Cigarette lighter/12V socket turn off always-on function

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s1214lang

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Hi. There are various threads addressing how to either turn on/turn off your cigarette lighter/12V socket while the engine is off, however they are not specific to the A3 8P. So my socket is currently always-on, even when the engine is turned off. It never turns off. It's not been an issue for me. However, I've got a dashcam now and want to use that socket, but leaving the dashcam powered on at all times doesn't help (it has a parking mode monitor that comes on and records for 10-15s and turns off, which doesn't require it to the powered during parking.)

On the other threads, I read that moving the fuse to a different position switches the functionality of the socket - from on all-the-time, to on only when car is on. However, I'm not sure if it is relevant to the A3 8P. I want to switch my socket to turn off when the car is turned off.

Thanks for reading. Any help/suggestions are most welcome. Thanks in advance :)


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I have seen similar posts.
They move the fuse half position and hit the powered on ignition line.

From this:
|-12v constant
|-Cable that goes to the lighter
12v ignition

To this:
12v constant
|-Cable that goes to the lighter
|-12v ignition

This is not possible for the fuse box of the A3 since the plastic fuse holder will not allow the fuse to go in.

You could move the cable that go to the lighter in another position that is only powered on ignition. You would have to remove the fuse box to access its rear side. Then unpin the cable and pin it to a different position.

Or if the row bellow is powered on ignition, you could modify the plastic with a dremel.

I attach a picture of my fuse box. I have marked the fuse for the lighter socket.
 

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The rear of the fuse box looks like this.
 

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I used a piggyback fuse in fuse box dash cam came on with ignition but also with collision sensor no rewiring needed. Look at manual think it was radio

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Hardwire to ignition & constant, that way parking mode works properly, cause the day you need that socket live constant, you'll be annoyed.

Parking mode generally does require a power supply still, it just uses much less current, unless its got a supercapacitor with longevity, but still that's not going to last long.

Which camera is it?
 
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The piggy back system off the fuse box is the best method for various reasons.
1) No drained battery
2) No lead hanging from the windscreen to the 12v power feed
3) Easy DIY job and stealth finish

I have mine piggy backing off a non-essential fuse (heated seat) so that if it does blow, it doesn't take out something important like a headlight or wipers.
my Nextbase also has a built in capacitor so it can do parking mode and recharge when I'm out and about so that's also helpful.
 
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NHN said:
Hardwire to ignition & constant, that way parking mode works properly, cause the day you need that socket live constant, you'll be annoyed.

Parking mode generally does require a power supply still, it just uses much less current, unless its got a supercapacitor with longevity, but still that's not going to last long.

Which camera is it?
Click to expand...

Thanks for getting back. The dashcam is the one below:

Peztio Q1. Dash Cam WiFi Full HD 1080P Car Dash Camera Recorder, Dashcam for Cars with SD Card, Night Vision, 170° Wide Angle, WDR, Loop Recording, G-sensor, Parking Monitor, Motion Detection

I'm struggling to insert the Amazon link on here :(


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Last edited:
remove the space on https
 
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s1214lang said:
Thanks for getting back. The dashcam is the one below:

Peztio Q1. Dash Cam WiFi Full HD 1080P Car Dash Camera Recorder, Dashcam for Cars with SD Card, Night Vision, 170° Wide Angle, WDR, Loop Recording, G-sensor, Parking Monitor, Motion Detection

I'm struggling to insert the Amazon link on here :(


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Click to expand...

That's the link for the dashcam

h ttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Recorder-Dashcam-Recording-G-sensor-Detection/dp/B07W3TGSC9?ref_=ast_sto_dp


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LEE69 said:
My dashcam is hard-wired. Also has a box for power when the car is locked

This looks like the one you need full kit including the piggy backs

h ttps://www.amazon.co.uk/iiwey-Hardwire-Dashboard-Navigator-Detector-Black-4M/dp/B07Q29JZZY
Click to expand...

If I was to get this and hardwire it, I guess the dashcam will now be powered at all times? If so, will I now manually have to turn off the dashcam and put it in parking mode when I turn off the engine?


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No, it will do it automatically. Fit and forget
 
This will turn off the dash cam when you turn off the ignition, then the dashcam will use its own power. Or can be kept live 24/7 all depends which fuse you piggy back off
 
LEE69 said:
This will turn off the dash cam when you turn off the ignition, then the dashcam will use its own power. Or can be kept live 24/7 all depends which fuse you piggy back off
Click to expand...

Ah yes, of course. It will depend on what fuse I piggy back off. Thanks. Which fuse is typically recommended to turn off with ignition?


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Mine is plugged into one on the top row at the end of the dash
 
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e5fa22db00c2951a03c59d4a4eb6e2d9.jpg


c810c91b053315a5ab27a875624d25b0.jpg


Which way would you recommend I tuck the cable behind the trim? Do I need to take the whole panel off? Or can I just lift a corner and tuck the cable in?

Also, I've seen YouTube videos cautioning about the airbags in that pillar, but I guess I don't have an airbag there as it doesn't say so on the pillar, so shouldn't have to worry about that?

Thanks


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Take the pillar off.
You should be careful not to block the airbag with that cable.
I put my finger on top next to the door seal and with some force the clips will unclip.
 

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I did the first pic method. But didn’t need to remove the trim. Just tucked the cable in.
 
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George Kost said:
Take the pillar off.
You should be careful not to block the airbag with that cable.
I put my finger on top next to the door seal and with some force the clips will unclip.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Do you think I have an airbag there? My pillar doesn't explicitly state that there is an airbag.


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s1214lang said:
Thanks. Do you think I have an airbag there? My pillar doesn't explicitly state that there is an airbag.


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Click to expand...
Yes there's an airbag there. Just pull it, it won't set off the airbag.
Here's mine when I fitted my cam, can see the cable towards the windscreen
b3KDrr6.jpg
 
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samisnake said:
Yes there's an airbag there. Just pull it, it won't set off the airbag.
Here's mine when I fitted my cam, can see the cable towards the windscreen
b3KDrr6.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the picture. It really helps


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I was just wondering. With a piggyback hardwire kit, do I actually need to piggyback off another fuse? Or can I just use one of the empty fuse slots in my fuse box?


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You can check your self if you can see a terminal in the empty slot.
Some slots are connected all together, some are not.
 
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Also, is a ferrite core typically necessary with the dashcam kit to avoid interference with the radio?


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I pulled the door seal away, fed the cable up the back of the airbag in the gap and then put the seal back on again. Very easy to do.
Always start wiring from the dashcam side first so all the excess is at the fuse end and can be cable tied neatly out of the way.
 
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Thanks again everyone for all the tips and advice. Meaning to post these on here. Successfully managed to hard wire the dashcam. It really is quite easy. Didn't have to piggyback off any fuse, managed to find an empty slot which turned on with ignition (bottom row, third from right).

Now just need to see the how good the dashcam is. Have a couple more weeks before my Amazon return period runs out.

222f5b2a3515fe12fdfc324941e29a8b.jpg



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If anyone wants to convert their cigarette lighter to work on ignition the simplest way to do the conversion in 2 minutes is to buy 2 piggy back fuse holders.

Insert one in the cigarette lighter fuse holder and one in a ignition feed position and join the 2 wires together
 
I have a black vue front n bk in mine , i run my cables all the way from front camera along headliner , across B pillar and C pilllar biggest problem was getting cable through the bung at the boot once through there across to cam , i just piggy back 1 term 30 and 1 term 15 , i cant mind fuse numbers but have a look and post sometime , the only additive i have is the black vue magic eye i think its called and it kicjs in to term 15 when i take key out off igintion . Hope that helps

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aqibi2000 said:
If anyone wants to convert their cigarette lighter to work on ignition the simplest way to do the conversion in 2 minutes is to buy 2 piggy back fuse holders.

Insert one in the cigarette lighter fuse holder and one in a ignition feed position and join the 2 wires together
Click to expand...
Does it matter what size fuse holder you use?
 
vdt said:
Bump, does anyone else know? cheers
Click to expand...
ATO piggy back fuse holders X2 needed (standard size)

just need x2 of these and join the wire together
 

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Make sure it's on at least a 15 amp fuse the lighter socket needs
 
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aqibi2000 said:
ATO piggy back fuse holders X2 needed (standard size)

just need x2 of these and join the wire together
Click to expand...
LEE69 said:
Make sure it's on at least a 15 amp fuse the lighter socket needs
Click to expand...
Thanks, most of the ones listed on ebay say max amperage is 10A, I'm guessing I should specifically look for one that supports 20A, so a 15A fuse can be used?
 
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