Permanent +ve supply for parking mode dashcam in BMW i3?

[Losangeles]

Hi - does anyone know which fuses offer permanent 12V supply ? I am fitting a Blackvue dashcam with Parking Pro unit which will allow the camera to continue recording in 'parking mode' when the car is parked until such time as the 'domestic' battery dips below 12.5V.

With the help of a multi meter I have located a supply that is 'switched' which is needed for the dashcam driving mode but I need to find a fused circuit which has a permanent +ve supply even when the car is locked and the electrics have shut down, to power the camera in 'parking' mode.

The problem is that apparently a lot of the electrics remain 'hot' for a period after the car has been locked - I have heard up to 20 or 30 minutes so short of locking myself in for 40 minutes and then trying to get into the footwell with the doors closed, I thought there might be an easier way.....ask the experts on here !

So...does anyone know what fuse position I can tap into with a (separately fused) wire to pick up the supply needed ?

Many thanks

[blank]

Pin 16 on the OBD port will be permanent power.

You could use whichever fuse supplies that, or tap into the wire at the back of the port if you can get to it.

[Losangeles]

Many thanks for your reply – I have consulted the Fuse schematic and the OBD port seems to be served by four fuses! I am wary about trying to go to the back of the OBD itself as I think I may then be getting into the territory of invalidating the warranty on a nearly new car. Frustrating thing is the fuse I need must be right in front of me. Someone mentioned that there is a permanently ‘hot’ fuse which is used if fitting a tracker. I guess I’m rather hoping that somebody has already come across this problem and knows the fuse number I need to hone in on?

[Dash-Cam Man]

This isn’t actually a car we have done, not all that popular here in Glasgow, but yes, with BMW’s the fuse box does indeed stay live for a period of 30 minutes after the ignition has stayed off. You don’t need to lock the vehicle for the fuse box to die, just remove the key away from the vehicle and wait 30 minutes. Leave the doors open so you can slide into the car without waking the vehicle up. You can determine when the 30 mins has elapsed as the electric seats die (I.e you can’t adjust them anymore).

At this point you should be able to find a permanent live. Consult your fuse box diagram to ensure you select a non safety critical fuse.

P.s. no verified installer or anybody with any common sense who installs a tracker uses a feed from the fuse box. This simply defeats the point of a tracker, as you could just pull out the fuse to disable it.

Edited by Dash-Cam Man on Monday 20th May 23:05

[Losangeles]

Many thanks Dash Cam Man... Doh...now you have pointed out about the tracker that makes perfect sense! Will leaving the doors open ( hence the interior lights on ) stop the car going to sleep? Many thanks again

[Dash-Cam Man]

Losangeles said:

Many thanks Dash Cam Man... Doh...now you have pointed out about the tracker that makes perfect sense! Will leaving the doors open ( hence the interior lights on ) stop the car going to sleep? Many thanks again

Trip the locks. Put a flathead screwdriver into the lock mechanism on the physical door. It's just a claw style shaped mole lock. It will move into the locked position, vehicle will think the doors are closed, interior lights will power down.

[broncoupe]

You should spring the locks anyway on any open door.
It means no keys left in the car by accident also stops battery draining down, while your working.
Still allow at least 30 mins for most circuits to go to sleep.
also If you get any battery warnings or messages through dash, over a few days you will have to change wire or adjust cut off voltage
BMWs monitor power drain very closely