Dashcam plugued into 120v inside Ford Lightning for parking mode

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Darthcliff

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Hello guys,

Im new on the forum and dashcam world,

First or all, sorry for my english, this isnt my native language.

I have a Ford Lightning 2024 Ev Pickup .
I have 2 plug 120v/20amp right on the 131Kw/h truck battery.

I can active the Power Onboard and lets the car battery in fonction.

Do you guys think i can power a dashcam (probably a Viofo a229pro or 329) always on via the 120v/20 amp plug when i park the truck?

Do i need special wire or i can just plug the camera ?

The question is mostly for record when im park.

Thx you!
 
Darthcliff said:
Do i need special wire or i can just plug the camera ?
Click to expand...
If you use the A329, you should be able to use a standard phone charger to convert the 120V to USB-C. The A329 comes with a USB-C cable, which should work fine with a phone charger.

Might not be the most efficient use of power, but if you don't have a USB charging socket or 12V lighter socket that works when parked, then I guess there is not much choice, and the battery is plenty big enough.

It would not be ideal for parking mode, because the dashcam will not know when the car is on/off, so it can only guess from detecting a lack of movement, so will be slow to switch in and out of parking mode, it will take 90 seconds with no movement to enter parking mode. Normally a hardwire kit is recommended for parking mode, but you can't plug that into 120V.

The A229 Pro can also be used in the same way, but will want a USB-A power socket, so wants an old phone charger, or a USB-C to USB-A converter.
 
Do you think i can just lets the dashcam open like when im on the road but in parking?
Cam will record 100% of Time.

Once at home, i wont need it ton record because i put the truck in the garage.
 
Darthcliff said:
Do you think i can just lets the dashcam open like when im on the road but in parking?
Cam will record 100% of Time.

Once at home, i wont need it ton record because i put the truck in the garage.
Click to expand...
I think it will always enter parking mode if there is no movement, unless you use the hardwire kit, but you can select the low bitrate parking mode, then it will record like normal driving, but at a lower bitrate, so the memory card will store 10x more video. Low bitrate is still good quality, you don't need much bitrate if there is very little movement.

(That is for Viofo dashcams only.)
 
Darthcliff said:
Hello guys,

Im new on the forum and dashcam world,

First or all, sorry for my english, this isnt my native language.

I have a Ford Lightning 2024 Ev Pickup .
I have 2 plug 120v/20amp right on the 131Kw/h truck battery.

I can active the Power Onboard and lets the car battery in fonction.

Do you guys think i can power a dashcam (probably a Viofo a229pro or 329) always on via the 120v/20 amp plug when i park the truck?

Do i need special wire or i can just plug the camera ?

The question is mostly for record when im park.

Thx you!
Click to expand...

The quick answer is NO. Don't use a Utility Port.

Why? Utility Ports are generally Always on.... Nothing stops the camera from draining your battery if you are parked somewhere over a couple days.

Without some Voltage Cutoff, the Camera will run the battery dead.

Your choices are to:

1. Hardwire the Camera to Fusebox using Hardwire Kit and Voltage Cutoff to 12.2 (50%) (if you live in a colder climate). 12.0 (25%) is OK if you are in a mild climate. Leaving battery at 25% may pose challenges when cold starting.

2. Hardwire to Battery Pack and set it at 12.0 (25% Battery Life) for Shutoff. You never want to fully drain a LIPO battery as it can damage the cells.

3. Use a 12V Socket that turns off with the vehicle.
 
jsmith said:
The quick answer is NO. Don't use a Utility Port.

Why? Utility Ports are generally Always on.... Nothing stops the camera from draining your battery if you are parked somewhere over a couple days.

Without some Voltage Cutoff, the Camera will run the battery dead.

Your choices are to:

1. Hardwire the Camera to Fusebox using Hardwire Kit and Voltage Cutoff to 12.2 (50%) (if you live in a colder climate). 12.0 (25%) is OK if you are in a mild climate. Leaving battery at 25% may pose challenges when cold starting.

2. Hardwire to Battery Pack and set it at 12.0 (25% Battery Life) for Shutoff. You never want to fully drain a LIPO battery as it can damage the cells.

3. Use a 12V Socket that turns off with the vehicle.
Click to expand...
My ford Lightning is a 131kw/ battery,
I can power my house 2-3 day with that's battery.

Its totally impossible the dashcam drain my 131kw battery 😉
 
Darthcliff said:
My ford Lightning is a 131kw/ battery,
I can power my house 2-3 day with that's battery.

Its totally impossible the dashcam drain my 131kw battery 😉
Click to expand...

Does this system have an independent battery or does it run off the Electric car battery? You forget, that even asleep, there are other systems "Always On" at all times using a parasitic draw.

1. Powered Seats are generally working when the car is off
2. Car alarm is generally working when car is off
3. Depending on Model Years / computer systems and software are running in the background that permit remote start and diagnostics (OBDII)
4. You are also "Driving Vehicle" so it may not be a full charge.

So that 131kw battery is also being consumed by several system's parasitic draw as your car sits idle. Assuming the battery is shared and not independent of the car battery.

I was never good at Math, but I believe a 2 Channel Viofo uses 2.5 Watts or .5 Amps / Hour from searching this forum. Maybe @Nigel or someone else step up with a calculation.
 
Last edited:
jsmith said:
Does this system have an independent battery or does it run off the Electric car battery? You forget, that even asleep, there are other systems "Always On" at all times using a parasitic draw.

1. Powered Seats are generally working when the car is off
2. Car alarm is generally working when car is off
3. Depending on Model Years / computer systems and software are running in the background that permit remote start and diagnostics (OBDII)
4. You are also "Driving Vehicle" so it may not be a full charge.

So that 131kw battery is also being consumed by several system's parasitic draw as your car sits idle. Assuming the battery is shared and not independent of the car battery.

I was never good at Math, but I believe a 2 Channel Viofo uses 2.5 Watts or .5 Amps / Hour from searching this forum. Maybe @Nigel or someone else step up with a calculation.
Click to expand...
Hi jsmith,

How the truck work (ford f150 Lightning) have 2 battery,

A 12v, and the super big battery for move the truck, the 131kwh one.

If i plug the Dashcam in the obd2/fuse/or 12v plug, camera will use the 12v battery.

If i use the 120V/30Amp plug, i will take the power on the big truck battery.

This big truck battery can run easy a dashcam (10v) for weeks, and probably months.

The battery can output 240V/30Amp and power an entire house for some days.
This is a generator.

So plug the Dashcam on the big battery isnt a problem.

Actually my problem is, i cant run the cam when i put the "generator mode" on (Truck is Off but still output power from 120V plugs) because the can ask too low power and generator dont detect power under 90watts
So finally. I will use a Talentcell LifePO4 for power when im park.
 
Darthcliff said:
Hi jsmith,

How the truck work (ford f150 Lightning) have 2 battery,

A 12v, and the super big battery for move the truck, the 131kwh one.

If i plug the Dashcam in the obd2/fuse/or 12v plug, camera will use the 12v battery.

If i use the 120V/30Amp plug, i will take the power on the big truck battery.

This big truck battery can run easy a dashcam (10v) for weeks, and probably months.

The battery can output 240V/30Amp and power an entire house for some days.
This is a generator.

So plug the Dashcam on the big battery isnt a problem.

Actually my problem is, i cant run the cam when i put the "generator mode" on (Truck is Off but still output power from 120V plugs) because the can ask too low power and generator dont detect power under 90watts
So finally. I will use a Talentcell LifePO4 for power when im park.
Click to expand...

Would an inverter solve that issue?
 
jsmith said:
How did you wire that up?
Click to expand...
Nothing fancy right now but look's like its working well


I plug the talentcell in the 120v/20amp plug (you can also use the 12v plug)

I use a usb-C to usb-a adaptor. Plug the adaptor in the talentcell usb-a port (5v 2A usb power output). Then, plug the Viofo usb-C in the talentcell battery.

I can lets the battery always on and camera will record in parking mode for 3 hours (the Time i selected, because the battery can probably do way more than 3 hours).

If i put the battery Off, the power still go in the battery and active the Dashcam.
When battery on Off mode, once i put the truck Off, the camera also stop.

I lime it that's way because the truck is alot of the Time in my garage and i dont need to record there.
 
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