Once you have decided on the best camera for your requirements, you’ll need to install it. There are a few ways that you can fit a dash camera, but ultimately it will depend on your camera as to how best to fit it.
Some dash cameras may come with a suction cup to attach your camera to the window or other surfaces. While this is the easiest way to secure your dash cam, it is not the most effective, as it can become unattached very easily and won’t provide effective recording if you were in a crash or other road incident. The camera could fall away from its position and hinder the footage, rendering the camera useless.
When fitting your camera, make sure you fit it in a place that does not obstruct the vision of the driver. Usually on the passenger side of the rear-view mirror. No matter which installation method you choose, you should always ensure that your dash cam doesn’t reduce the driver’s view.
Plug in
Another method of installing your dash cam is simply using the cigarette lighter in your car to power the camera. This provides a quick installation as you do not need to worry about running any wires around your car or connecting it to the battery. Simply find a convenient path to trail the wires and have the dash cam plugged into your power outlet (usually a cigarette lighter or USB).
However, this method is not as reliable as hardwiring the camera, because if you were to disconnect your cigarette lighter, your footage would stop recording.
If you are testing out a camera or checking how satisfactory a dash cam is before committing to purchasing one, this will be the best way to fit it.
Hardwire
The most reliable way to install a dash cam is to hardwire it into the car. This will allow you to connect the camera directly to your battery so that you do not have to worry about losing power and footage if you accidentally disconnect your cigarette lighter.
While this installation requires more work, as you need to route the wires around your car, it is the most effective and long-lasting way to install a dash cam. To conceal your wires, you may need to pry off certain dashboard pieces in order to route the wires around your vehicle for the most unobstructed view.
The process of hardwiring your dash camera involves:
- Disconnecting the battery
- Connecting the camera’s wire to the constant power (usually found in the fuse box)
- Connecting the camera’s wire to the ground
- Routing the wires around your car and concealing them as much as possible
- Potentially taking apart some panels in your vehicle
- Position the camera and run to the fuse box
- Reconnecting your battery
Hardwiring your dash camera is the most effective way of installing your camera, however, it can also be the most time-consuming and may require a bit of practice, or professional assistance.
It is important to note that each dash cam will have slightly different setup instructions and the user manual for your unique camera should always be consulted when setting up and installing the camera in your vehicle.
If you are unsure of how to hardwire your dashcam or would prefer a professional to do it for you, Viofo provides some recommended dashcam installation providers across the UK that you can learn more about here.
When you are ready to purchase your own camera, be sure to check out our dash cameras we have available on our website. You can also find more information on installation methods in our user manuals. Alternatively, please contact us directly for more information.
