Why have a dashcam?
One day you might witness this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4guQa54iCU
Or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-xRlf5RzKY
Either way, it is better to have a recording device handy than not.
I wanted to have a clean discreet install, without cutting into the factory wiring. Our Outbacks already have power connectors in the right places.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Time required: About an hour
Supplies:
Tools:
Installation:
Remove map lights and sunglasses pocket: undo 2 Philips screws in the pocket (do not drop them - small black screws blend nicely with the car’s black floor), and pull on the map lights near the lenses. There are two spring clips. Do not damage the headliner. Drop the map lights assembly (I just left it dangling on the cable, may not be the best practice though).
Find the plug for the mirror harness – it should be taped to the map lights harness. The plug on my car has three wires: Yellow with blue stripe - +12V accessory power (connected to the 7.5A fuse #6 in the fuse box under the dash), Black - ground, Black with green stripe - +12V backup lights.
The mirror harness has a corresponding 3-pin connector on the car side, and 7-pin connector on the mirror side. Harness wires are all black, +12V acc is black with gray stripe, and ground is in the middle.
Prepare the power adapter for the camera: cut off the 7-pin connector from the mirror harness (or splice if you already have an auto-dimming mirror) and hook up the USB power converter. I soldered the wires, insulated all connections with heat-shrink tubing, and added some electrical tape to hold the wires together.
Connect and test the camera. The lens is vertically adjustable.
Route the USB power cord through the seam at the top of the windshield. Hint: use a thin flexible cable with the smallest mini-USB plug you can find – the seam opening is quite narrow.
Re-install the map lights assembly.
Mount the camera using the included double-sided tape. Don’t forget to de-grease the surfaces first.
One day you might witness this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4guQa54iCU
Or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-xRlf5RzKY
Either way, it is better to have a recording device handy than not.
I wanted to have a clean discreet install, without cutting into the factory wiring. Our Outbacks already have power connectors in the right places.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Time required: About an hour
Supplies:
- 2014 Subaru Outback Convenience Package (base trim without sunroof)
- Auto-dimming mirror harness H501SXA120
- USB power converter with a female USB plug – one can swap out mini-USB and micro-USB cables as needed: DC DC Converter Step Down Module 12V to 5V 24V to 5V USB Output Power Adapter | eBay
- Camera: B40, also known as A118 – see the description here: https://dashcamtalk.com/b40-a118/ . I ordered the camera from Foxoffer’s ebay store: A118 B40 Novatek 96650 Full HD 1080p Car Camera DVR | eBay
- Micro-SD card – most Class 10, 16-32 Gb cards should work fine. NOTE: for some reason, SanDisk cards have issues with this particular camera and should be avoided.
- Your favourite beer - I had good results with Belgian Westmalle Trappist.
Tools:
- Philips screwdriver
- Trim tool (optional)
- Soldering iron
Installation:
Remove map lights and sunglasses pocket: undo 2 Philips screws in the pocket (do not drop them - small black screws blend nicely with the car’s black floor), and pull on the map lights near the lenses. There are two spring clips. Do not damage the headliner. Drop the map lights assembly (I just left it dangling on the cable, may not be the best practice though).
Find the plug for the mirror harness – it should be taped to the map lights harness. The plug on my car has three wires: Yellow with blue stripe - +12V accessory power (connected to the 7.5A fuse #6 in the fuse box under the dash), Black - ground, Black with green stripe - +12V backup lights.
The mirror harness has a corresponding 3-pin connector on the car side, and 7-pin connector on the mirror side. Harness wires are all black, +12V acc is black with gray stripe, and ground is in the middle.
Prepare the power adapter for the camera: cut off the 7-pin connector from the mirror harness (or splice if you already have an auto-dimming mirror) and hook up the USB power converter. I soldered the wires, insulated all connections with heat-shrink tubing, and added some electrical tape to hold the wires together.
Connect and test the camera. The lens is vertically adjustable.
Route the USB power cord through the seam at the top of the windshield. Hint: use a thin flexible cable with the smallest mini-USB plug you can find – the seam opening is quite narrow.
Re-install the map lights assembly.
Mount the camera using the included double-sided tape. Don’t forget to de-grease the surfaces first.