12V outlet use for dash cams or radar detectors

Frenetic · 06-23-2020, 06:14 PM

Anyone use the 12V outlet (cigarette lighter) to power dash cams or radar detectors? Any battery issues?

The reason I ask is that these outlets remain on for six minutes after the car alarm is engaged, and will turn on immediately when you unlock the car.

Thanks.

smovva · 06-23-2020, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Anyone use the 12V outlet (cigarette lighter) to power dash cams or radar detectors? Any battery issues?

The reason I ask is that these outlets remain on for six minutes after the car alarm is engaged, and will turn on immediately when you unlock the car.

Thanks.

I have my Valentine V1 Gen 1 connected through the cigarette lighter since June 2019. Never a problem as the port loses power when car goes to sleep.

Frenetic · 06-23-2020, 07:52 PM

Yeah, this whole BMW and delayed sleep mode is new to me. It’s a feature I’m sure, for everyone and everything except the battery. Thanks, that’s good to know.

Any dash cam users out there using the 12V?

eagle_bmw · 06-23-2020, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Yeah, this whole BMW and delayed sleep mode is new to me. It's a feature I'm sure, for everyone and everything except the battery. Thanks, that's good to know.

Any dash cam users out there using the 12V?

I never found a switched fuse without a delay and I tested everything that I can reach. There is always 5 to 10 min delay. I just keep this in mind and avoid waking up the car when it is off. Otherwise it is 3A draw for 5-10 minutes (~5A-hr) every time for my setup.

I have dual dash cams that are connected to a battery pack. It's been running for almost a year now and I've never seen a low battery indicator issue🤞Since the COVID, though, I have the car mostly on a battery tender.

Frenetic · 06-24-2020, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle_bmw

I never found a switched fuse without a delay and I tested everything that I can reach. There is always 5 to 10 min delay. I just keep this in mind and avoid waking up the car when it is off. Otherwise it is 3A draw for 5-10 minutes (~5A-hr) every time for my setup.

I have dual dash cams that are connected to a battery pack. It's been running for almost a year now and I've never seen a low battery indicator issue🤞Since the COVID, though, I have the car mostly on a battery tender.

Thanks. Yeah the camera I use is 1.5 Amps, so that’s good to hear.

Xeno · 06-24-2020, 07:24 AM

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...hlight=battery

I still have battery issues originally reported in this thread. My dealer always lays the blame on my electronics, but there are other factors in play.

SWBOS · 06-24-2020, 08:42 AM

I power a Uniden R3 from mine, all seems well so far.

There are power plug issues with older Escort detectors as I couldn't get the one for my X50 to fit. I don't have access to any of their newer detectors to say whether that problem has been fixed.

Frenetic · 06-24-2020, 08:48 AM

Xeno, it wasn’t clear from that post (or maybe I glossed over it), but how is your BV connected? Is it connected to a 12V outlet (cigarette lighter adapter), hardwired to an existing circuit or connected to a fuse box?

Frenetic · 06-24-2020, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWBOS

I power a Uniden R3 from mine, all seems well so far.

There are power plug issues with older Escort detectors as I couldn't get the one for my X50 to fit. I don't have access to any of their newer detectors to say whether that problem has been fixed.

Thanks. You notice the detector staying on after the car is turned off I presume?

Xeno · 06-24-2020, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Xeno, it wasn’t clear from that post (or maybe I glossed over it), but how is your BV connected? Is it connected to a 12V outlet (cigarette lighter adapter), hardwired to an existing circuit or connected to a fuse box?

It is hardwired by the dealer's electronic shop.
My memory is that they had to run a long cable to the back of the car so I suppose that is a fuse box.
The BV starts and stops with the ignition unless I have it in the parking mode.

SWBOS · 06-24-2020, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Thanks. You notice the detector staying on after the car is turned off I presume?

Mine stays on for a short while after I shut off the engine but does shut down when all of the other electronics has shutdown after locking the car.

It will start up when I approach the car (I have Comfort Access enabled).

Frenetic · 06-24-2020, 11:21 AM

Interesting. So it will automatically power off in sync with the ignition, but it can still get power after the ignition is off?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeno

It is hardwired by the dealer's electronic shop.
My memory is that they had to run a long cable to the back of the car so I suppose that is a fuse box.
The BV starts and stops with the ignition unless I have it in the parking mode.

eagle_bmw · 06-24-2020, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Interesting. So it will automatically power off in sync with the ignition, but it can still get power after the ignition is off?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeno

It is hardwired by the dealer's electronic shop.
My memory is that they had to run a long cable to the back of the car so I suppose that is a fuse box.
The BV starts and stops with the ignition unless I have it in the parking mode.

I have BV. It doesn't know the state of the car being off/on, at least based on the FW mine is at. It will continuously record as long as there's power to the cams.

Mine does say "... BV for your safe driving..." after I wake up the car, mainly because the battery pack run out of juice previously and now has 12v supply from the switched fuse.

Frenetic · 06-24-2020, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle_bmw

I have BV. It doesn't know the state of the car being off/on, at least based on the FW mine is at. It will continuously record as long as there's power to the cams.

Mine does say "... BV for your safe driving..." after I wake up the car, mainly because the battery pack run out of juice previously and now has 12v supply from the switched fuse.

How is yours wired if I may ask?

Xeno · 06-24-2020, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Interesting. So it will automatically power off in sync with the ignition, but it can still get power after the ignition is off?

Since I did not do the install and because my memory is unreliable, all I know is that unless I activate the BV parking feature the BV turns on and off with the ignition.

eagle_bmw · 06-24-2020, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle_bmw

I have BV. It doesn't know the state of the car being off/on, at least based on the FW mine is at. It will continuously record as long as there's power to the cams.

Mine does say "... BV for your safe driving..." after I wake up the car, mainly because the battery pack run out of juice previously and now has 12v supply from the switched fuse.

How is yours wired if I may ask?

I hard-wired the battery pack to the cigarette fuse at the rear cargo area.

Frenetic · 06-25-2020, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle_bmw

I hard-wired the battery pack to the cigarette fuse at the rear cargo area.

That battery pack continues to charge after the ignition is off, then, until the car enters sleep mode 6 minutes later?

eagle_bmw · 06-25-2020, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenetic

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle_bmw

I hard-wired the battery pack to the cigarette fuse at the rear cargo area.

That battery pack continues to charge after the ignition is off, then, until the car enters sleep mode 6 minutes later?

Correct, and about 9A draw for 6 min (~5.4 A-hr), then dashcams stay active off battery pack for about 12-16 hours. I may have said in another post that the battery draws 3A but I was wrong. It's the dashcams' current draw. My decision on the battery pack is based on this, lesser evil - with power magic pro the dashcams are powered by the car battery in parking mode. At 12 hours that's 3*12 = 36 A-hr vs 5.4 A-hr with the battery pack, assuming you don't wake the car up more often.

Xeno · 06-25-2020, 08:46 AM

eagle_bmw Where do you position the battery pack?
I was torn, but decided to save money and I thought there was some kind of warning about using a battery pack but that is a faint and perhaps unreliable memory.
I do know that now it would be an ordeal to switch from the magic pro to the battery pack. My primary use of BV parking is during a month of driving or on days of driving various errands that should help the G05 battery.

eagle_bmw · 06-25-2020, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeno

eagle_bmw Where do you position the battery pack?
I was torn, but decided to save money and I thought there was some kind of warning about using a battery pack but that is a faint and perhaps unreliable memory.
I do know that now it would be an ordeal to switch from the magic pro to the battery pack. My primary use of BV parking is during a month of driving or on days of driving various errands that should help the G05 battery.

Fuse box by the cargo area. I think it can fit 2-3 battery packs in there and I'm considering adding an extension to increase recording time. I shared my setup in this post, see last picture.

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25134043

Alan l. · 06-25-2020, 10:05 AM

I have mine hardwired to the mirror wires and no issues so far. I also have the dash cam hardwired to the fuse box in the back useing a cellink external battery.

I make it a habit that if i know i am not driving the car for an extended period of time i just unplug my radar just in case....

06-23-2020, 06:14 PM	#1
Frenetic PANIC! 482 Rep 823 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M50i Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Costco iTrader: (0)	12V outlet use for dash cams or radar detectors Anyone use the 12V outlet (cigarette lighter) to power dash cams or radar detectors? Any battery issues? The reason I ask is that these outlets remain on for six minutes after the car alarm is engaged, and will turn on immediately when you unlock the car. Thanks.
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06-23-2020, 07:52 PM	#3
Frenetic PANIC! 482 Rep 823 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M50i Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Costco iTrader: (0)	Yeah, this whole BMW and delayed sleep mode is new to me. It’s a feature I’m sure, for everyone and everything except the battery. Thanks, that’s good to know. Any dash cam users out there using the 12V?
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06-24-2020, 07:24 AM	#6
Xeno Major 315 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 M Sport 5.0i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...hlight=battery I still have battery issues originally reported in this thread. My dealer always lays the blame on my electronics, but there are other factors in play. __________________ 2019 BMW X5 xDrive 50i M Sport: ZD8/ZLS/ZMP/ZP2/ZPK/ZPX/337/ZX7/2NH 2015 BMW X5 xDrive 50i/XL/CW/DA+/EP/LP/FVS retired; 2008 X5 4.8i; 2012 X5 5.0i retired, 2004 X5 4.4i retired R360c + EL, V1G2 + V1Driver, Uniden R8
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06-24-2020, 08:42 AM	#7
SWBOS Private First Class 48 Rep 106 Posts Drives: Soon - X5 40i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	I power a Uniden R3 from mine, all seems well so far. There are power plug issues with older Escort detectors as I couldn't get the one for my X50 to fit. I don't have access to any of their newer detectors to say whether that problem has been fixed.
	Appreciate 1 Frenetic482.00 Quote

06-24-2020, 08:48 AM	#8
Frenetic PANIC! 482 Rep 823 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 M50i Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Costco iTrader: (0)	Xeno, it wasn’t clear from that post (or maybe I glossed over it), but how is your BV connected? Is it connected to a 12V outlet (cigarette lighter adapter), hardwired to an existing circuit or connected to a fuse box?
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06-25-2020, 08:46 AM	#19
Xeno Major 315 Rep 1,448 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 M Sport 5.0i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	eagle_bmw Where do you position the battery pack? I was torn, but decided to save money and I thought there was some kind of warning about using a battery pack but that is a faint and perhaps unreliable memory. I do know that now it would be an ordeal to switch from the magic pro to the battery pack. My primary use of BV parking is during a month of driving or on days of driving various errands that should help the G05 battery. __________________ 2019 BMW X5 xDrive 50i M Sport: ZD8/ZLS/ZMP/ZP2/ZPK/ZPX/337/ZX7/2NH 2015 BMW X5 xDrive 50i/XL/CW/DA+/EP/LP/FVS retired; 2008 X5 4.8i; 2012 X5 5.0i retired, 2004 X5 4.4i retired R360c + EL, V1G2 + V1Driver, Uniden R8
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06-25-2020, 10:05 AM	#21
Alan l. Major General 5450 Rep 8,815 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	I have mine hardwired to the mirror wires and no issues so far. I also have the dash cam hardwired to the fuse box in the back useing a cellink external battery. I make it a habit that if i know i am not driving the car for an extended period of time i just unplug my radar just in case.... __________________
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