How to Install a Car DVR?

Also known under the name of dash cam or simply dashcam, the Car DVR gained popularity once with the youtube videos made with this gadget. As nowadays almost everyone knows what a car Dvr is, knowing how to install your very own is essential.
A Car DVR is a useful tool to have in your car, both for fun purposes and safety. There are plenty of uses you can put your Car DVR to and surely it can get you out of trouble in many situations.

Installing the Car DVR in your car is not a very complicated process. Commonly, this procedure is called hardwiring. For this purpose you will need the Car DVR kit of your choice and the power supply that is normally built-in to your car.

Other instruments needed in order to be able to install the Car DVR Cameras in your own car are the car owner’s manual, the Car DVR installation kit, a circuit tester, a pair of pliers and zip ties.

Before you proceed with the actual installation, there are some things you need to know. The installation itself is very important and it can affect the way in which your Car DVR Camera is going to perform.

Depending on your choice of Car DVR, you must determine the best position for the camera. The location can be either in the front of the car, near the windshield, or in the back, on the license plate, for example, or even on the rear view mirrors- either left or right, depending on your preference.

As well, make sure you take into consideration your car type before deciding over the best position for the DVR dash board camera. The best DVR camera position is going to be different depending on this.

Before we move into listing the steps you have to follow in order to install the DVR camera, there are some things you should know. First, the DVR gear should be connected directly to the car battery- avoid linking the cables to the gear in any way; make a simple connection between the DVR and the power source. The outside cables should be always waterproof, heat resistant and oil casing in order to prevent any kind of damage.

Okay, now that these things are settled and you decided which is the optimal position where your DVR camera should be mounted you are ready to go.

Identify the fusebox
The next step is identifying where the car’s fusebox is- this will often be behind the windshield, but the exact position is likely to vary from car to car, reason for which you need the car’s owner manual.

Find the optimal cable route
You will want to find a route between the fusebox and the DVR dashcam that holds the cables under the car’s interior. Finding the proper way of hiding the cable varies from car to car but this is a very important step. Hanging cables can be a danger for you while driving as they can get accidentally bothering- not to mention the aesthetics of having hanging cables in your car.

If you look behind the A-pillar you are very likely to find a space through which the cable can be hidden. Locating this spot behind the A-pillar will request some previous consultation with the car owner’s manual.

Car fuses type
There are two types of fuses: fuses through which power is running constantly and fuses that only receive power when you turn on your car. You can detect the latest type of fuse by using a circuit tester- this device will let you know when power is running through the fuse.

The car DVR is directly connected to the type of fuse your car has. If your car’s fuse is only charged with power when you turn on the car, then you Car DVR Cameras will also turn on once with the power. Similarly, the car DVR will shut down when you turn off your car.

With the continuously power-filled fuses, the story is different- you will have to turn the car DVR on and off manually.

Power cable installation
The pliers pair comes in handy now. You’ll need it to pull out the fuse that only receives power when the car is turned on. The car DVR installation kit is the one that has the special power cable. The special power cable will have a place where you can fit the fuse. One end of the cable is made to fit into the fusebox, while the other one will be connected to the car DVR.

Ground wire
The installation kit comes with a ground wire. This you have to connect to a ground point that you will normally find near the fusebox. Consult the owner’s manual in order to obtain precise information about where the ground point is.

Secure the cables with a zip tie
Remove any cables that are in excess and secure them near the fusebox with zip ties. After you’ve done that, just re-fit the interior panels and you’re done.