Is your dashcam draining your car battery when using an OBD2 scanner? Many drivers face this issue, especially when trying to use their dashcams for parking surveillance. The good news is, you don’t have to choose between car security and a dead battery. Here’s how to smartly manage power and prevent “Kobra Obd2 Scanner Battery Drain” problems.
If your car’s cigarette lighter socket is always powered, even when the engine is off, a simple fix is using a cigarette lighter adapter with a low voltage cut-off switch. The Koolatron “Battery Saver” is a readily available option. Plug this into your always-on socket, then connect a cigarette lighter to USB adapter for your dashcam. This setup will automatically cut power to your dashcam if your car battery voltage drops too low (around 11.6 volts), preventing excessive drain.
For vehicles where the cigarette lighter only works when the engine is running, OBD2 power adapters with a similar low voltage cut-off switch are a great alternative. These are inexpensive and easily found online. Avoid directly wiring into your OBD2 port. Instead, use a dedicated OBD2 power supply.
Remember to optimize your dashcam settings for parking mode. Use standby or surveillance modes that activate the camera only when triggered by motion or G-sensor events. This minimizes power consumption when parked.
For cars with engine-on cigarette lighters, consider a dual approach. Run a USB cable from your dashcam and use an OBD2 adapter for parking surveillance and a cigarette lighter adapter for when you are driving.
If your cigarette lighter is always hot, use a heavy-duty splitter (10 amps minimum). Plug in the Koolatron battery saver to one port and a cigarette lighter to USB adapter for your dashcam into the Koolatron. The splitter allows you to retain a port for charging devices while protecting against battery drain.
Need to use your OBD2 port for scanning? Simply unplug the adapter. OBD2 ports are designed to supply power (up to 4 amps), and dashcams typically draw very little (2 amps or less), so power overload is generally not a concern. By implementing these solutions, you can effectively prevent “kobra OBD2 scanner battery drain” and keep your car battery healthy.
