I did some tests to figure out how the camera and its Car Constant Power Discharge Protection setting behave on different voltages. The variable output AC-DC power supply can change the output voltage on-the-fly without cutting off the output, but it can only set to 15v, 12v, 11, and lower (this is the best power supply I have). Also, the output voltage is within +/- 0.01v.
Test 1: Power the camera using 11v, and wait for ten minutes.
Purpose: To determine the startup and shutdown behavior when the input voltage is below the shut down voltage (11.8v +/- 0.3v), and when the Car Constant Power Discharge Protection set to ON/OFF.
Result:
With Car Constant Power Discharge Protection set to off.
- WinyCam 0306 FW (EN) -- The camera stays on the whole time.
- Livue 0306 FW (KR) -- The camera stays on the whole time.
With Car Constant Power Discharge Protection set to on.
- WinyCam 0306 FW (EN) -- The camera turned off right after entering into parking mode (around 8 mintues).
- Livue 0306 FW (KR) -- The camera turned off right after entering into parking mode (around 8 mintues).
Comment: The low voltage protection only works when the camera is in parking mode and Car Constant Power Discharge Protection is set to on.
Test 2: Power the camera with 12v. Wait for the camera begins to record, and then turn down the voltage to 11v.
Purpose: To determine the low voltage shutdown behavior when the input voltage changed from normal (12v) to low (11v).
Result: Same as test 1. The camera only turns off if the Car Constant Power Discharge Protection set to on and it is in the parking mode.
Test 3: Continue from test 2. After the camera turned off for 5 mintues, turn up the input voltage to 12v.
Purpose: To determine the input voltage and auto startup behavior after low voltage shutdown.
Result:
- WinyCam 0306 FW (EN) -- Camera stays off
- Livue 0306 FW (KR) -- Camera stays off
Comment: The startup voltage must be >12v.
Test 4: Same as test 3 except turn up the input voltage to 15v instead.
Purpose: To determine the auto startup behavior after low voltage shutdown.
Result:
- WinyCam 0306 FW (EN) -- Camera turned on
- Livue 0306 FW (KR) -- Camera turned on
Comment: The shutdown timer works when the input voltage is 12v.
Overall, the camera behaves the same on different input voltages despite the firmware languages are different.
The following tests are for Livue's Korean firmware only.
Test 5: Set the shutdown timer to 2 hours. Power up the camera with 12v. Wait for 2 hours.
Purpose: To determine the shutdown timer behavior.
Result: Camera turned off after 2 hours.
Comment: The shutdown timer works when the input voltage is 12v.
Test 6: Continue from test 5. After the camera is off for 5 minute, turn up the input voltage to 15v.
Purpose: To determine the auto startup behavior after the camera shut down using the shutdown timer.
Result: Camera turned on.
Comment: The camera can auto start up with 15v or lower, but it must be >12v.
Test 7: Same as test 5 except the camera is powered by my car battery (>12.5v)
Purpose: To determine the shutdown timer behavior when the input voltage is higher than the camera’s startup voltage.
Result: Camera turned off after 2 hours, but immediately started up again.
Comment: The 12.5v (+/- 0.2v) auto startup voltage from the manual should be correct. That means the camera will keep turning on and off until the battery is drained to <75% capacity. The shutdown timer is pretty useless in the area I live. Maybe it’ll work in a cooler area.