Dash Cam Fuse Issue

[Sean Glossop]

Hello,

Before posting this I must mention I have spent hours trying to research and find out what my issue is.

I have hardwired a Nextbase 412GW dash cam to my (new to me) 2016 Audi A1 1.0 5 door. The wiring is all in place but I have had trouble with fuses.

I currently have the wiring set up to the driver's side fuse box; to cut a long story short the dash cam is drawing power from pretty much all of these sockets (I tried piggybacking on all the non-essential and most empty fuses, including the cigarette lighter) even when the engine is off and the car is locked. I used the owner's manual to help me navigate these fuses.

My question is, why is the dash cam drawing power from all of these fuses when the car is off and locked? Are they all live fuses?

Something I should mention is I have an insurance black box due to my age, and I connected the ground wire to the same screw used for the black box but I wouldn't have thought this would be the issue?

And after fiddling around in the dark (which I really regret) I also managed to push one of the fuse columns slightly backwards whilst trying to reinstall the pink fuse bracket - can anyone tell me how to resolve this?

Many thanks in advance

 

[DJAlix]

Have you used a multi meter in order to test your fuses to see what they are, ie switched or permanently live? Do you have the Nextbase hardwire kit?

 

[Sean Glossop]

Have you used a multi meter in order to test your fuses to see what they are, ie switched or permanently live? Do you have the Nextbase hardwire kit?

After posting this thread I bought a multi meter from Amazon, it seems all fuses in the driver side were live apart from the ESC fuse which seems to be ignition switched.

Seeing as there is a button to switch ESC off in the car, I wouldn't deem it as an essential feature but I am not too sure on this, could you please advise? I currently have the dashcam piggybacking off the ESC fuse with no problems whatsoever. And my hardwiring kit is just a cheap one from amazon, it isn't the official Nextbase one.

 

[DJAlix]

Try the box on the passenger side....

 

[Sean Glossop]

Try the box on the passenger side....

I haven't tried the other side with the multi meter yet but I tried it without the multi meter and none of the fuses powered the dash cam...I mean it's all set up and wired to piggyback off the ESC fuse now, surely that isn't an issue?

 

[DJAlix]

I haven't tried the other side with the multi meter yet but I tried it without the multi meter and none of the fuses powered the dash cam...I mean it's all set up and wired to piggyback off the ESC fuse now, surely that isn't an issue?

Do you have the official hardwire kit or are you just trying to connect to a switched live power source?

 

[Sean Glossop]

Do you have the official hardwire kit or are you just trying to connect to a switched live power source?

I'm not sure you have understood, my issue is sorted, my dash cam is all up and running and it is piggybacking from the ESC fuse of the driver side fuse box. I am using a cheap wiring kit from amazon, it works perfectly but it isn't the official kit.

My only issue now is to determine whether I should be using this ESC fuse (this is a switched fuse) because apparently you "shouldn't piggyback off essential fuses"...

 

[DJAlix]

I am trying to help you here, a simple "I am using a 3rd party kit" would be cool. So now before I cn give any further guidance I need to understand if said kit is just for power or if it has parking mode support, ie earth, ACC and Battery live cables or it is just earth and ACC power?

 

[Garrett 69]

My only issue now is to determine whether I should be using this ESC fuse (this is a switched fuse) because apparently you "shouldn't piggyback off essential fuses"...

I would advise against using the ESC fuse as the Electronic Stability Control is a pretty important part of the car's setup. Should the dashcam cause a fuse blow and you find yourself in an emergency situation, it could have devastating consequences and you will probably find that your insurance will be void because you've intefered with a safety system of the vehicle.

 

[Syxi]

I used the ESC fuse, as it was the only switched one I could find.

When using a fuse tap, the dashcam has its own fuse, and as it is (and should be) a smaller fuse than the ESC fuse, would it not blow first in case something goes wrong & protect the ESC fuse anyway?

 

[robby]

I piggybacked my dashcam fuse to the passenger side fusebox and used the rear wiper fuse - live only with ignition on