, but have looked and may just have to chuck it on that one.

I used the fusebox purely for ease and to have the protection of another inline fuse before the device.

Just buy an inline fuse for it?

It has an inline glass fuse I think. So I guess that will suffice.

How did you connect it to the 10mm nut, using a spade connector (either side of the stud and tighten but on)?

I will have to remove the piggyback and also then change over to the lower earth point and see if that makes a difference.

Although I'm still perplexed as to why battery drain would occur if the camera is showing its not charging when ignition is off.

more likely bad luck and it did drop cold last night! how old is battery?

Even if the camera was operating all night ( check the memory card) it's current drain shouldn't drain a healthy battery overnight

It has an inline glass fuse I think. So I guess that will suffice.

How did you connect it to the 10mm nut, using a spade connector (either side of the stud and tighten but on)?

I will have to remove the piggyback and also then change over to the lower earth point and see if that makes a difference.

Although I'm still perplexed as to why battery drain would occur if the camera is showing its not charging when ignition is off.

I used a round terminal to go over the stud. The battery may just have been a coinsidence due to age on battery and cold weather.

I have been in Belgium the past few days and it is cold, but it just seems a coincidence that the battery was flat and the only change has been the installation of the cam.

The age of the battery I'm unsure as bought the car in October, I will do a volts check when I'm back home tomorrow - but from the cleanliness of the terminals and battery this morning, I wouldn't say it was too old, but obviously I can't see what's going on inside!

Another thing to add, the car struggled to start the morning after installing the cam but was enough to turn engine over.

The night before wasn't too cold as car wasn't iced up at 0400 when we left.

Another thing to add, the car struggled to start the morning after installing the cam but was enough to turn engine over.

The night before wasn't too cold as car wasn't iced up at 0400 when we left.

Disconect the dash cam and see if it makes any difference with starting? I origionaly had mine plugged into the lighter socket and drained the battery within two days. It did have motion detection on though.

Im going to drive home from Dover later and check battery output after a couple of hours, then leave everything as it is and check battery output in the morning to see how much it's dropped.

Into the cigarette lighter would cause it to drain definitely, as its always live, hence why I went for the switched live fusebox option!

Well just got home, the voltage from the battery is showing 12.8v and 14v when running... All looks as it should?!

Went out to the car after being sat for 18 hours and the battery is at 12.2v which won't allow the car to crank over.

If the alternator was gone I'd assume the car would have cut out way before I got home last night...

Battery issue?

Went out to the car after being sat for 18 hours and the battery is at 12.2v which won't allow the car to crank over.

If the alternator was gone I'd assume the car would have cut out way before I got home last night...

Battery issue?

For the severalth time these holidays:-

1. What is your battery light doing? Is it showing with the ignition in position 2, and going out when the engine starts?
2. When you try and turn the engine over, does it just go "click", or turn but not fire?

Battery light shows when ignition is in position 2.

Doesn't turn, just clicks and dash goes dimmer etc.

Once I've jumped the car, the battery light doesn't show on the dash when running.

I would say a duff battery

Definitely a duff battery. Those simple tests confirm that you have a good charging circuit but the battery won't hold charge overnight.

Seems so!

Looks like it's just an unlucky coincidence that I installed the dashcam and had battery issues.