Wiring in a dashcam

[Forsh]

Hi all,

I've bought myself a dashcam for the Zed and want to wire it in permanently. I've bought myself a 12V-5V DC/DC converter for a couple'a quid, and an add-a-fuse from eBay. The install and wiring is no problem to me, the only issue I have at the minute is getting a wire through the firewall.

I looked around the fusebox and under it, but I can't see where the loom goes through the firewall. The fusebox looks pretty deep/tall, and I'm guessing the loom goes through the firewall somewhere inside this box and through to behind the glovebox. Would I be correct in assuming this, and if so, how can I get access?

Alternatively, are there any fuses located inside the cabin that I could use instead?

Cheers folks,

Forsh

 

[t-tony]

On my Z3 I tapped into the ignition fed live to the radio. Easy to get to.

Tony.

 

[Forsh]

Thanks for the reply Tony.

Did you gain access to this by removed glovebox trim to go in from the side? Im assuming: cut the live, solder and heat shrink the 3 ends together, job done?

 

[littlefeller]

i cheated and used my heated rear screen circuit, i would have thought even cars without hardtops would have some provision somewhere for you to still take the feed from there. lift the little panel behind the handbrake and have a look. this circuit goes live with the ignition

 

[Forsh]

i cheated and used my heated rear screen circuit, i would have thought even cars without hardtops would have some provision somewhere for you to still take the feed from there.

Where did you manage to find the loom popping up? Is it easy to find behind the passenger seat/shoulder area?

 

[littlefeller]

when i brought my car it had the mounts in place so it was real easy, but the switch for the heated screen is in the panel behind the handbrake, i would have thought the plug would still be there even without a hardtop and switch

 

[littlefeller]

if you have had a hard top at some point then yes the socket i used was in exactly that area (passenger shoulder area) it goes up where the strut for the roof is.

 

[Forsh]

Thanks for your replies littlefeller. I don't believe the car has had a hard top on in the past, but I shall have a dig around that are and see what I can find. Cheers.

 

[littlefeller]

i do know that when you buy a hard top it comes with this extra section of wiring and switch, so it must plug into a socket in the handbrake tunnel somewhere behind that little pannel, i would sugest lifting this little pannel first, it comes out real easy.

 

[Forsh]

Will be my first port of call then - tar!

 

[littlefeller]

let us know what you find in there. this could be a good feed for a lowish powered amp, im tempted to put usb in to mine little pannel

 

[t-tony]

You have a shorter route for the wiring if you use the radio live surely? Just splice into the live and tape it well.

Tony.

 

[littlefeller]

You have a shorter route for the wiring if you use the radio live surely? Just splice into the live and tape it well.

Tony.

yeh but i was lazy

 

[Forsh]

You have a shorter route for the wiring if you use the radio live surely? Just splice into the live and tape it well.

Tony.

Accessed via the glovebox area Tony?

 

[jonco]

On my Z3 I tapped into the ignition fed live to the radio. Easy to get to.

Tony.

Tony - I thought you positioned yours on screen behind rear view mirror? If so, can you use adjacent interior light switch?

 

[t-tony]

Is that ignition controlled Colin?, I didn't think it was. I simply ran the power wire down the door rubber accross behind the glove box into a cig lighter extension wired to the radio live and Earth. Easy to remove if needed.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

Accessed via the glovebox area Tony?

I went in through the side panel. The lower panel below the glove box gives access to stowe excess cable.

Tony.