Parking Mode Power: Hardwiring vs. Dedicated Battery Packs

[Becky_70mai]

Parking mode is useful when you want your dashcam to keep monitoring the vehicle after the engine is off. But running a dashcam while parked raises another question: Where should the power come from?
There are two common approaches: hardwiring the dashcam to the vehicle or using a dedicated battery pack. The two setups work quite differently.

1. Hardwiring to the Vehicle​

A hardwire kit connects the dashcam to the vehicle's electrical system and allows it to continue operating after the ignition is switched off. The main advantage is straightforward: As long as the vehicle battery has sufficient charge, the dashcam can remain powered for extended periods.
A properly designed hardwire kit should also include low-voltage protection, which cuts power when the vehicle battery reaches a defined voltage threshold.
However, the available parking time ultimately depends on factors such as

• Vehicle battery capacity and condition
• Dashcam power consumption
• Parking mode used
• Ambient temperature
• How long the vehicle remains parked

So a hardwired setup doesn't necessarily mean the battery will be drained—it means the vehicle's starter battery is also being used as the parking-mode power source.

 

[Becky_70mai]

2. Using a Dedicated Battery Pack​

A dedicated battery pack separates the dashcam's parking-mode power consumption from the vehicle's starter battery. The basic setup is
Driving—Battery pack charges
Engine off—Dashcam draws power from the battery pack

This means the vehicle's starter battery isn't being used to power the dashcam during parking. For example, the 70mai Mini Battery Pack has a 49.9 Wh / 3900 mAh capacity and is designed specifically for dashcam parking applications. Depending on the dashcam and parking mode, the expected operating time can vary. The published target for supported setups is approximately 12–30 hours.
The battery pack can also be removed and recharged separately when needed, while normally being recharged from the vehicle during driving.

3. Temperature Is Another Factor​

A battery pack installed inside a vehicle needs to be designed for automotive temperature conditions. The 70mai Mini Battery Pack uses LiFePO₄ (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry. Its specified operating ranges are

• Discharging: -10°C to 60°C
• Charging: 0°C to 45°C

At higher temperatures, charging current is automatically limited. Charging is also restricted outside the specified temperature range to protect the battery. This is particularly relevant for vehicles that remain parked outdoors for long periods.

So Which Power Setup Makes Sense?​

Neither approach is universally better. Hardwire setup：

Uses the vehicle's electrical system
Can support extended parking surveillance
Requires proper installation
Low-voltage protection is important


Dedicated battery pack：
Separates parking-mode power from the starter battery
Doesn't continuously draw parking power from the vehicle battery
Adds another component and requires sufficient battery capacity
Useful for drivers who regularly use Parking Mode


For someone who only uses parking mode occasionally, a properly installed hardwire setup may be sufficient. For someone who wants to use parking mode regularly while minimizing the additional load on the vehicle's starter battery, a dedicated battery pack is another option worth considering.

 

[DavidUK]

For a VIOFO cam, I opted to use an OBD power adapter: https://viofouk.co.uk/product-category/accessories/obd-power/

Gives a choice of 3hrs/24hrs/continuous until 12v minimum battery output reached.

This allows any warranty to be maintained as it's a "plug and play" power supply whereas a hardwire would be classed as a warranty infringement.

 

[Julian23]

a properly installed hardwire kit with low voltage cutoff seems like the simpler option

It will depend on the setup.
The 70mai dashcam battery pack for example also allows you to use a 12v socket to connect the battery to the car.
No need to access the fuse box.
It doesn't get much easier than that.

This works great for cars that have switched 12 sockets. If the 12v socket is always on, you have to use the fuse box method instead.

Especially for newer cars I prefer to use a dashcam battery. Modern cars will monitor the battery drain very precisely. If they detect a power consumption that shouldn't be there, you'll get an error. (especially BMW cars can be annoying)
The battery pack avoids this.

 

[BlackboxMyCar]

For a VIOFO cam, I opted to use an OBD power adapter: https://viofouk.co.uk/product-category/accessories/obd-power/

Gives a choice of 3hrs/24hrs/continuous until 12v minimum battery output reached.

This allows any warranty to be maintained as it's a "plug and play" power supply whereas a hardwire would be classed as a warranty infringement.

Depending on how your country's or region's consumer protection laws work (if applicable), an automaker or dealer might not be able to arbitrarily deny warranty coverage for the mere presence of aftermarket parts or accessories unless they can concretely prove that the fault was directly caused by or related to the aftermarket parts or accessories. We're not familiar with the UK's laws, but this is the case for at least the US and Canada. However, it's generally best to use a non-destructive approach, especially if you're doing it yourself, like hardwiring with fuse taps if you can instead of trying to splice into connectors or wiring.

 

[TonyM]

For example, the 70mai Mini Battery Pack has a 49.9 Wh / 3900 mAh capacity

I see the 70mai mini battery pack listed on your website, but not in the store. When will it be available to buy?

I could not find any discussion threads about it here on DCT.

 

[Augustus]

I see the 70mai mini battery pack listed on your website, but not in the store. When will it be available to buy?

I could not find any discussion threads about it here on DCT.

Presuming the discussion threads will come soon as review units have gone out.

Pre-orders appear to be up for A900 Ultra and as such, I'd expect the battery pack to be live in a few weeks to a month.

 

[Becky_70mai]

I see the 70mai mini battery pack listed on your website, but not in the store. When will it be available to buy?

I could not find any discussion threads about it here on DCT.

Hello! For now, we’ll be selling through our official website and as part of bundled packages. After the pre-sale ends, we’ll list the individual products separately.