Cam recording a piercing whine

[size_t]

Dashcam is recording a very high pitched noise. Noise is correlated with the engine (gets louder as I push on gas, quieter when coasting etc) not the cam, but I have never heard it in person when driving. I don't know if it's just too high pitch for me to hear & camera distorts it down or what. Any ideas on how I can still record sound but /not/ get this noise?

fair warning before you watch the video: I watched a 5 minute clip two days ago. Since then I've had a killer headache and have been hearing it nonstop :evil:

 

[jokiin]

if you disconnect the power and record while running on batteries do you still get the whine in the recording?

 

[size_t]

I haven't tried that, but I see where you're going. Will test it out later tonight when I have a passenger to help me (positioned fairly awkwardly to reach while driving).

 

[jokiin]

I haven't tried that, but I see where you're going. Will test it out later tonight when I have a passenger to help me (positioned fairly awkwardly to reach while driving).

yeah if it's clean the look at your power source as the culprit, even something as simple as a poor ground can cause noise like this

 

[size_t]

It did indeed go away when running on battery power. I then tried it using the USB charger and that was also "pierce free".

I was using the 12v car charger, which I would prefer to use because I can route the wire around the dash, the USB wire is much shorter.
Not sure how to trouble shoot it further, is the problem with the charger, the connection to cam, or the 12v port in my car?

 

[jokiin]

It did indeed go away when running on battery power. I then tried it using the USB charger and that was also "pierce free".

I was using the 12v car charger, which I would prefer to use because I can route the wire around the dash, the USB wire is much shorter.
Not sure how to trouble shoot it further, is the problem with the charger, the connection to cam, or the 12v port in my car?

plug the charger in a friends car with your camera, if the noise is still there very likely it's the charger, if it goes away then look at your car as the culprit

 

[size_t]

Well that's just plain logical. I'll blame my headache for my lack of thinking. Now to go get a friend...

 

[jokiin]

Well that's just plain logical. I'll blame my headache for my lack of thinking. Now to go get a friend...

It's just a process of elimination to find the source of the problem, once you identify it then you can work on the fix

The last 20 years I've worked in consumer electronics, 15 years of that was car audio and electronics related, engine noise is something I've dealt with a lot in that time, can be frustratingly complex or surprisingly simple sometimes, always annoying though

 

[niko]

I do not have as much experience as jokiin ( mine is 15y consumer electronics and 3y car audio-video equipment installation ), but in many cases I have solved this problem with suppressor:


http://item.mobileweb.ebay.ie/viewitem? ... 2618372413

 

[jokiin]

That can sometimes be the fix, could also be a faulty power supply, can happen

 

[niko]

That can sometimes be the fix, could also be a faulty power supply, can happen

Yes, there can be many different causes, so if dont want to spend fortune on car electronics specialist, then try to eliminate simple causes your self ( like trying that suppressor, fairly cheap ) and see if it helps. If not, then go to next step.

 

[niko]

First simple try to switch on ignition but do not start the car, record and check if that footage has a noise. Also you can try plug in and record from home, if you have at home wall plug to 12v car cigarette lighter convertor ( ebay price 5 usd delivered ). In those cases you will be able to determine if noise caused by power supply from car bad wiring, alternator etc or dash cam is faulty.

 

[niko]

Also, what is the exact model of that dash cam? Does it have an internal battery or capacitor?

 

[size_t]

One of the few things I dislike more than cars is computer hardware, so definitely an annoying combination for me! I really appreciate the help

Wont be back home until tomorrow, so testing things will have to wait until then.

Cam is a v2000gs, it has a super tiny battery that fails to save the last file.

 

[jokiin]

Cam is a v2000gs, it has a super tiny battery that fails to save the last file.

that could be contributing to the problem

 

[size_t]

Plugged into my car with ignition on & engine not running - no noise.
Turn engine on - noise.

In girlfriends car, cam started as soon as plugged into 12v (no key) no noise.
put key in & turned to on position, a similar, less piercing noise stayed constant.
start engine - noise.

I don't have any fancy gadgets to test it outside of the car. I may try to find someone at work I can test it in their car.

 

[jokiin]

Plugged into my car with ignition on & engine not running - no noise.
Turn engine on - noise.

In girlfriends car, cam started as soon as plugged into 12v (no key) no noise.
put key in & turned to on position, a similar, less piercing noise stayed constant.
start engine - noise.

I don't have any fancy gadgets to test it outside of the car. I may try to find someone at work I can test it in their car.

it sounds like the power supply is your culprit, if the power adapter itself is dirty (some aren't that well designed) wiring it via a filter as Niko linked to earlier might sort that out and is an easy test, if that's your fix I'd be inclined to wire in a separate female lighter socket via one of these filters and hide it away rather than adding the filter to your existing lighter socket

 

[GeorgesNJR]

Plugged into my car with ignition on & engine not running - no noise.
Turn engine on - noise.

In girlfriends car, cam started as soon as plugged into 12v (no key) no noise.
put key in & turned to on position, a similar, less piercing noise stayed constant.
start engine - noise.

I don't have any fancy gadgets to test it outside of the car. I may try to find someone at work I can test it in their car.

it sounds like the power supply is your culprit, if the power adapter itself is dirty (some aren't that well designed) wiring it via a filter as Niko linked to earlier might sort that out and is an easy test, if that's your fix I'd be inclined to wire in a separate female lighter socket via one of these filters and hide it away rather than adding the filter to your existing lighter socket

Jokiin , this thing is safe for use whit dash cams ?

wondering if have any risk for my Gps and Cam

 

[July]

Perhaps you should ask a professional, who can help you to solve this problem

 

[jokiin]

Jokiin , this thing is safe for use whit dash cams ?

wondering if have any risk for my Gps and Cam

yep, have used one exactly the same many times as I usually have multiple cams in the car temporarily at any given time