Powering a dashcam in your car can sometimes be tricky. While the cigarette lighter (or 12V auxiliary power outlet) is a common option, it’s not always ideal. Perhaps your cigarette lighter is always powered on, potentially draining your battery, or maybe it’s already in use. This is where the OBD2 port comes in as a smart alternative for Obd2 Port Power.
The On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD2) port in your vehicle is primarily designed for diagnostics and accessing vehicle data. However, it also provides a power source. Tapping into your obd2 port power to run your dashcam can be a very convenient solution, especially when you want to avoid a constantly powered cigarette lighter socket.
Alt: Locating the OBD2 Port for Dashcam Power: An image showing the typical location of an OBD2 port under the dashboard of a car, often near the steering column, for easy access to OBD2 port power.
However, directly wiring into your obd2 port power is not recommended. The safest and most user-friendly method is to use an OBD2 port power adapter. These adapters plug directly into your OBD2 port and often come with features like a low voltage cutoff switch.
Why is a low voltage cutoff important? If you continuously draw power from your car battery when the engine is off, you risk draining it completely. An obd2 port power adapter with a low voltage cutoff monitors your battery voltage and automatically disconnects power to your dashcam if the voltage drops below a safe level, typically around 11.6 volts. This prevents battery drain and ensures your car will start.
For vehicles where the cigarette lighter is always on, using an obd2 port power adapter with a low voltage cutoff is particularly beneficial. A popular and easily found option is the Koolatron “battery saver” adapter, which is available on platforms like Amazon. You can then connect a cigarette lighter to USB adapter to the Koolatron to power your dashcam.
If your cigarette lighter only works when the engine is running, an obd2 port power adapter can still be a useful solution for parking mode or surveillance features on your dashcam. In this case, you might run a USB cable from your dashcam, tucked away under the dash, and use the obd2 port power adapter only when you need power when the engine is off. For normal driving, you could utilize a standard cigarette lighter USB adapter.
Alt: OBD2 Port to Cigarette Lighter Adapter Setup: Image illustrating an OBD2 to cigarette lighter adapter connected to a car’s OBD2 port, powering a dashcam through a USB adapter plugged into the cigarette lighter socket.
It’s important to note that the OBD2 port is designed to supply power, typically up to 4 amps, which is more than sufficient for most dashcams. Even dual dashcams usually have a power consumption of 2 amps or less. Therefore, using an obd2 port power adapter for your dashcam will not overload the system.
When you need to use your OBD2 port for diagnostics with a scanner, simply unplug the obd2 port power adapter. This makes using obd2 port power a flexible and non-intrusive way to keep your dashcam running, providing peace of mind and added security for your vehicle. By choosing the right obd2 port power solution with a low voltage cutoff, you can ensure safe and reliable power for your dashcam without compromising your car battery or electrical system.
