70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack - Test & Review PP

[Chuck McCoy]

I got tracking for mine now. I will be connecting a blackvue on mine. Any suggestions of which brand/type of connector would be recommended?

Use the hardwire kit that was included with your BlackVue dash cam.

 

[stephenjones]

Sorry I should have been more clear. Would I not need a MR30 pigtail? I am doing the CLA for the battery charging. I am assuming the black vue cables would need the MR30 to then go into the battery pack. Any recommendations on this? Unless the battery pack will come with one which I doubt or im just a noob and overlooking something simple.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Sorry I should have been more clear. Would I not need a MR30 pigtail? I am doing the CLA for the battery charging. I am assuming the black vue cables would need the MR30 to then go into the battery pack. Any recommendations on this? Unless the battery pack will come with one which I doubt or im just a noob and overlooking something simple.

Everything you need to get you going is included in the box.
See item #2 here;

This is the Output Cable you will connect to your BlackVue Hardwire Cable.
However @rcg530 , and myself would recommend using 16AWG wire for the output cable.
This will require new 16AWG MR30 connectors, 16AWG wire, and soldering equipment & skills.
Make sure you test the battery pack before you install it in your car.

 

[stephenjones]

Everything you need to get you going is included in the box.
See item #2 here;

View attachment 74638

This is the Output Cable you will connect to your BlackVue Hardwire Cable.
However @rcg530 , and myself would recommend using 16AWG wire for the output cable.
This will require new 16AWG MR30 connectors, 16AWG wire, and soldering equipment & skills.
Make sure you test the battery pack before you install it in your car.

Ah I see the issue. I ordered the CLA kit that does not include that parking surveillence cable adaptor. Looks like I got to buy the MR30 adaptor anyway. Thanks for amazon pics.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

CLA kit that does not include that parking surveillence cable adaptor.

The screenshots are from the 70mai website.
It’s not available on Amazon yet.

It’s me who has made the mistake.
I just realized the CLA version does not include all the wires the hardwire version has.
I thought they contained the same wires, and the only difference was the CLA & Hardwire charge cable.
This is a marketing disaster.
There should be only one version that includes everything.
The $10 price difference is so insignificant it’s not going to make a difference to the consumer because the pack is still $130USD cheaper than the competition.

 

[rcg530]

I have to believe the "Cigarette Light Solution" has to come with the "Parking surveillance cable adapter". When the 70mai battery pack is in the "CLA charging mode" configuration and the charging power is turned off, the ACC out power from the battery pack turns off as well. @Panzer Platform have you confirmed with 70mai that the cigarette lighter solution truly does not come with the parking surveillance cable adapter?

 

[stephenjones]

I have to believe the "Cigarette Light Solution" has to come with the "Parking surveillance cable adapter". When the 70mai battery pack is in the "CLA charging mode" configuration and the charging power is turned off, the ACC out power from the battery pack turns off as well. @Panzer Platform have you confirmed with 70mai that the cigarette lighter solution truly does not come with the parking surveillance cable adapter?

I will let you guys know in a day or 2 when mine arrives. I ordered the Ciagrette Lighter solution.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

have you confirmed with 70mai that the cigarette lighter solution truly does not come with the parking surveillance cable adapter?

No, I'm going off these screenshots.
But, now I understand the $10 lower price for the CLA version.

 

[stephenjones]

No, I'm going off these screenshots.
But, now I understand the $10 lower price for the CLA version.

Came home last night to my package. Unfortunately the screen shots are correct. No "Parking surveillance cable adapter" included in the CLA kit. I dont see it as an accessory to purchase separately on the site either. For my use case the usb cable wont work since I have a black vue. I also have the black vue official usb cable but No PD on the battery as far as I can tell. Seems to be only 5v while the black vue would need to be hardwired to get 12v. Dissapointing to not have the adaptor included.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Came home last night to my package. Unfortunately the screen shots are correct. No "Parking surveillance cable adapter" included in the CLA kit.

I would return it for a refund, and order the hardwire version for $10 more.
Once you get it, you could easily connect your own CLA to the hardwire charge cable.

I also have the black vue official usb cable

The last time I tested BlackVue dash cams this did not exist, (DR970X, DR900 Plus).
Can you post a link, or photo of it?

 

[stephenjones]

I will probably do that and return everything. 10 bucks more I would have paid without hesitation . I am not sure thats a lot of cost saving on their end given now I have to do a return. Will consider it.
Here is a link to the usb c for black vue:

USB-C Power Cable

USB-C PD 3.0 to DC Power Cable (USBC-3P). Requires a Power Delivery 3.0 compatible port.

shop.blackvue.com

I dont have real world usage of it. Just plugged it in to make sure it works on a power station and it did.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

After testing the 70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack for 33 days I think I have a good idea of the Pros & Cons, and some ideas for improvement for the next generation 2026 model.

PROS:
MSRP $210-$220
20 Second Soft Start with built-in relay
(8) 26650 vs. (20) 18650 cells
High 8.6 Amp 58 Minute Charge vs. 59 Minute @10A+ PowerCell 8
Low 5.6 Amp 83 Minute Charge vs. 102 Minutes @8A+ PowerCell 8
Red Status LED on CLA
Cold weather charge protection works well

CONS:
Can not charge unit with USB Type-C Input
MR30 Connectors too delicate / small (16AWG Max Wire Size)
No Output Cable with CLA version
16AWG Charge Cables, (prefer 12AWG)
Battery Life Indicator (not 0%-100%)
Rounded Corners (limits mounting configuration)
Buzzing noise while charging
No Speaker for beep notifications (boot up, charging, discharging)
Unlock procedure for CLA configuration, (just add a switch)

IMPROVEMENT WISHLIST:
1.) Add capability to charge pack using the existing USB Type-C Input / Output with 45-100 Watt capacity
2.) Increase Charge Cable thickness from 16AWG to 12AWG
3.) Replace MR30 connectors with bare wire terminals, (audio amplifiers)
4.) Solar Panel Charging Input 10-100 Watt
5.) Replace Velcro mounting stips with mounting bracket, or built-in holes or case feet to mount the pack with screws
6.) Replace Battery Life Indicator with 0%-100% display
7.) Replace rounded case design with square design to add mounting flexibility
8.) Replace 22AWG output cable with 16AWG
9.) Replace Unlock procedure with switch Low / High Amperage Charging
10.) Replace CLA & Hardwire versions with only 1 version that includes all wiring

Here are 2 videos explaining the Pros & Cons, and Improvements;
Part 1: Pros & Cons
Part 2: Improvement Wishlist

 

[stephenjones]

I concur with the above. If anyone needs the parking cable I am seeing the cable now on their website for $9.99 : https://70mai.store/collections/accessories/products/parking-surveillance-cable-adapter. And again, it sure would have been nice to have it included and raise the price to cover the cable instead of having 2 kits. Heck with this price, if this battery had an extension port, I would have bought 2 easily because of the costs compared to the competition.

On a separate note, I was playing around with the battery and drained it. Brought it in to charge on a power station and noticed the battery has to be turned on to start charging. I guess I am accustomed to having portable power banks and just plugging them in to start charging. Not an issue, it just got me worried because I plugged it in and walked away for a few mins, came back and didnt see any activity.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

On a separate note, I was playing around with the battery and drained it. Brought it in to charge on a power station and noticed the battery has to be turned on to start charging. I guess I am accustomed to having portable power banks and just plugging them in to start charging. Not an issue, it just got me worried because I plugged it in and walked away for a few mins, came back and didnt see any activity.

This is why the EGEN pack have a speaker.
The speaker makes little beep notifications for, (booting up, charging, discharging).
I requested 70mai add a speaker for the next model.

 

[GPak]

The wish list is good, except I don't like any flanges that increase the footprint, making it difficult to hide under the trunk floor compartment or under/behind the back seat, let alone drilling holes in my car to bolt it on.
In addition to the Velcro, it may be worthwhile to include couple of slots in the box to tie it to some existing part of the car.
Personally, I like the box as is, I think the large area velcros or stronger DuraGrip "hook and loop" strips, are good enough.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I don't like any flanges that increase the footprint

I don't like flanges either.
That's why I said holes that go through the chassis in the video.
The included velcro is an afterthought.
The reason we need sturdy mounting is so we can mount it vertical on a seat back in the trunk, or similar.

let alone drilling holes in my car

You never dill holes in a car.
You bolt down the pack on a mounting board, and then mount the board to the car somewhere without causing permanent damage.
Placing electronic devices like this on the floor is not ideal where water / moisture will collect from peoples shoes when it rains, or when someone spills a 64oz. Big Gulp of soda in-between the seats.
That's why installers like to mount the amps ABOVE floor level in a VERTICAL position.
C'mon man, have you never put a stereo system in your car before. lol
Putting an amplifier under the seat is amateur.

 

[stephenjones]

I would return it for a refund, and order the hardwire version for $10 more.
Once you get it, you could easily connect your own CLA to the hardwire charge cable.

View attachment 74653

The last time I tested BlackVue dash cams this did not exist, (DR970X, DR900 Plus).
Can you post a link, or photo of it?

Life got in the way and now getting back to this. I was hoping 70mai would offer the battery on Amazon but not so far. I really didnt want to deal with returning it all the way to China. It may take another month to get another one. So far I got a mr30 pigtail off of amazon, soldered it to black vue cable and running it off the 12 v port port in the vehicle to charge the battery.

Since discovering this forum Im doing way too much stuff with dash cams. My next experimentation is to try to hardwire the battery to the fusebox in the vehicle which houses a 12v battery. I got both male and female mr30 connectors with the pigtail as part of the kit I purchased. I also got the viofo HK4 cable somewhere in storage. Would this work if I chopped off the usb end and connect the mr30 or will the adaptor on the hk4 cause issues charging the battery? I know I can get the official stuff and any 3 cable with the mr30 to the battery and the other end to the fuse box will work but im liking fooling around with this stuff 🙂

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Would this work if I chopped off the usb end and connect the mr30 or will the adaptor on the hk4 cause issues charging the battery? I know I can get the official stuff and any 3 cable with the mr30 to the battery and the other end to the fuse box will work but im liking fooling around with this stuff

I'm not sure I understand you correctly.
I need screen shots, or photos to help my simple mind. lol
The voltage coming out of the pack is 12V, the cameras run on USB 5V.
You need the entire HK4 intact to function properly.

 

[stephenjones]

I'm not sure I understand you correctly.
I need screen shots, or photos to help my simple mind. lol
The voltage coming out of the pack is 12V, the cameras run on USB 5V.
You need the entire HK4 intact to function properly.

I will try to add some photos. Its me thats confusing lol. I have a blackvue dash cam Dr970x plus and as you know the 70mai battery being charged via the ciagrette adaptor. Instead of the ciagrette adaptor, im looking to hard wire the 70mai battery to the fuse box. I was asking if the HK4 cable can be used from the fusebox to the 70 mai battery which seems to be a no go as its only outputting 5v and the battery would need 12.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I have a blackvue dash cam

OK, I misunderstood.
I forgot you have a BlackVue, instead of a VIOFO dash cam.
The HK4 is a hardwire kit that only works with the VIOFO, not BlackVue.
The BackVue uses 12 Volts to power the cam.
So you need to use the BlackVue Hardwire Power Cable that looks like this;

Hardwiring Power Cable

Hardwiring cable to connect your dashcam to your vehicle's battery via the fuse panel. This cable is included with X and X Plus Series models that feature built-in timer and voltage monitoring for Parking Mode. With other models, for protection of your vehicle's battery during Parking Mode...

shop.blackvue.com

Does that answer your question?