[Totoro28]

Hi everyone,

I just ordered a new dashcam and will have it professionally installed. I was wondering if anyone here experienced any issues with fusetap installs (aka Add a Fuse) on their 2017 forester.

I've seen many videos of people installing their dashcams using fusetaps. I've also seen installations without fusetaps. Some installers claim that Fusetaps cause problems, but it looks like most people online (including professional installers) use fuse taps.

Here's the video of a dashcam install without fuse taps:
No fuse tap dashcam install

Questions:

• Anyone here experience issues using fusetaps to power their dashcam?
• What fuse # did you use if you used a fusetap?
• Do you recommend using Fusetaps? Why or why not?

Thank you!

 

[donkpow]

I don't have a 2017 or a dashcam. As far as fuse taps go, you want as clean a power supply as you can get for sensitive electronics. Often you will see mfr recommendations to go directly to the battery. That's the reason for that on low or medium power devices.

 

[Totoro28]

@donkpow,

Thanks for the quick reply! So if I'm getting the dashcam professionally installed, should I push for hardwiring directly to the battery instead of fusetaps?

I haven't asked the shop which install method they use, but I'm sure I can specify that I want the camera powered directly to the battery vs fuse taps.

 

[donkpow]

Fuse taps are almost always a short cut. If you want absolute confidence in the quality of power for your device, either go direct with its own power source or tie into a circuit properly. The problem with this is your guy probably doesn't know which circuit to tie into. I think probably they don't consider it that important.

 

[bigbird1]

If you go direct to the battery the dashcam will always be powered. Does the dashcam have its own built in switch?

 

[Totoro28]

I ordered the hardwire kit for Parking Mode. The dashcam is supposed to turn off if parking mode is turned off. If parking mode is turned on, the dashcam will power itself off after the battery hits a certain voltage (ie 12.4V) I can also hook it up to a battery pack.

I dont know much about electronics (which is why i'm posting here), but what donkpow said makes sense.

I ordered the new VIOFO A139PRO in case anyone's wondering. Might share my experience on this forum once it arrives. Also contemplating getting the PowerCell8 from Blackboxmycar for parking mode.

 

[bman400]

@Totoro28 Depending where you depending on how long and where you live/park vehicle the PowerCell8 would be a good idea. Keep us updated.

 

[Totoro28]

For sure. From my research, the PowerCell8 is one of the best battery packs for dashcams in terms of quality, reliability and expandability. You can daisy chain several batteries together which is cool. It's made in Korea from the same factory as the BlackVue /Thinkware batteries according to the video from Blackboxmycar.

 

[2015espy]

It also depends on how you use your dash cam. Most cams have a motion sensor that turns the camera on, so you will need 12v live for that. If you want to just use the dash cam while you are driving, then 12v acc will suffice. I installed a dash cam in my 2015 and ran the USB cable above the headliner down to the 12v acc supply (cigarette lighter for us old folks) in the console below the radio. When I got my 2020, I moved the dash cam there for the same hookup. Works perfectly fine for all these years.

 

[bigbird1]

It also depends on how you use your dash cam. Most cams have a motion sensor that turns the camera on, so you will need 12v live for that

Most quality dashcams have a small internal rechargeable battery good for about 10-15 minutes of recording, activated by the camera’s motion sensor. 12v live is not needed if you want your camera to automatically record if the car and camera are turned off.

 

[Richard w]

@Totoro28,
Use fuse taps for my BlackVue dash cam on 2018 xt with no issues

 

[Peaty]

I'm not sure what you mean by taps. If you mean vampire taps, I don't like those. I use an add a fuse, no cutting of the insulation and it's completely reversible

https://a.co/d/eNwgswn

Just put the ground under a bolt under the dash.

 

[Totoro28]

Yes I'm referring to "add a fuse". Have you had any issues with them?

 

[Peaty]

No, I've been using them for years.

 

[OutbackJon]

Add-a-fuse type fuse taps are fine. IF they are installed correctly. You have to be sure that the current is flowing the correct direction, or you will be putting additional load on the circuit that you are tapping from.

A dashcam isn't likely to create enough load to overload the other circuit, but it's still better to be sure it is wired correctly.

 

[Totoro28]

That was my understanding as well --- they have to be installed correctly, and if needed, connected to a relay. I'm having the dashcam professionally installed from a reputable shop. I wanted to see what the consensus is in this forum so that I have some background before taking my car to the shop. Appreciate your reply!

 

[Black21Limited]

I have the Viofo cam, and I am using two add a circuit fuses for the constant and switched power. No issues.

The 2021 cabin fuse panel actually has a few open slots that are powered on one side, and blank on the other. So only the second fuse needs installed in the tap. There is no circuit being impacted other than the feed bar for the fuse positions.

 

[Oldguy2]

FWIW, I have installed 7 dash cameras in various cars my family owns, including 3 Subaru's ... one of which is my 2021 Forester. Two of those cars are "hardwired" to the fuse box with fuse taps, add a fuse, fuse jumper ... whatever you want to call it. One is hooked up to a Cellink B battery, but that battery pack is also hardwired directly to the fuse box with an add-a-fuse. I did all those installs myself and have never had a problem. The other four cameras are simply plugged into a 12V outlet without using the fuse box. IMHO, fuse taps are perfectly safe and reliable if you know what you’re doing. The specific fuses (and/or open fuses) I used varied by car. I learned everything about installing fuse taps from the tutorials BlackBoxMyCar has available. They are worth reviewing. I mention that simply because you said you might buy a battery pack from that company. All 7 of my dash cameras were bought from BBMC. If you are having this camera “professionally installed” I’d make sure you understand first just how your pro is going to do that. They should have no problem installing with a fuse tap, and should provide you with all the pertinent details about that install once finished. I mean info like which fuse they used, orientation of the fuse tap in the fuse socket, and what amp fuse they put in the fuse tap for the camera. If they go directly to the battery which I suspect they might recommend, just make sure your dash camera doesn’t require a Hardwire installation kit in order to run parking mode. I bought the VIOFO A229 DUO camera in January, and I can assure you that particular camera will not operate in parking mode without the hardwire accessory kit, which requires an "accessory" power line in addition to the battery feed. Check your A139PRO owner’s manual to be sure. Nice camera by the way! The only negative thing I would say is that there is no way on God’s green earth I would ever install a dash camera the way the guy did it in that YouTube video that you linked. IMHO, that was probably one of the most dangerous examples of wiring anything new to a car. You didn't ask about this, but I would also discuss with your installer where the dash camera wires will be located by the trim so that for safety, they do not place them in front of any side curtain air bags. Good luck.

 

[Totoro28]

Thanks for the tips! I really appreciate it. What fuse rating do dash cams usually take? I'll keep those questions in mind and will ask the installer.

I ordered the hardwire kit specific for the A139 PRO. Really looking forward to having it installed. I was researching dashcams for about 2 weeks straight and I stumbled on the A139PRO reviews on youtube.

On a Dashcam forum, people are experiencing bugs with the A139PRO, but VIOFO is supposedly releasing a new firmware to fix the issues. I'm crossing my fingers and hope my unit is okay. Guess that comes with the territory when getting the newest model of anything. I'll probably test it for a week before having it "permanently" installed by the shop.

Next to the A139PRO, I was considering the ThinkWare or BlackVue cameras, but once I saw the image quality of the A139PRO with the new Sony Starvis2 sensor, I was sold. Time will tell if I've made the right choice.

 

[Totoro28]

I have the Viofo cam, and I am using two add a circuit fuses for the constant and switched power. No issues.

The 2021 cabin fuse panel actually has a few open slots that are powered on one side, and blank on the other. So only the second fuse needs installed in the tap. There is no circuit being impacted other than the feed bar for the fuse positions.

That's great to know. The guy in the youtube video mentioned that Fusetaps could cause electrical interference with pushstart, so that got me thinking if Fuse Taps were a good idea. But it looks like (from the comments in this thread) that fuse taps are okay if they're properly installed.