Two Dashcams On one Powercell 8?

[vblue42]

I have two BlackVue Dashcams installed. ADR970x Box and a DR770x Box that are both wired together to a Powercell 8 battery pack. Powercell 8 is hardwired using a relay. All the research I’ve done says this should not be an issue. However Intermittently one of the cameras will power down throughout the day. Anyone with knowledge on how this kind of stuff works got any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[Vortex Radar]

I run 2-3 dashcams off of one battery all the time, including Blackvues. How do you have your parking mode triggers set up? Maybe one dashcam is turning off due to a temporary voltage drop or something? You can try reducing the low voltage cutoff (in parking mode recording, battery protection) to the lowest option of 11.8v if you haven't done so already.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I have two BlackVue Dashcams installed. ADR970x Box and a DR770x Box that are both wired together to a Powercell 8 battery pack. Powercell 8 is hardwired using a relay. All the research I’ve done says this should not be an issue.

Welcome to the club @vblue42
I’ve been running three 3CH cameras off a single PowerCell 8 for years with no issues.

How do you have your parking mode triggers set up? Maybe one dashcam is turning off due to a temporary voltage drop or something? You can try reducing the low voltage cutoff (in parking mode recording, battery protection) to the lowest option of 11.8v if you haven't done so already.

Agree.

However Intermittently one of the cameras will power down throughout the day.

Q: Is the same camera shutting off prematurely each time?

Suggestions;
1.) Factory Reset / Default Settings both cameras.
2.) Unplug barrel power connector at one of the cameras, run it in parking mode until it shuts off.
Look at the last second of the last recorded file, take note of the voltage display on the text stamp.
3.) Do same with other camera.
Do they both shut off at the same voltage?

Q: Does the BlackVue APP Low Voltage Cutoff have a setting for OFF, or battery?
The PowerCell 8 will drop all the way down to 10.0V before shutting off, so 11.8V is shutting off the camera with about 4% capacity left in battery.
That will be about 30 extra minutes with 2 cameras.
-Chuck

 

[vblue42]

I run 2-3 dashcams off of one battery all the time, including Blackvues. How do you have your parking mode triggers set up? Maybe one dashcam is turning off due to a temporary voltage drop or something? You can try reducing the low voltage cutoff (in parking mode recording, battery protection) to the lowest option of 11.8v if you haven't done so already.

Hey Vortex. I was hopping you would reply as I’ve been following you for a while. While I’ve got your attention I’d like to know if you are still using the Viofo EP100 as an expansion to the Powercell 8 and if it is still working properly as an expansion well. I have a B124E that’s several years old but I’m not sure it’s working properly as an expansion.

 

[Vortex Radar]

Hey Vortex. I was hopping you would reply as I’ve been following you for a while. While I’ve got your attention I’d like to know if you are still using the Viofo EP100 as an expansion to the Powercell 8 and if it is still working properly as an expansion well. I have a B124E that’s several years old but I’m not sure it’s working properly as an expansion.

Yep, still working well and I'm glad to have the extra capacity and record time. In fact it was in place when my car recently got hit shortly after the install.

What do you mean about the B124E not working properly? It should work fine in theory. I did notice that the PC8's app was off initially with its charge estimate. IIRC, I plugged in a fully charged battery, but it assumed the battery was empty, and I was worried it would overcharge the battery, but the BMS should help manage that and after some charge/discharge cycles, it looks like it's now in sync with the true capacity.