Gen 5: Dash Cam Reviews & Experience
Finally finished my dashcam hardwire project. I now have a camera in the front with parking mode and a rear camera when driving.
My current set up:
2016 Outback 3.6R Tech. w/ Eyesight
Front camera - Vicovation Opia 2 + Vicovation Power-Plus (for hardwire & Parking mode)
Rear camera - DOD Tech LS470W+
1x Transcend 64GB micro-sdxc
2x Transcend/Adata 32GB micro-sdxc (one is for back-up)
1x Lexar 16GB micro-sdxc (back-up card)
Gorilla Tough & Clear Mounting Tape
Installation:
1) Front camera - Vicovation Opia 2
Bought this camera because it's a good/reliable brand, great image quality, and resistance to high temperature. I also liked the fact it can rotate to capture encounters.
I decided not to center the camera and instead mounted it on the passenger-side due to the warning message in the Subaru Eyesight Manual. Since my camera mount can rotate, I can still center the view.
The wire can be easily tucked in to the headliner until it reaches the A-Pillar. Thanks to Youtube, I learned how to take off the A-pillar cover and zipped-tied the cables to ensure it does not interfere with the side airbag. I then ran the wire from the passenger-door side down to underneath the glove compartment, and then around to the armrest storage. There were a lot of crevices to hold/hide wires so I didn't have to use cable mounting clips.
I hardwire the camera to the car battery via the fuse box because I wanted parking mode. I used the Vicovation Vico-Power Plus to act as the go-between the camera and the fuse box so I have more control and safety checks in place. At the fuse box, I used 2 add-a-circuit. I used Fuse 7 (10A CIGAR) for the ACC, Fuse 26 (10A BACK UP) for the constant , and found a ground near the front-hatch release lever. Underneath the driver's console is a plastic cover that comes off after pressing on the 3 tabs and pulling down. I ran the wire across the back of this cover, closed it, and then ran the wire up to the armrest console.
The Vico-Power Plus controller and the power cable from the camera are connected together at the armrest console.
2) Rear camera - DOD Tech. LS470W+
Originally bought this for a 2nd vehicle since sold. Reliable brand and great image quality w/ tons of other features. A bit overkill for a rear camera but since I have it, might as well use it.
The installation was fairly straight forward since no hardwiring is required and no airbag to worry about. If I wanted the install to be near perfect, I could have mount the camera in a way that hides it behind the head-rest and not being able to see it while in the driver's seat looking at the rear-view mirror. The camera mount does not rotate but the lens is wide enough to capture enough rear view. Since it was on the side, I only have to tuck the wire inside the rear pillar cover to hold it, bundled the extra wires and place it out of the way and plug the power into the rear 12V slot.
Future expansion project:
Installing a dedicated dashcam battery so I don't have to draw on the car battery. I think this route is more reliable and cheaper than buying an upgrade AGM battery for my Outback since the OEM battery is still fairly new.
Cheers
*Sorry if the pictures appears to be incorrectly orientated - for some reason during the upload process the orientation gets screwed up*
Finally finished my dashcam hardwire project. I now have a camera in the front with parking mode and a rear camera when driving.
My current set up:
2016 Outback 3.6R Tech. w/ Eyesight
Front camera - Vicovation Opia 2 + Vicovation Power-Plus (for hardwire & Parking mode)
Rear camera - DOD Tech LS470W+
1x Transcend 64GB micro-sdxc
2x Transcend/Adata 32GB micro-sdxc (one is for back-up)
1x Lexar 16GB micro-sdxc (back-up card)
Gorilla Tough & Clear Mounting Tape
Installation:
1) Front camera - Vicovation Opia 2
Bought this camera because it's a good/reliable brand, great image quality, and resistance to high temperature. I also liked the fact it can rotate to capture encounters.
I decided not to center the camera and instead mounted it on the passenger-side due to the warning message in the Subaru Eyesight Manual. Since my camera mount can rotate, I can still center the view.
The wire can be easily tucked in to the headliner until it reaches the A-Pillar. Thanks to Youtube, I learned how to take off the A-pillar cover and zipped-tied the cables to ensure it does not interfere with the side airbag. I then ran the wire from the passenger-door side down to underneath the glove compartment, and then around to the armrest storage. There were a lot of crevices to hold/hide wires so I didn't have to use cable mounting clips.
I hardwire the camera to the car battery via the fuse box because I wanted parking mode. I used the Vicovation Vico-Power Plus to act as the go-between the camera and the fuse box so I have more control and safety checks in place. At the fuse box, I used 2 add-a-circuit. I used Fuse 7 (10A CIGAR) for the ACC, Fuse 26 (10A BACK UP) for the constant , and found a ground near the front-hatch release lever. Underneath the driver's console is a plastic cover that comes off after pressing on the 3 tabs and pulling down. I ran the wire across the back of this cover, closed it, and then ran the wire up to the armrest console.
The Vico-Power Plus controller and the power cable from the camera are connected together at the armrest console.
2) Rear camera - DOD Tech. LS470W+
Originally bought this for a 2nd vehicle since sold. Reliable brand and great image quality w/ tons of other features. A bit overkill for a rear camera but since I have it, might as well use it.
The installation was fairly straight forward since no hardwiring is required and no airbag to worry about. If I wanted the install to be near perfect, I could have mount the camera in a way that hides it behind the head-rest and not being able to see it while in the driver's seat looking at the rear-view mirror. The camera mount does not rotate but the lens is wide enough to capture enough rear view. Since it was on the side, I only have to tuck the wire inside the rear pillar cover to hold it, bundled the extra wires and place it out of the way and plug the power into the rear 12V slot.
Future expansion project:
Installing a dedicated dashcam battery so I don't have to draw on the car battery. I think this route is more reliable and cheaper than buying an upgrade AGM battery for my Outback since the OEM battery is still fairly new.
Cheers
*Sorry if the pictures appears to be incorrectly orientated - for some reason during the upload process the orientation gets screwed up*
