Dongar Pro (park mode) in 10 days

I did figure out that you need to turn on the Parking Mode on the dash cam itself. The Dongar adapter is just a method of power delivery. The Viofo has 3 types of parking mode: Timelapse, when it senses movement, or a constant video at a lower bitrate. You can select and change it in the settings as you like.

When you’re parking, just turn on parking mode on the dash cam, either via voice command or with one of the buttons on the dash cam itself.

But before you turn off your car, you need to switch the Dongar pro adapter to either Time mode or Continuous mode, so that it’ll continue to provide power to the dash cam. Time mode is limited to 4 hours or low voltage detection. Continuous mode is endless time or low voltage.

I have not left my car parked anywhere outside my garage for more than an hour since install so I can’t speak to the low voltage protection. But if I ever have trouble with a dead battery, the first suspect would be the dash cam and adapter. I’ll get a portable jumper just in case.

 

You can also get a simple OBD port to USB cable adapter with built in low power cutoff and then enable parking mode on the camera. I’ve been running a Viofo that way in multiple vehicles and it’s super easy, doesn’t require any added wiring and it works.

 

I got this for my Garmin mini 2 but imagine it would work for any USB powered dash cam

$48 Garmin Constant Power Cable, Compatible with Garmin Dash Cam, Fits Vehicle's OBD-II Port for Power Even When Parked and Turned Off

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094Y3KNFJ?ie=UTF8

 

side question:
memory card brand/size?

 

It doesn’t seem like the low power cut off works on mine. Just went to start the truck for the first time in two weeks and it was dead. First time it’s died on me ever, and first time I have left the Dongar Pro on for more than a couple hours.

When I have time I will go get the battery tested to make sure it wasn’t just a coincidence.

UPDATE: It killed the battery again in 4 hour mode when i left it for a week. I had the battery tested and it is still good. So I am deducing that the Dongar Pro drained it beyond starting levels both times. Doesn’t seem like 4 hour mode or the low power cut off work.

 

Just installed one with a Garmin Mini 3. Super easy to install.

I've got it in continuous mode, but may end up limiting it to 4 hours. The only place the truck is longer than 4 hours is at the house.

 

Its a nice idea but many dash cams parking mode or sentry mode depend on a camera specific hardwire module, which this doesn't emulate. If this had a way to emulate or interface with those modules for on-demand non-continuous monitoring, it would be quite good. As its set up now, it just adds a parasitic draw without much utility.

 

Subbed for the Dongar Pro and the Piqo 2k.

Has anyone else had any luck with the Dongar Pro and it not draining the battery?

 

Anyone noticing a high pitched whine coming from the Dongar Pro connected to a Garmin Mini 2?

 

I don't hear it on mine but it's a known issue. The maker acknowledge this in and promises a fix soon.