Dashcams can help you record everything around your car when driving which can help you in many ways. You can use the recorded videos as proof of your innocence or to claim insurance in case of any incident. But did you know that the dash cams need power to run and they take that power from the battery of your car. You might be wondering if your dash cam can drain the battery of your car. In this guide, we have talked about how dash cameras use power and what are the ways to prevent battery drain.
How Does a Dash Cam Work?
Dash cameras are small cameras that you can attach to your car, and they will record everything on the road when you drive.
Camera Lens and Sensor
The dash cams have lenses and sensors just like any other camera. The lens of the dash cam Is what records / captures the image or video of what is around your car. The sensor turns this image into a digital video by combining these images. This is how your dashcam sees the road.
Processor
The processor is the brain of your dashcam. It takes the video from the sensor and sends it to the SD card to save it. The processor is what will handle other tasks like loop recording and motion detection (G-Sensor).
Storage (SD Card)
Dash cams need a storage device to save videos such as a memory card (SD card). The size of your memory card decides how much video can you store on your dash cam. You should choose a good SD card from a reputable brand to make sure your dash cam works well and save videos for whenever you need it.
Power Source
Dash cameras also need power to run them which it usually takes directly from your car. You can plug your dash cam into the power outlet of your car or hardwire it to your car's battery. There are other ways you can use to power your dash cam as well.
Will a Dash Cam Drain Your Car Battery?
Dash cams only use a small amount of power to keep them running and record. But if you leave them on for a long time, they can also drain your battery. You should understand the risk it can cause because once your car battery is fully drained, your car will not even start.
Assessment of Power Consumption During Regular Use
When your car is running, the motor (alternator) also charges the battery. This means that your dash cam is not taking power from the battery but directly from the engine. This is how your dashcams work normally.
Potential Risks of Battery Drain If Left Unattended
If you are using the parking mode in your dash cam and leave it running normally for the whole night, it will take power from the battery. With time, it can take all power from your battery and drain it completely. This is normal if you have an older battery or a battery that is partially charged.
How Long Does It Take for a Dash Cam to Drain Your Car Battery?
The time your dash camera can take to drain your battery is decided by a few things.
Factors Influencing Battery Drain
· Dash Cam Model
Different dash cams use different amounts of power depending on what features they have. If your dash cam has advanced features like image processing, your camera will take more power. Wolfbox dash cams are power-efficient and need very less power to run.
· Battery Capacity
A bigger battery can give power to your dash cam for a long time. A smaller battery will fail to do so after some time and will drain completely.
· Recording Settings
If you are using higher resolution settings on your dash cam, it will take a lot more power as compared to lower resolution settings. You should choose the right resolution for your dash cam depending on when you are using it.
· Battery Health
An older or unhealthy battery can drain a lot faster than a new battery when providing power to your dash cam. You should check your battery health regularly to make sure they are working fine.
· Outside Temperature
Outside Temperature can also affect the performance of your battery. If it is very hot or very cold weather outside, it can make your battery drain faster than usual.
Estimates of Time Frames for Significant Battery Depletion
|
Power Source |
Approximate Recording Time (Before Significant Drain) |
|
Car Battery (Direct) |
A few hours to a day (It depend on battery health and dash cam power draw) |
|
External Battery Pack |
Several hours to several days (It depends on capacity of your battery pack ) |
|
Supercapacitor |
Very short time (It is only enough to save the last recording) |
If you are using a hardwire kit with a voltage cutoff, it will protect the main battery of your car from being completely drained.
How to Prevent a Dash Cam from Draining Your Car Battery
Utilizing Parking Mode with Voltage Monitoring
Parking mode lets you use your dash cam to record even when your car is off and parked. Voltage monitoring can help you stop the dash cam from taking the power from your car battery once it reaches a certain level.
To use parking mode with voltage monitoring, you will need a hardwire kit and a dash cam that has voltage cutoff in its settings like Wolfbox G900Pro. This will cut the power input for your dash cam when the battery gets to a preset voltage level and stop it from draining.
Installing a Hardwiring Kit with Voltage Cutoff
A hardwiring kit lets you connect your dash cam directly to the electrical system of your car. A voltage cutoff can help you stop the power supply for your dash cam when the voltage of your battery drops too low.
You can get it from the Wolfbox Hard wiring kit and install it by following the instructions in the manual. If you are buying a Wolfbox Dash cam, they come with a hardwire kit and you will not have to worry about getting one separately. Wolfbox kits are very easy to install and will protect your car battery from draining.
Regularly Disconnecting the Dash Cam When Not in Use
If you are parking your car somewhere that already has cameras such as your garage, you should disconnect your dash cam or unplug it. This will also stop them from using any power and make sure your battery is safe. This is the easiest way to save your battery from draining if you don't use your car a lot.
Can You Prevent Your Dash Cam from Draining Your Car Battery?
Yes. There are many ways you can use to prevent your dash cam from draining your car battery. You can get a separate power backup system for your dash cam so it is not connected to your main car battery. This separate battery system can be charged by an alternator when the engine of your car is running and will give power to the camera when it is off.
Considerations for Selecting Dash Cams with Low Power Consumption
1. Power Consumption Specs: Look for dash cams that take low power to run.
2. Efficient Parking Mode: You should get a dash cam that has a good parking mode and uses less power. Wolfbox dash cams have an efficient parking mode and take very less power because of G-sensors.
3. Supercapacitor: Your Dash cam should also have supercapacitors that can store a small amount of power. This can help you save the last recording if the power to the dashcam is cut off.
4. Energy Saving Features: You should also look for features like motion detection in your dash cam that will only record when there is movement.
5. Reputable Brand: Choose a dash cam from a good brand like Wolfbox. They make good quality dash cams that are made to be power efficient.
Conclusion
You should now know how to prevent your dash cam from draining your car battery. You should use the right settings and take the right steps. This will let you use your dash cam without any worries.
1. Use a hardwire kit with voltage cutoff.
2. Use an external battery pack.
3. Choose a dash cam with efficient parking mode.
4. Check your car battery regularly.
5. Disconnect your dash cam when not in use.
Wolfbox dashcams come with a hardwiring kit and work well with all these methods. You can also get SD cards for your dash cam from Wolfbox to keep your videos safe. This makes it easy to find everything you need in one place.
