Thinkware F200 Pro - troubleshooting power issues

[strobe]

Hi all,

I've had a F200 Pro hardwired into a couple of vehicles now without any problems. Originally in a BMW 3-series, I uninstalled it and transferred it to an X3 last year. The initial install in the X3 was a bit glitchy as sometimes the cam wouldn't power up, and sometimes it would, despite everything being fine with the fuses I used. Eventually it settled down of it's own accord and has been working perfectly reliably for many months.

Until last week, when I removed the barrel connector from the camera to check the memory card - plugged it back in, and the power light came on for half a second before going dead. Have checked there's power at both the fuses again. The cigarette lighter cable works and allows the camera to power up. But nothing when I plug the hardwire power plug / barrel connector into the camera.

Logical next thing is to check the power is coming through to the barrel connector - but I can't find any descriptions anywhere of which tip/ring on the barrel connector is providing batt, acc, and ground connections. Can anyone advise?

Or any other ideas of what to check?

 

[rcg530]

The center of barrel connector is constant power, the small ring is accessory power and the large "sleeve" connector is ground.

 

[strobe]

Perfect, thank you!

 

[strobe]

Having testing the power supply to the barrel connector, everything seems fine. Power supplied on both batt and acc parts of the barrel as expected. And yet the camera won't power up - only when supplied via the cigarette lighter lead.

Anyone have any further suggestions of anything to check, or is the camera borked?

 

[rcg530]

If you checked the constant and accessory power on the barrel connector the only thing left is the ground connection portion of the barrel connector. Make sure the ground wire of the power cable is connected to a good/clean metal vehicle body connection point.

 

[Thinkware Dash Cam]

Having testing the power supply to the barrel connector, everything seems fine. Power supplied on both batt and acc parts of the barrel as expected. And yet the camera won't power up - only when supplied via the cigarette lighter lead.

Anyone have any further suggestions of anything to check, or is the camera borked?

Here's a guide for a dash cam that is no longer powering on using the main power cable.

https://support.thinkware.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011642314-Won-t-Power-On

 

[strobe]

If you checked the constant and accessory power on the barrel connector the only thing left is the ground connection portion of the barrel connector. Make sure the ground wire of the power cable is connected to a good/clean metal vehicle body connection point.

Thanks, forgot to specify in my previous post that yes I checked the batt and acc connections with the multimeter grounded against both the ground nut down by the fuse box, and the ground sleeve on the barrel connector. Same result both times, healthy voltage.

Here's a guide for a dash cam that is no longer powering on using the main power cable.

https://support.thinkware.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011642314-Won-t-Power-On

Thanks, but unfortunately that flow chart doesn't help my situation. I've confirmed the barrel connector is supplying power and is correctly grounded, so there's no need to replace the hardwire kit. But the dash cam won't power on. Guess it's time to consider a replacement.

 

[Thinkware Dash Cam]

Thanks, forgot to specify in my previous post that yes I checked the batt and acc connections with the multimeter grounded against both the ground nut down by the fuse box, and the ground sleeve on the barrel connector. Same result both times, healthy voltage.

Thanks, but unfortunately that flow chart doesn't help my situation. I've confirmed the barrel connector is supplying power and is correctly grounded, so there's no need to replace the hardwire kit. But the dash cam won't power on. Guess it's time to consider a replacement.

If that's the case, then the dash cam is already dead and needs a repair.

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