Powering a dashcam can be achieved in various ways, and leveraging the OBD2 port is becoming an increasingly popular option. This method offers a direct connection to your car’s battery, which can be particularly useful for features like parking mode that require continuous power even when the engine is off. Understanding how to safely and effectively draw battery power from your OBD2 port is crucial for dashcam users seeking reliable, uninterrupted operation.
Connecting your dashcam to the OBD2 port for power offers several advantages. Firstly, it often provides a cleaner installation as it avoids the need to tap into your car’s fuse box or other wiring. Secondly, the OBD2 port generally supplies constant power, making it ideal for dashcams with parking surveillance features. However, it’s essential to understand the potential implications and best practices to ensure you’re not draining your car battery or causing electrical issues.
One common scenario is when your car’s cigarette lighter socket is always powered on, even when the ignition is off. In such cases, a simple solution, as mentioned in the original context, involves using a male-to-female cigarette lighter adapter equipped with a low voltage cutoff switch. Devices like the Koolatron “battery saver” are readily available and designed for this purpose. You can then plug a cigarette lighter to USB adapter into this setup to power your dashcam. The low voltage cutoff switch is a critical component, as it automatically disconnects power to the dashcam if your car battery voltage drops below a certain threshold (e.g., 11.6 volts), preventing excessive battery drain.
Alt text: Koolatron battery saver adapter connected to a car cigarette lighter socket, used for low voltage cutoff to protect car battery when powering devices like dashcams.
For vehicles where the cigarette lighter socket is only powered when the engine is running, OBD power supply adapters become a more relevant solution. These adapters plug directly into your OBD2 port and provide a USB or cigarette lighter socket for powering devices. Similar to the cigarette lighter adapter setup, it’s advisable to choose an OBD2 power adapter that also incorporates a low voltage cutoff switch. This safeguard is crucial to prevent excessive battery discharge when the car is parked and the dashcam is operating in parking mode.
Alt text: Generic OBD2 power adapter with USB output, offering a direct power source from the car’s OBD2 port for devices like dashcams, often used in parking mode.
When considering using the OBD2 port for powering a dashcam, some users might be tempted to directly wire into the port. However, this approach is generally not recommended. Using pre-made OBD2 power adapters with built-in safety features is a much safer and more convenient option. These adapters are designed to draw power efficiently and often include protection circuits to prevent damage to your car’s electrical system.
Parking mode or surveillance mode in dashcams often relies on features like G-sensor activation (triggered by impacts) or motion detection to start recording. These modes are designed to conserve power while still providing security monitoring when your vehicle is unattended. When using OBD2 power for parking mode, the low voltage cutoff switch becomes even more critical to ensure your car battery remains sufficiently charged to start the engine.
If your cigarette lighter is engine-dependent, a practical setup could involve running a USB cable from your dashcam to a discreet location under the dashboard. You could then utilize an OBD2 power adapter for parking mode when the engine is off and switch to a cigarette lighter adapter (if convenient) when the engine is running. This flexible approach allows you to utilize both power sources depending on your needs and driving situation.
For vehicles with a permanently powered cigarette lighter socket, employing a heavy-duty splitter (rated at 10 amps minimum) can be a useful strategy. You can connect a Koolatron battery saver to one port of the splitter, then plug a high-quality cigarette lighter to USB adapter into the Koolatron, and finally connect this to your dashcam. The remaining port on the splitter can still be used for charging phones or other devices, maintaining the functionality of your cigarette lighter socket while safely powering your dashcam.
Alt text: Cigarette lighter splitter adapter expanding a single car cigarette lighter socket into multiple ports, often used with battery saver adapters and USB chargers for dashcam and device power.
It’s important to remember that the OBD2 port is primarily designed for diagnostic purposes, and while it can supply power, it’s not intended to be a primary power source for high-drain accessories. However, dashcams typically have relatively low power consumption (often 2 amps or less, even for dual dashcams). Using a dedicated OBD2 power adapter designed for dashcams is generally safe and won’t overload the OBD2 port’s power supply capabilities, which are usually rated up to 4 amps.
When you need to use the OBD2 port for its intended purpose, such as connecting a diagnostic scanner, simply unplug the power adapter. This modular approach maintains the utility of the OBD2 port for diagnostics while providing a convenient power source for your dashcam. By understanding the nuances of battery power from your OBD2 port and utilizing the appropriate adapters and safety measures, you can effectively power your dashcam and enhance your vehicle’s security and monitoring capabilities.
