I’ll be getting a new MG hybrid in March and it has a usb port at the side of the unit above the rear view mirror. I know most cams use 12 v supply. There are some that can be usb powered though. Does anyone have experience of using one or recommend one?
Pretty much all Dash Cams only use 5v, they just take it from a 12v source and step it down.
See this for an example -
https://nextbase.eu/accessories/12v-car-power-cable/
So from that basis, you can choose literally anything! I have always really liked the Next Base products, and would recommend them.
But i think thats only because its all i've ever used.
Blackvue are meant to be really good too, but always seemed pricey
I have a Nextbase one that is USB powered. My Octavia has a (mini/micro whatever) usb port near the top centre of the windscreen. I bought a very short lead to connect it from Amazon. It's a neat and trouble free installation.
I've been using one for years. Powers off though when the car is switched off so no good for incidents whilst parked or overnight.
Yeah mine (nextbase)is USB powered (I bought a hard wire kit to save making a mess of cables).
If you already have a USB port, in or on the rear-view mirror, then I suspect it's there specifically so you can easily plug a dash-cam in.
no good for incidents whilst parked or overnight.
Depends on what dash cam you get... mine has a constant live to the battery, but it 'goes to sleep' when the car is turned off.
But it also has some sort of giro/shock sensor, so if you get 'bumped' when the engine is off, it will 'wake up' and start recording both front and rear camera..... so you have a good chance to see what's going on, but obviously you won't get any footage before the shock sensor is triggered.
jhpbkFree Member
Pretty much all Dash Cams only use 5v, they just take it from a 12v source and step it down.See this for an example –> https://nextbase.eu/accessories/12v-car-power-cable/
Yeah, I don't recommend getting a Nextbase one though. they are (IMHO) utter shit. I think I'm on my third 522GW. I only keep replacing them because I have the full setup with rear camera, hard wire kit etc.
People who think they're decent, probably just never look properly at theirs while they're driving. If they do, they would most likely see that like mine, probably 10-20% of the time it's not actually recording. It looks like it is at a glance like it's recording because the video still moves, but either the red light is static (indicating the software is frozen), or the red light is off (indicating it thinks you are not driving).
Let's face it, any device where the manual recommends formatting the SD card every 2 weeks to prevent corruption is not to be trusted.
And it's not an SD card issue, happens just the same on a brand new (massively overpriced) Nextbase branded one from their shop. Also not a car issue because it's occurred just the same on three different cars now.