Are you looking for a straightforward way to power your dashcam without messing with your car’s wiring? An Obd2 Power Tap might be the perfect solution for you. Many drivers face the issue of their cigarette lighter socket only being powered when the ignition is on, which isn’t ideal for dashcams needing continuous power for parking mode or surveillance. Let’s explore how you can utilize your car’s OBD2 port to keep your dashcam running smoothly.
One common problem is that relying solely on the cigarette lighter can be limiting. If it’s only active when your engine is running, your dashcam won’t record while parked, missing out on crucial footage in case of incidents. A simple workaround for a constantly powered cigarette lighter is to use a male to female adapter with a low voltage cutoff switch, like the Koolatron “battery saver”. You can then plug a cigarette lighter to USB adapter into this setup for your dashcam. This smart combination ensures your dashcam powers down if your car battery voltage drops too low (around 11.6 volts), preventing a dead battery.
However, if your cigarette lighter only works when the engine is on, OBD2 power supplies offer a convenient alternative. These adapters, readily available on platforms like Amazon and often equipped with a similar low voltage cutoff switch, provide power directly from your car’s OBD2 port. This eliminates the need for complex wiring and keeps things simple. It’s generally advised against splicing wires directly into your OBD port, as using a dedicated adapter is a much safer and cleaner approach.
For parking surveillance, you’ll ideally want your dashcam to operate in standby or surveillance mode, activated by G-force or motion detection. If your cigarette lighter is engine-dependent, consider running a USB cable from your dashcam down to under your dashboard. This allows you to switch between power sources: the OBD2 port adapter when parked and needing continuous recording, and a cigarette lighter adapter when driving and the engine is running.
If your cigarette lighter is always powered, a robust splitter (rated at least 10 amps) can be beneficial. Plug the Koolatron battery saver into one port, and then a high-quality cigarette lighter to USB adapter into the Koolatron for your dashcam. The other splitter port remains available for charging phones or other devices.
Using an OBD2 power tap is also incredibly convenient because when you need to access your OBD port for diagnostics with a scanner, you simply unplug the adapter. There’s no concern about overloading the OBD port either. It’s designed to supply up to 4 amps, and even dual dashcams typically draw 2 amps or less, ensuring safe and reliable operation for your dashcam setup.
