Dash Cam Install !

[Psybin]

I posted this on the EvolutionM forums (which kinda suck, I mean they are good for researching stuff, but as a general community they are kinda meh, maybe its just me)

Anyhow I thought some of you guys might be interested since the installation is pretty basic and will translate to most vehicles, and its a cool camera.







  HDVR-200 Dash Camera Install

This is a dash camera that is integrated into a rear view mirror unit that attaches over top of your existing mirror. I’ve had a HDVR-150 for the last two years in my Acura and then the Evolution. The 150 is a very solid unit that is basically been a “set it and forget it” item. The 200 has an input for a second camera for rear video and a different interface when pulling files off the card. I expect it will be as reliable. I put the 150 in the wife’s GTI.

A couple of pro-tips about the camera.
-The power cable disconnects from the unit, so you can remove the camera from the vehicle but not have to pull the cable out, or you can buy another power cable and have it set up in multiple vehicles.
-The lens can be moved on the unit to aim towards the center of the vehicle.
-Once the SD card is filled, the video will start overwriting the existing files, if you have the G lock on, and bad road conditions cause files to lock, you will get a full card error and will need to format the card.
-The SD card that ships with the unit is small; it’s worth investing in a 32 or 64 GB card.
-You can turn the audio recording off.
-Once you turn your ignition off the camera continues to record for 20 or so seconds, the unit has an internal battery for this.

This is a pretty basic installation, just like hard wiring a radar detector.  There is obviously a few ways you could do this; I am just going over how I did it. You could skip the add-a-circuit or socket plug adapter, this was just the way I felt would be best for my set up and ease of installation/un-installation.

Supplies:
HDVR-200 Camera Kit (I purchased mine from KiWAV on Amazon)
Large fuse  Add-A-Circuit  Kit
Amazon.com: Littelfuse FHA200BP ATO Add-A-Circuit Kit: Automotive
Female Car Cigar Cigarette Lighter Socket Plug Connector Adapter
Amazon.com: SMKAN® New 12V 5A Female Car Cigar Cigarette Lighter Socket Plug Connector Adapter: Electronics
Motorola Right Angle Charger Adapter Mini-USB - SKN6182
Amazon.com: Motorola Right Angle Charger Adapter Mini-USB - SKN6182: Cell Phones & Accessories
Ring Terminal for ground on lighter socket plug
Wire Butt Splice Connector (to attach the socket plug to the add-a-circuit)
32-64GB SD Card (optional)
Electrical Tape
10 or 20 amp large(maxi) auto fuse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_(automotive)
Some kind of wire sleeve and heat shrink (optional)



Tools Needed
-something to help tuck the wires into the head liner (plastic door panel removal tools work nicely). 
-10mm socket with extension
-Wire crimper or vice grips

Install

  Crimp the Ring terminal on the black wire on the socket plug adapter.
Crimp the butt splice on the red wire of the socket plug adapter.
Crimp the other end of the butt splice on the red wire of the add-a-circuit kit.
Wrap crimps and connections with electrical tape.


 

Attached the ring terminal on a good ground location under the dash. You can kind of see where I grounded mine in the below photo.



Insert the add-a-circuit in the XXX number fuse. I used the windshield wiper fuse (the cigarette lighter fuse was being used for radar detector).



Plug the power cord into the socket plug, run all the excess cord out the side of the dash, once you get your length dialed in bundle the extra.



  Loosely run the cable up to the mirror and plug it in, then get your length dialed in so you can bundle the excess lower by the dash like in the photo. Run the cable up behind A pillar. I attached the cable to the existing wire harness there with some twist ties. I would recommend following the existing harness and staying either behind or away from the air bag. Then run the cable along the front of the head liner.

Now you’ll take the MINI B USB plug and plug it into the Right Angle Charger Adapter. The reason I went this route is because the cameras USB connector sticks up high, and if you want to put a wire cover on it hits the head liner.  (ignore the smaller wire, that’s for my radar)


 







Route this USB cable to the passenger side (You can do driver side, but that side of my head liner already had the power cord for the mirror and radar detector tucked). I had to trim down the Y splice on the cable so it would fit into the head liner. I didn’t take any photos but you can cut away the excess plastic with some side cutters and it will fit. The black extension wire plugs into the SHORT plug of the Y plug (the long plug will give you just a blue screen).

Next you’ll pop out the bolt cover on your B panel and undo the bolt with a 10mm socket and pull it away from the headliner.


 

Continue to loosely run the cable to the back of the car. I left all my slack in the B pillar for this length of cable.



Careful with the C pillar because that has more airbag material, so you’ll want to run the cable behind the airbag and out of its way.



This is a good time to use the sticky material and attach it to the bracket for the camera. You’ll probably have to unscrew the front of the camera and re-position the bracket. Then stick the camera dead center and at the top of the roofline as pictured. 







Once you have the camera in place you can dial in the length of wire you need and leave the excess at the B pillar. Tuck everything tight, put your panels back in place, insure all the weather seal are on the outside, wrap up the excess and stick it in the top part (you’ll see a nice spot to tuck the bundle) then bolt the B pillar back in place.

Then bend the bracket for the rear cable up a bit so the camera points out straight. Turn on your ignition, let the camera format the SD card, aim your cameras, set your preferences as you like (timing the LCD out for one, I keep mine on for 30 seconds), and take it for a drive.  After the drive and when the camera is powered down completely, pop the SD card out put it in your computer, double click the .exe file, and play with the video program.  When you open it in the program you can use it to export the raw AVI files,  it will make a separate file for the front cam and the rear cam.
 


  Dont forget the lens cap!



Here is a screen capture of the program. When you save the videos from the program it will create two separate .avi files, so you won't get to watch them in sync. The larger exported files are higher quality. I'm having some quality issues with the rear cam that I contacted customer support about, the tint also doesn't help. Note - I sped the video up at a few points.

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Edit/Update  -- Response from customer service about the rear cam quality --- 2nd camera is 640 x 480, it's not the same performance as the built in one. The main reason is the long cable, it's analog cable, only takes analog signals.

( starts  about 0:53 ) 

[tigersharkdude]

That is pretty awesome, loving the fact is a front and rear camera.

None of the links are working on my phone , how much was the camera itself?

[Psybin]

The front only HDVR-150 is $90, front and rear HDVR-200 is $200.

The front only is a deal for sure.

[Input Nirvana]

Thanks for the great post...pics and write up are solid!

I'm surprised dash cams aren't well known and popular in the US. Seems like a no brainer to me. The one time you need it, it's paid for itself.

I also like the rear camera, as I have a truck and it would be helpful to sometimes keep an eye to see if people are interested in the truck bed contents where I live, heh heh

[tigersharkdude]

How bad does your tint affect the video? I have 5% rear and 50% + 5% sunstrip on the front

[Psybin]

Thanks! I guess if you were parking in really sketchy areas you could pop it in a fuse that's always on and just keep the camera on 24/7. I'd be curious to see how the SD card and electronics handle that kind of use. I used a fuse that's only on when the ignition is on.

I have 35% rear/side, which is legal here in MD. The tint seems to diminish the quality a little bit, and affects it more so at night. Your dark strip on the front may really hurt the image quality.