Blackvue Dash Cam install

I've not installed the PMP yet. Waiting for a warm day when I have some time to mess with it. Right now it's just plugged into the cig lighter hole and I've only got the front camera installed. I had the PMP & rear cam installed on my previous Tacoma and I had it set for unlimited hours and 12v turn off. I don't know if it ever actually got below 12v and turned off as I hadn't parked anywhere for a extended period that had enough movement around to keep capturing clips and put a drain on the battery. Still wish I'd have went with the model with built in GPS. I'll probably get something new in a year or so as these things evolve pretty quickly and what was high end tech, will be old tech pretty soon and prices keep coming down as competition increases.

 

I got the DR750S-2CH. I don't know if you can get 12 hours using a Power Magic Pro (or comparable unit). I think I've seen most people reporting 6 hours? 8? Depends on the parking mode settings. Could be completely wrong as I've not gone that route. Instead, I got their B-124 battery connected via an add-a-fuse. It charges up in about 45 min of engine use and lasts roughly 18 hours on a good day.

 

Installed and making videos..
Overnight in the driveway I'm getting 5pm to 8am parking mode with the DR590w-2CH on the PMP.
I'm busy adjusting the sensitivities to avoid getting videos every time a car drives by..

 

Just finished installing my DR900S-2ch, w/ the PMP and the B124 battery. So far, so good.

Next I need to figure out the hot-spot for the live view feature.

 

How did you get the PMP and battery to both supply power to the camera?

 

The B124 is hardwired to my aux truck battery (I'm running the Off-Grid Engineering split dual battery setup with the BlueSeas ACR.) The B124 powers the PMP and controls the voltage cutoff & timer. The PMP is hardwired to the camera.

Here, see if this makes sense. If not, feel free to ask.

 

In that set up, is the even PMP necessary?
I would not see how it would even be able to do it's job properly.
It does not cut off the connection from the B124 to your battery, so your B124 will constantly drain it, even IF the PMP cuts off the connection to the camera.

The B124's LiFePO4 should also output a nominal 12.8 then 12v at flat, so the PMP would then not cut off anyways.

The PMP was designed to read the voltage and cutoff Lead Acid batteries, were the voltage greatly vary depending on existing charge.

UNLESS, you only use the timer aspect of the PMP.
Setting it with a 12v cut off and a timer of 12 hours.

 

Picture makes sense. You just connected them in line. I don't have an aux battery (yet), so what I'd want to do is put the PMP before the battery. Let the battery supply power to the camera, charging from the truck until the PMP cuts it off, at which point the B-124 powers the camera until it runs dry.

On that note, haven't looked at the specs for the PMP. Is it rated for 10+ A? The B-124 charges at around 9A and I tapped a 20A fuse per the instructions.

 

The PMP requires a 1-2 amp fuse. (https://helpcenter.blackvue.com/hc/...to-hardwire-my-dashcam-using-Power-Magic-Pro-)

 

The reason why this would not work, is because the PMP only outputs 1~2 amps.
A Cellink/B124 etc. require at least 5 amp to 9 amps to function properly.

Even if it did charged at 1~2 amps, it would take forever to charge the battery, forget it even powering the camera at the same time.

 

Before installing this setup in my truck, I tested this exact configuration in my house, using a 12v lead acid motorcycle battery (until it died, because it wasn't getting recharged, like when you're driving) and in place of the B-124 (until it arrived in the mail) I used a 8x HEADWAY 38120 LiFePo4 batteries, connected 4s2p, to make a 12v nominal, 20ah pack.

The motorcycle battery kept the LiFePo4 lithium pack fully charged, the lithium pack operated the PMP, which operated the camera. The PMP does cut off the connection between the battery pack and the camera--that's why it has an on/off switch. The PMP voltage & timer worked independently and collectively.

I was able to chart the practically flat operating voltage of the lithium pack; 14.6v full charge to 12.0v cut off (3.65v - 3.00v per battery) from full to 20% DOD

 

Just wondering,
Is this to an ignition/ACC or constant?

If it is a constant,
If the battery pack reaches flat 12v, that means it is no longer getting charged by the LA battery, which means the LA battery is now drained.

Because if the LA battery has power left then the battery pack would be at 100% constantly until the LA has no more charge to give. Then the battery pack will using its internal charge.
Then the PMP would cutoff when both LA and battery pack are at very low levels.

If you use the vehicle daily, then it is not so much of an issue, since it would keep charged.
But being away for more than a day or two can lead to a dead Car battery.

 

My AUTOMOTIVE TRUCK BATTERY charges the B-124 via a hardwire.
My AUTOMOTIVE TRUCK BATTERY is itself recharged by the alternator when I drive the truck.
The B-124 powers the camera through the PMP, which makes use of the voltage AND timer cutoffs (or doesn't have to.)
The PMP is also wired to a switched fuse, to tell the PMP when to go into parking mode (provided the parking mode switch is turn on) and when the vehicle is running. (at present time, I don't have that wire connected to anything--the PMP is being powered inline, by the B-124.)

The Blackvue 900-2ch pulls 0.02-0.04 amps per hour. The B-124 is a 6000mah battery pack. I̶'̶l̶l̶ ̶l̶e̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶2̶4̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶e̶l̶f̶.̶
I decided to help you out. 6000mah / 0.04 amps = 150 hours continuous run time.

I̶f̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶d̶r̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶t̶r̶u̶c̶k̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶6̶.̶2̶5̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶s̶,̶ ̶A̶N̶D̶ ̶I̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶c̶o̶n̶n̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶A̶U̶T̶O̶M̶O̶T̶I̶V̶E̶ ̶T̶R̶U̶C̶K̶ ̶B̶A̶T̶T̶E̶R̶Y̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶2̶4̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶n̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶y̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶r̶o̶x̶.̶ ̶6̶.̶2̶5̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶2̶4̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶d̶i̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶f̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶r̶e̶c̶o̶n̶n̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶A̶U̶T̶O̶M̶O̶T̶I̶V̶E̶ ̶T̶R̶U̶C̶K̶ ̶B̶A̶T̶T̶E̶R̶Y̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶t̶r̶u̶c̶k̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶e̶s̶t̶i̶m̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶2̶3̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶2̶4̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶k̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶A̶U̶T̶O̶M̶O̶T̶I̶V̶E̶ ̶T̶R̶U̶C̶K̶ ̶B̶A̶T̶T̶E̶R̶Y̶.̶ ̶A̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶-̶1̶2̶4̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶d̶i̶e̶.̶ Retracting these specs until I can verify if my camera's spec sheet is incorrect, or if the BlackVue site is wrong. One states power consumption as 0.02-0.04a/h vs 0.2 - 0.4a/h. Big difference.

I tested this at home, I know it works.
I'm running it in my truck at this very moment, I know it works.

 

Sorry, LA = Lead Acid, and battery pack would be the Cellink/B124.
I now follow, all the extra info helped me wrap my head around it.
The DR900S-2CH would be at around 15hrs.

I used to run a PMP to my DR750S-2CH, but sold the PMP when I got my Cellink Neo9.

 

So I stand corrected. The specs that came with my camera were printed incorrectly, or perhaps their website is wrong.
My printed information states camera power consumption as 0.02 - 0.04amps/hour, whereas their website states 0.2-0.4amps per hour (1 or both cameras.) Interesting.

I'll have to see what the B-124 states as its actual output, on the app, when i get back to my truck.

 

I love my Blackvue. Been using it for 5 1/2 years . I've always wanted to upgrade to a 2 channel but never have. I'm using the DR500GW. Great device.

 

The Blackvue DR900S-2CH is a great upgrade.
I got the DR750S-2CH though, for more than half off, I could not resist.

 

Thanks man, I'll check it out. I've always wanted a 2 channel and the quality of the Blackvue is excellent. Mine has held up well.

 

2ch is great, I always opt for at least dual channel, especially for larger vehicles.
My 2ch is towards the back, so I can see if anyone is trying to take a peek in my bed, or tailgate thefts.

I just wish there was a way to do 4ch.

 

Rumor has it that once the 2020s come out @MESO is going to look at the possibility of some sort of camera system similar to the new Tacos. Should be interesting.