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Dash Cam Hard Wire Installation

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Friendlyx, Sep 16, 2017.

  1. Friendlyx

    Friendlyx Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2016
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    Location:
    Stockton, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Hey everyone, i was wondering if any tried installing a dash cam into their Prius and hardwired it. I wanted to do this, but don't know anything about fuses. Any help would be appreciated, it's a Prius 2006.
     
  2. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2012
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes - I am also interested in this. I want to hard wire a Nextbase 512gw dashcam. This one also records when the car is parked and engine turned off - so I need a fuse location that's always on.

    I have noticed there are some hard wire kits available which include a fuse adapter - you replace an existing fuse with the adapter (which connects to the dashcam) then replace the original fuse so that the original circuit still works. seems a great idea that doesn't require cutting into any existing wires.
    Halfords do offer an installation service for £30 but then want another £40 for the hard wire kit along with a 32gb sd card.
    You definitely need a hard wire kit because the raw voltage from the fuse will be too high for the Dashcam.
    So my question is - which fuse location is always on and suitable for Dashcam
     
  3. priusenvy

    priusenvy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2004
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    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    If you have a package with the HomeLink auto-dimming mirror, you can tap into the mirror power very easily. I did it with a couple Posi-Taps. The one odd thing I found was that the wire colors were not what I expected. When my dashcam didn't power up, I measured the voltage between the white and black wires, thinking white was +12V switched, and black was ground, and instead, I found -12V between the two wires with the ignition on. So I connected the ground from my hardwire adapter to the white wire, and +12V to the black wire, and now the dashcam powers up with the ignition.

    I assume the red wire is always on, but I didn't measure it.
     
  4. mathewjg

    mathewjg Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2012
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
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    Sounds like a great idea but I don't have the auto dimming mirror

    Nexus 6 ?