[MikeVictor]

Going OT slightly, but something for checking out local, homegrown "talent".

https://www.youtube.com/user/DashCamOwnersAustral

There's also a few dashcam reviews available as well as an DIY install video.

[MikeVictor]

Thanks Feng for the pics and write up too. It came in handy today when I did my install

[Monkeyboxers]

Does the wiring need to be reworked so that it can fit into the fuse? Or does the kit already comes with fuse kit?

Looking to do the same setup

[feng]

you just head to your local supercheap and get some fuse taps. There are different sizes (obviously) but they're readily available.

[MikeVictor]

Originally Posted by feng

you just head to your local supercheap and get some fuse taps. There are different sizes (obviously) but they're readily available.

Yep. Or Jaycar stocks them.

[Monkeyboxers]

Got my Blackvue this morning and getting the vehicle this afternoon

I was looking at the earth wire and it looks kinda small for it to be secured with the bolts. Where is the ideal place to earth the wire?

[feng]

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

I was looking at the earth wire and it looks kinda small for it to be secured with the bolts. Where is the ideal place to earth the wire?

That box on the left of the fuse box... it's held down with a metal bracket. I bent the grounding wire a little and screwed it under that.

Can take a pic if you don't figure it out.

[texter]

Originally Posted by Broz

Can anyone recommend an installer in Melbourne?

Warming to the idea of getting one.

I don't think I could DIY this, should I approach an auto electrician or ask a independent workshop who work with BMWs?

[Monkeyboxers]

feng i did the install by following your steps, thanks!

I'm having an issue tho, not sure you got it as well. When I leave the cam on for over night, the next day when I start the car the cam doesn't come on?

Would you know what might be the issue? The cam is set for default 12v and 6 hrs

[feng]

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

feng i did the install by following your steps, thanks!

I'm having an issue tho, not sure you got it as well. When I leave the cam on for over night, the next day when I start the car the cam doesn't come on?

Would you know what might be the issue? The cam is set for default 12v and 6 hrs

can you take some pics of how you have it cabled up?

how do you get it to turn on then if it never comes on?

[Monkeyboxers]

The cam did come on originally when it first was installed, but when I went back the next day it was off. I have to manually turn off and then in the Magic Pro to start the dashcam.

Sorry about the crappy image! But here's my layout of my fuse

[MikeVictor]

I can't tell from your photo, but does your PowerMagic have power? Green light didn't look lit.

Also check your fuse taps are connected to the PM wires properly.

[Boxtyp3]

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

The cam did come on originally when it first was installed, but when I went back the next day it was off. I have to manually turn off and then in the Magic Pro to start the dashcam.

Sorry about the crappy image! But here's my layout of my fuse

Can't tell from the pix, did you use 155 or 143 fuse for your ACC wire?

[Monkeyboxers]

The fuses I'm using are:

- 161 (right rear tail light on a RHD car) for the BATT+ cable. Large fuse tap used for this one.
- 143 (wing mirrors, or anti dazzle or something) for the ACC+ cable. Mini fuse tap used for this one.

Whenever I leave the dashcam for a long period (like 6 hrs) the next day when I jump into the car, the dashcam won't turn on. Which is why you're not seeing the power light on.

So I have to manually turn off and on the PowerMagic.

Last night I thought it could be caused by a bad ground connection, so I sanded the paint off so that there was bare metal. But still won't work this morning.

[MikeVictor]

You can tell if the grounding connection is bad as the green light on the PM will flash, so that's not going to be it.

Perhaps try different settings, say 12V/12hrs? Switch wise this is 0,0,0,0,1.

Failing that just double check everything again, fuse points, wiring, the lot. Especially check the crimp connectors, they can be a PITA.

Also - another option would be to connect to the BV using the Blackvue C app (the newer one) and update it's firmware to see if that gets any gremlins out.

Hope you can iron it out, they really are a great system to have.

[feng]

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

The fuses I'm using are:

- 161 (right rear tail light on a RHD car) for the BATT+ cable. Large fuse tap used for this one.
- 143 (wing mirrors, or anti dazzle or something) for the ACC+ cable. Mini fuse tap used for this one.

Whenever I leave the dashcam for a long period (like 6 hrs) the next day when I jump into the car, the dashcam won't turn on. Which is why you're not seeing the power light on.

So I have to manually turn off and on the PowerMagic.

Last night I thought it could be caused by a bad ground connection, so I sanded the paint off so that there was bare metal. But still won't work this morning.

Does sound like something funny with the PowerMagic though as once it detects BATT+ power on the mainline it should be ok and it should turn the UPS portion off.

As with Mike, double check your crimps... kinda sounds like the wires are switched but from the picture they don't appear to be.

[feng]

from your other post:

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

Update: I've tried as suggested and unplug the power cable for the front camera whenever it's left in the garage, but when I started the car this morning it still won't start.

If you don't power cycle the PowerMagic and go for a drive, does it eventually turn back on?

I doubt it's a BlackVue issue... definitely isolated to the PowerMagic.

[Monkeyboxers]

I called the place I bought the BlackVue and they advised I should connect the fuse to an ignition part such as radio. So I've done that and see if that works. Frustrating!

[feng]

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

I called the place I bought the BlackVue and they advised I should connect the fuse to an ignition part such as radio. So I've done that and see if that works. Frustrating!

The BATT+ needs to be on an always on circuit. Not sure if behaviour has changed on the 330i, but on the 328i that I have, the light circuit (you can test it by pulling the fuse out while the lights are on and one of your rear bulbs should disconnect) is always on.

The Radio is most certainly not an always on circuit. The ACC can happily go onto that one, but there are a multitude of ACC circuits to hook into.

The behaviour is sounding like the PMP is not behaving.

Here's a scenario for you.

If you drive for a bit without power cycling... if my theory is correct... the PMP should kick into life after the battery has more charge.

If this is the case, try 11.8V. If the problem persists, but not as often, then it's just the tolerance of the PMP (it did state in the manual it's + or - a certain voltage).

I now have mine on 11.8V/6hr as whenever I used a high drain device (auto boot) it'd power off the PMP.

[Monkeyboxers]

So after work I changed the ACC fuse from 143 to 120 (one of the radio fuse) and about 5 hours later whilst driving home from basketball, Blackvue gave me notice "Blackvue powering off". This is whilst I was driving.

I went and placed it back to 143, and what I have found was that the fuse was behavioral. When I plug it into the fuse, the light on the PMP won't be on but when I nudge it to making sure it's tight fit, the light comes on. But this morning the PMP was off again, but the mirror wings were working? Trip to work took about 40 mins, but Blackvue never came on.

I also checked the cringe and it was very tight, couldn't pull the wires out.

What I'll do today/tonight is test the PMP settings. Set it to 12V/12 hrs as per Mike's suggestion, if that doesn't work. I'll try feng's suggestion 11.8V/6hrs and will also be downloading the Blackvue C app.

Thanks guys for helping me with this!

[Boxtyp3]

Originally Posted by Monkeyboxers

So after work I changed the ACC fuse from 143 to 120 (one of the radio fuse) and about 5 hours later whilst driving home from basketball, Blackvue gave me notice "Blackvue powering off". This is whilst I was driving.

I went and placed it back to 143, and what I have found was that the fuse was behavioral. When I plug it into the fuse, the light on the PMP won't be on but when I nudge it to making sure it's tight fit, the light comes on. But this morning the PMP was off again, but the mirror wings were working? Trip to work took about 40 mins, but Blackvue never came on.

I also checked the cringe and it was very tight, couldn't pull the wires out.

What I'll do today/tonight is test the PMP settings. Set it to 12V/12 hrs as per Mike's suggestion, if that doesn't work. I'll try feng's suggestion 11.8V/6hrs and will also be downloading the Blackvue C app.

Thanks guys for helping me with this!

I actually have the same problem on my Thinkware X500. That's the reason why I ask you before on your post. After 30secs it powers off all the time. I change my fuse tap from 155 to 143 and the problem disappeared.

[Monkeyboxers]

So this is what I've done for today for testing and illuminating the issue:

- Downloaded the newest Blackvue App C and updated the firmware
- Switched the PMP to 11.8v and kept it at 6 hours
- Checked fuse 161. Took out fuse when the lights were on and it did turn off the LHD rear lights.

When I got home around 6 and finished dinner, went and check at 8. The PMP was off!

Should I try and remove the wires from the crimp and wrapped it directly to the fuse to make sure it's not the crimps?

Also when the voltage drops below 11.8v will the PMP light still be lit and the Blackvue just not turn on or will then PMP be off as well?