Hi guys,About to fit a next base dash cam, I have the hard wire kit with the piggy back fuse adapter just wondering which would be the best fuse to connect too,thanks

 

graham, I assume the cam's power wire has a fuse in it. If it does it makes things a lot safer and easier. In that case the fuse itself becomes nothing more than an attachment point to ignition power. The fuse has 2 legs, one of which attaches directly to battery or to ignition. The other leg provides "fused" power to it's circuit (the current goes through the fuse before the circuit).

Since you have a fuse in the cam's line, attach the piggy back adapter to the "unfused" side of a fuse that monitors an Ignition circuit. 1) why the unfused side? The cam gets it's own power feed. If it shorts, it's fuse will blow, not the entire circuit it's connected too. 2) How do I ID a ignition circuit (one where it only works with key on)? Key off. Pull a fuse. Put your voltmeter in the slots (one lead in, one lead on metal ground), 12 volts show? Yes move on this is a battery circuit, never shuts off. NO? try the other side, 12 volts find a new fuse. 0 volts = this is an ingition circuit. Turn key on. ID which side of the fuse slot shows 12 volts - this is the one you attach too.

Why didn't I mention amperage? The smallest fuse in there is 5 amps. I doubt your cam draws anywhere near that current. Since you are attaching to the supply side, the fuse value is irrelevant here.


Check the fuse box by driver's door. Plenty of room to snake a wire to it.
John

 

Graham11, as a courtesy if your cam is not self fused, be safe. Go to a radio shack buy a cheap plastic fuse holder and wire it in series with your jumper. The instructions will tell you the wattage used (amps x 12 volts = watts).

John

 

Does your piggy back incorporate it's own fuse? The "add a circuit" l used takes the place of the chosen fuse in the fuse box but actually incorporates two fuses in its design, one for the original circuit and one for the new.
Passenger side facia fuse number 14 is the cigar lighter circuit and probably your safest option as many of the circuits don't like additional loads.
Feed across top of screen and straight down A pillar and into fuse box.
(My car is RHD but l think LHD will still be passenger side facia box.)

 

This is a piggy back:
https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/thread...rong-way.7524/

 

Thank you for your quick and very informative answers to my question guys much appreciated 👍👌

 

You might find this helpful.

Franks XKR Story. - Page 123

 

Thanks frankc👍