70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack - Test & Review PP

Panzer Platform said:
Is there a LOW - HIGH switch on the pack?
Or do you change the setting in the smartphone APP?
But yeah, this would be way better than the "unlock procedure" 70mai uses, (I call it the hokey pokey).
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iroad pp3.webp
 
Panzer Platform said:
Yes.

Robert is correct.
The answer is no.
If the fuse for the ignition wire blows the pack will not charge in 2-wire configuration because the user must perform the unlock procedure listed on page 6 of the owner’s manual to change the charging method from 3-Wire Hardwire to 2-Wire CLA.

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Yeah it would be good to have it changed.
I got caught out when testing for @GPak

A switch does seem simple but i wonder what happens if the switch is left in the wrong position could what @safedrivesolutions mentioned happen eg the car continues to charge because it's switched to cigarette sockets but is actually wired in?
 
Fun fact
This method-
remove the charging connector from the cigarette lighter socket, wait around 10 seconds, then quickly plug it back in for about 5 seconds; repeat this process of pulling out and reinserting the connector a total of 3 time

instead do this
Plug in the hardwire kit.
Connect the ground pin only
Using the battery wire just tap and hold it on the battery/power source.
Do the 10secs on and 5secs off 3x and hey presto you didn't need to find the cigarette cable to reset it.
 
LateralNW said:
Yeah it would be good to have it changed.
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I informed 70mai October 27, 2024.
#9 Con
#9 Improvement Wishlist

Chuck McCoy

Post in thread '70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack - Test & Review PP'

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...
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Dmsagmi said:
Just ordered the battery with the special code that was mentioned….. it still works 😜thanks op.
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not sure how. I was told they did not get FCC yet.
You do realize it will ship from China and be subject to very high tariffs?
 
safedrivesolutions said:
not sure how. I was told they did not get FCC yet.
You do realize it will ship from China and be subject to very high tariffs?
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On that note, I hope it ships from within NA. Somewhere along the ordering process, it mentioned ship be here by the 11th…. We shall see. I better not be charged any additional fee…. It’ll just have to sit at the airport storage for the foreseeable future… 🤣
 
Dmsagmi said:
On that note, I hope it ships from within NA. Somewhere along the ordering process, it mentioned ship be here by the 11th…. We shall see. I better not be charged any additional fee…. It’ll just have to sit at the airport storage for the foreseeable future… 🤣
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well if it is made in china it is upwards of 67% tariffs currently.... If made in Vietnam there is also tariffs....
 
Dmsagmi said:
Just ordered the battery with the special code that was mentioned….. it still works 😜thanks op.
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safedrivesolutions said:
You do realize it will ship from China and be subject to very high tariffs?
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Dmsagmi said:
We shall see. I better not be charged any additional fee
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safedrivesolutions said:
if it is made in china it is upwards of 67% tariffs currently
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@Dmsagmi
Can you keep us posted on the following?
1.) When shipped you may get an email with a tracking number.
Tracking info may indicate if it was shipped from Los Angeles, or Hong Kong.
2.) If you are subject to any additional fees / charges upon delivery.
3.) For extra credit could you post photos of the shipping box, and label, (after you obscure your address / personal info).
-Chuck
 
Chuck McCoy said:
@Dmsagmi
Can you keep us posted on the following?
1.) When shipped you may get an email with a tracking number.
Tracking info may indicate if it was shipped from Los Angeles, or Hong Kong.
2.) If you are subject to any additional fees / charges upon delivery.
3.) For extra credit could you post photos of the shipping box, and label, (after you obscure your address / personal info).
-Chuck
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Just got the tracking number. From AZUSA, CA via FedEx.
They haven’t told me anything about additional fees. (So I assume they have these in stock).
Will do.
Ps. Did you change your handle?
 
Dmsagmi said:
Just got the tracking number. From AZUSA, CA via FedEx.
They haven’t told me anything about additional fees. (So I assume they have these in stock).
Will do.
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thats great if its local. Does it have FCC ID?
 
Yesterday I ordered a pair of voltage sensitive relays (VSR) from AliExpress to see if they can be used to charge batteries from a constant source only, like a car's battery/alternator, without using the ACC trigger/signal input.

Pretty sure they are comming from China.
I usually just pay the listed price and tax and shipping if applicable when placing the order on AliExpress and it takes about 2-4 weeks for the item to arrive at my address.
I will let you know if there are any changes in the process with the introduction of new tariffs.
 
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For the time being, in the US, it is very unlikely that individual packages sent to a home will be 'tariffed'; however, a container full of product will for certain be tariffed. Now, the Asian shipper, can as I recall, prepay the tariff in Asia, affix proper sticker to individual package and then ship.

Some manufacturers can request an exemption; we saw this on the last round of tariffs against China.
 
I know retailers in USA who just paid 30% tariffs on dash cameras. That price will be passed onto consumers. A business can not absorb 30%.

The de minimus exemption has been revoked every made in China package will pay tariffs.
 
safedrivesolutions said:
thats great if its local. Does it have FCC ID?
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Let's hope it has an FCC ID and the Euro C-tik.

As for tracking numbers from Asian manufacturers, they cannot always be trusted. Many will show a U.S. origin ship point but if the buyer digs deeper he may find it is actually coming from China to a private business on the west coast, from there it enters the U.S. shipping system.
 
safedrivesolutions said:
I know retailers in USA who just paid 30% tariffs on dash cameras. That price will be passed onto consumers. A business can not absorb 30%.

The de minimus exemption has been revoked every made in China package will pay tariffs.
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No doubt about retailers in USA, as they bought a container, partial container or some ship pack that contained multiple shelf pack items. Of course, the US Customs folks could tariff individual packages to homes, it is possible, remains to be seen. As it is written, they are to look at each individual package, we will have to see how studious Customs will actually be and if they have the manpower to check and tag everything and then ensure the recipient pays the tariff or contact the shipper and force them to pay the duty.


CLOSING LOOPHOLES IN THE TARIFF SYSTEM: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value imports from China, a critical step in countering the ongoing health emergency posed by the illicit flow of synthetic opioids into the U.S.


  • Following the Secretary of Commerce’s notification that adequate systems are in place to collect tariff revenue, President Trump is ending duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
    • Imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, which shall be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.
    • All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders.
  • Carriers transporting these postal items must report shipment details to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), maintain an international carrier bond to ensure duty payment, and remit duties to CBP on a set schedule.
  • CBP may require formal entry for any postal package instead of the specified duties.
  • The Secretary of Commerce will submit a report within 90 days assessing the Order’s impact and considering whether to extend these rules to packages from Macau.
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I was looking at the tariff lists for China last week, I don't think anything electronic excluded at that time. Still remains to be seen but I don't think China is going to fold, their mistake. Europe and other countries that are adjusting their tariffs will eventually pick up the manufacturing lost by China.
 
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Dmsagmi said:
Can these go on a plane? 🤷🏻‍♂️
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I can’t answer with any certainty, (it’s complicated).
US domestic flights, and International flights landing in the US have different regulations.
Here’s one of the US domestic regulations from TSA;

What Can I Bring? | Transportation Security Administration

www.tsa.gov www.tsa.gov

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Here’s a Lithium Battery Shipping Guide from DOT;

Here’s one regulation grom FAA;
https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/lithium-batteries

All LiFePO4 dash cam battery packs I’ve tested were shipped to me on an international flight;
PowerCell 8 (BBMC Canada)
BlackVue (Korea)
70mai (Hong Kong / China)
Viofo (Hong Kong / China)

On the shipping box there is always a label that says;
“CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY”
“FORBIDDEN ON PASSENGER AIRCRAFT”
See attached photos

If for some reason you need to return a dash cam battery pack under warranty to the manufacturer / retailer there are additional regulations / complications.
If you walk into your local USPS / FedEx / UPS office, and say you want to ship a LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) dash cam battery pack you may receive a less than welcoming response.
The average representative may not understand their own shipping regulations on lithium batteries.
 

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Dmsagmi said:
Not sure about this one. I am on the east coast, hopefully by the end of the week…. Can these go on a plane? 🤷🏻‍♂️
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Yes, more than likely. Requirements for passenger carried lithium batteries and lithium batteries in the cargo hold of a plane are somewhat different.

IATA 'The Book'

If you ordered a battery pack, such as the backup battery pack for a dash cam, it likely falls under what is at the bottom of page 13 and the top of page 14.
 
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