OBD power connector will kill your PHEV 12v battery.

[Luke the Dog]

I learned the hard way with my Niro PHEV. I wasn’t aware an OBD port is constantly drawing power, even if it is low. So if you are parked in collision mode, unless you turn the cam off, you are drawing power. Turning the cam off defeats half the purpose of having one in the first place.

So, does anyone here have a separate battery pack they can recommend so I can actually use the camera I bought?

 

[lpaso33]

Did you use the OBD kit from Vantrue ? It has a voltage sensor that should cut the power to the cam of the voltage drops bellow a certain point.

 

[Luke the Dog]

Yes. That’s the one I used. I was aware of the settings and adjusted it to cut power but it did not matter. Battery charge was constantly on the low end and the dealer deemed it non-functional. Fortunately the dealer honored the warranty and put in a new battery. I’ve since stopped using the OBD port as a power source.

 

[LateralNW]

I learned the hard way with my Niro PHEV. I wasn’t aware an OBD port is constantly drawing power, even if it is low. So if you are parked in collision mode, unless you turn the cam off, you are drawing power. Turning the cam off defeats half the purpose of having one in the first place.

So, does anyone here have a separate battery pack they can recommend so I can actually use the camera I bought?

From a price point of view and well built and personal experience the 70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack.
I have it running in my car via the cigarette lighter port. Intend to hardwire it in but want to be able to get to the on/off switch.

Pros
Stable and well built
From my tests seems to have a good designed BMS

Cons
No app control and consequently no feedback on battery use.
Switch is small and difficult to reach when placed under the car seat or in my case behind the glovebox.

70mai: Innovator in Smart Dash Cams

A global leader in smart car electronics since 2016. Trusted by more than 5 million users in 100+ countries. 70mai offers safety, intelligence, and peace of mind to your driving experience.

www.70mai.com

Other will have their favourites too, with pros and cons.

 

[lpaso33]

Yes. That’s the one I used. I was aware of the settings and adjusted it to cut power but it did not matter. Battery charge was constantly on the low end and the dealer deemed it non-functional. Fortunately the dealer honored the warranty and put in a new battery. I’ve since stopped using the OBD port as a power source.

I just installed this exact same cable in my hybrid car too. I'll get in touch if anything like that happens to me.

 

[Luke the Dog]

From a price point of view and well built and personal experience the 70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack.
I have it running in my car via the cigarette lighter port. Intend to hardwire it in but want to be able to get to the on/off switch.

Pros
Stable and well built
From my tests seems to have a good designed BMS

Cons
No app control and consequently no feedback on battery use.
Switch is small and difficult to reach when placed under the car seat or in my case behind the glovebox.

70mai: Innovator in Smart Dash Cams

A global leader in smart car electronics since 2016. Trusted by more than 5 million users in 100+ countries. 70mai offers safety, intelligence, and peace of mind to your driving experience.

www.70mai.com

Other will have their favourites too, with pros and cons.

Thanks. It seems like a decent solution.