Switched Live

[x5e53]

I know there is a fuse box above the glove compartment.
But which wires from this fuse box location can I use for positive and negative switched live?

I need to hook up my dash cam.

[chubbs]

I know I'm not answering your question, but I just plug mine into the cigarette lighter socket (remembering to remove it before I leave the car, because the socket's permanently live). It's convenient and I can occasionally leave it on if I want to record what's going on in front of my car for a short time, in my absence (did you see the video of that guy's Aston Martin getting keyed?).

[x5e53]

Yes your right, didn't answer my question 

I was thinking of experimenting with a small battery connected to the switched live.
So when the car is on, the battery is being charged and working the Dash Cam.
When the ignition is off, the dash Cam runs off is smaller battery for however long it lasts.

[Richard137]

My dash cam is hard wired into fuse box at glovebox.

[X5Sport]

Use a meter and find which ones switch on.

[crash]

i removed the crappy non working bmw torch from the glove box and removed the guts from it then soldered the dash cam power supply wires straight the the torch terminals and ran the cable out the torch bulb hole.

When plugged back into the charging point in the glove box you have a switched live providing well over the 1 amp a dash cam will require. will get some pictures if interested in seeing.

Makes accessing a switched live easy and whole camera can be removed very easily.

[Richard137]

I want to do the same for the rear' can anyone please advise/show fuse box as to what/where I can put the dash cam?

[X5Sport]

Never taken the rear one out.  Same trick should work and use a piggyback fuse.  Puts a connector in place of the current fuse and you plug the original into that, but it also has a second fused connection.  No additional wiring as it's all done from the front face of the board.  No need to take anything to bits. 

[x5e53]

[quote="crash"]
i removed the crappy non working bmw torch from the glove box and removed the guts from it then soldered the dash cam power supply wires straight the the torch terminals and ran the cable out the torch bulb hole.

When plugged back into the charging point in the glove box you have a switched live providing well over the 1 amp a dash cam will require. will get some pictures if interested in seeing.

Makes accessing a switched live easy and whole camera can be removed very easily.
[/quote]

Yes I was thinking of this, but was wondering if the torch was a switched live or permanent.
Now I know, its switched. Cheers

[chrisn7]

[quote="x5e53"]
Yes your right, didn't answer my question 

I was thinking of experimenting with a small battery connected to the switched live.
So when the car is on, the battery is being charged and working the Dash Cam.
When the ignition is off, the dash Cam runs off is smaller battery for however long it lasts.
[/quote]

You don't need to do this - there are units specially designed for dashcams, which allow the camera to remain on when the vehicle is parked, until such time as the vehicle battery voltage has fallen to that you have selected on the special unit - search 'dashcam parking'

[TheHerd]

Slight deviation off topic, any recommendations on which dashcam to buy?
I need one for my X5...

[chubbs]

[quote="TheHerd"]
Slight deviation off topic, any recommendations on which dashcam to buy?
I need one for my X5...
[/quote]

Depends how much you want to spend. I've had a cheap one for about 2 years now and it suits me fine. It's almost identical to this one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/E-PRANCE-Novatek-Dashcamera-Recorder-G-sensor/dp/B00IPDDAME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461396895&sr=8-1&keywords=dashcam+e+prance

They seem to have gone up in price since I got mine - think I paid about £30. There may be cheaper ones out there and there are definitely more expensive ones.

I must say I wouldn't drive without it on - it's great to know you can re-live those near misses. Other people are such bad drivers.

[X5Sport]

I have both a RoadhawkHD and a Nextbase 512G.  If you want it to be of use evidentially it must be a full HD camera system with both location (GPS), time (ideally also GPS derived) and speed data watermarked into the video trace metadata.

[TheHerd]

Thanks guys.
I've also seen a NuviCam which is both a dash cam and a Sat Nav?
Any thoughts, as I do need both but from experience combos generally compromise one of the applications.

[X5Sport]

Not seen those before....looks an interesting idea.  The NuvïCam is now called the Drive Assist so beware of buying an old model!