Blackvue Dash Cam install

That is most likely just for adding 360 camera to 2019 and below models.
Making a dedicated DVR is not a small feat.

 

Right, hence my question. I figured the PMP was rated for lower amps so placing them in line wasn't going to work.

@Bunk Moreland, I'm likely missing something with understanding your setup. Truck battery powers B-124. B-124 powers camera. Same setup I use. But the PMP is placed after the B-124? What functionality does that add to your setup? Unless you've connected the B-124 with a constant fuse and use the PMP to measure voltage after the B-124 is drained, but then the B-124 would still recharge itself.

 

If I'm reading this correctly, you're asking "what keeps the vehicle battery from being depleted by the B-124 continuously recharging itself from the vehicle battery?"

If that's what you're asking, the answer is the B-124 has a voltage cut off of exactly 12v; it will shut itself down when the input voltage reaches 12v.

 

That's awesome! I'll be looking forward to seeing that.

 

The dash cam battery is fuse is hot. The fuse only draws power when the vehicle is running. Takes about 1/2 hour to charge from 0-100%
Once vehicle is switched off, dash cam powers off the dash cam battery, until is at 0%. Dual channel set up gets about 18 hours of parking mode. The dash cam never draws power in parking mode from vehicles battery. It’s a worthwhile investment ($300)
Lead acid batteries do poorly when they cut off and then recycle upon start up.

 

That is odd, my Cellink Neo cuts off at 11.7v, which is basically a dead lead acid.

 

I understand the issues with my original thinking but didn't point out specifically that scenario. Apologies for the confusion. I didn't know the B-124 has an internal shutoff; just thought it kept sucking until it could get no more.

I have this setup. It's been fine so far but I wish I could get more uptime. My commutes are short so I typically don't have full coverage available even while the truck sits at work, let alone the whole night. So it sounds like a potential solution is just to switch the fuse for the B-124. I currently have it tapped into the DOOR S/L 20A, which is switched. I could tap into another equally rated constant fuse and let the B-124 stop siphoning from the truck battery when it hits 12V.

 

You CAN, and without spending a crap ton of money! (A measely $72 greenbacks)

32000mah at up to 6amps continuous, over 3 ports. 2.4amps per single port.

So: 32000mah / .3amps per hour = ~106 hours of camera run time!!!

I am going to begin experimenting with this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZ6KSG...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

Very excited to see results.

 

Update:

I wasn't able to get THAT particular battery delivered in time for some weekend testing, so I'm using an older Ravpower battery that I've had approx. 2 years. It's the Ravpower model RP-PB41, with a 26,800mAh battery, and 3 usb outlets, @ 1.0/2.1/2.4 amps output.

With both cameras plugged in to the 1.0 amp usb outlet, I ran a 48 hour test; at the BlackVue stated power consumption of 0.30 amps, there was still approx. 1/2 of the battery left after 48 hours. This particular battery uses 4 led's to let you know the state of charge--which isn't very precise enough, but I feel confident enough that I could get close to the theoretical 89 hours of battery life/use.

If this battery had a bluetooth feature to see what it's doing, like the BlackVue B-124, it would be perfect.

Conclusion: It works FANTASTICALLY!

(https://www.ravpower.com/rp-pb41.html)

 

What'd you use to connect the camera to the USB port?

 

I was going to make my own cable, but I found this one in my box of spare cables & wires. I don't remember where it came from, and it has no markings on it. It's ~3 feet long.

 

Looks like a power cable for a USB hub or KVM. I should have some spare ones lying around.

So since the Ravpower battery greatly outclasses the B-124 in terms of battery life, what advantage(s) does the B-124 bring to the fight? Is it perhaps more heat-tolerant, given it's designed to sit in a hot cab? Obviously the Bluetooth is a nice feature.

 

Fast charging.
In about 30-45 minutes, it will reach full charge.

 

One battery is much less expensive than the other. One battery takes 13 hours to recharge from zero, the other one takes 40 minutes. One has bluetooth, one doesn't. One battery can be used while charging, the other cannot. One battery can be expanded in parallel, the other? Not so much.

 

I'm interested in doing this, partly for accident and definitely parking.

Any reason you guys didn't put the rear cam behind the headrest so it's out of your sight line??

 

It is not large, and does not really obstruct my field of vision.
Also the higher up it is installed, the better it is at recording a larger area.

 

When you're parked are the cams motion activated?

 

That's an option. I run my 900s dual cams 24/7.

 

subd