Never before have I owned a car which goes so far as to even turn off the ignition for you shortly after you have parked up..  So, the Superb is ram packed with electronics and all manner of things that suck power from the battery.

 

So, the question is, although the 12v sockets are not actually switched, is it possible they actually do also turn off if the battery voltage is running too low?   Or to put it another way - if I accidentally left my dashcam or something running (Yes, I know I could wire THAT to a switched fuse), would it end up draining the battery, or would the car protect itself?

My dashcam is plugged into the power socket near the usb socket. I have configured the dashcam itself to turn itself off if it detects no movement in 5 minutes (it's a Nextbase 512GW) and ends up just being trickle charged by the car.  It doesn't appear to draw very much current from the battery at all and I've not had any issues with the battery discharging. The battery fitted to my car is a 360A (69Ah) model according to the VAG code "J0T".

I must say it is unusual for 12v sockets to be permanently live, none of my cars in the past were like this, but maybe this is now common across the current VAG range?  

Whether on low voltage the power sockets are automatically switched off I cannot say.

Edited 1 February, 20188 yr by TerryMcK

you've made me think - maybe for the rear window, I should just get a camera that can turn on/off automatically like yours... 

Still can't fathom how they can make a car that can steer, park, cruise, change gear and yet not have switched 12v sockets.

I find it strange that it would stay on all the time, my 2007 Octavia was also always on. The boot power socket is ok for coolers etc.

Dash cam hard wire is very easy because The fuses are behind the glove box and only takes about 15 minutes to do and hide the wires behind the trim.

I have a To guard Dash cam that is stuck To the screen. Much neater than the sucker type and very good quality. 

Edited 1 February, 20188 yr by vfrvrs

I will be getting a replacement for my 2016 Superb estate, in about a months time. It is due to be built next week :-) After having battery issues, I will be making sure that the dash cam is wired to the fuses in future. It does not seen to take much top tip the battery over the edge.

 

I agree that it is very strange that they stay live even when the car is switched off and left parked.

On 01/02/2018 at 15:12, DBT85 said:

Still can't fathom how they can make a car that can steer, park, cruise, change gear and yet not have switched 12v sockets.

 

They can they just choose not to. Ignition switched sockets are annoying if you want to charge things up whilst not being in the car and its also a faff having to have the ignition on when parked up if you wanted to use any accessories which would consume more power.

 

There is no benefit apart from the recent craze in dash cams to ever have the 12v sockets on a switched live.

Edited 2 February, 20188 yr by SuperbTWM

On 02/02/2018 at 22:00, ACWarwick said:

I will be getting a replacement for my 2016 Superb estate, in about a months time. It is due to be built next week 🙂 After having battery issues, I will be making sure that the dash cam is wired to the fuses in future. It does not seen to take much top tip the battery over the edge.

 

I agree that it is very strange that they stay live even when the car is switched off and left parked.

My last superb Mk2 had the same in switched sockets.

bought a piggyback fuse holder with wires and spades on it and required the output pin for the fuse to these to be fed from a spare switched live in the fuse board instead.

already had a dash an hardwired in the front but about to install a nextbase in the rear window so may do the same again on my MK3.

if I do will post pics and list fuse numbers to do this. 
mots not a big job.