![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:28 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
My dashcam keeps burning the fuse for my lighter socket. This never happened until recently and nothing else causes this problem, but whenever I plug in my dashcam, the 20A fuse immediately fries and the camera never turns on. I’ve tried to fix this by using my USB cord and a USB charger in place of the standard cord, and the camera does get power that way, but it refuses to turn on. I’m thinking that either the cord is short-circuited somehow or the camera itself is faulty and suddenly demanding a stronger current than before, which the standard cord allows and the USB charger does not. (which would explain why it gets power but won’t actually work) Your thoughts?
![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:32 |
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![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:35 |
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I’m tempted to swap in a 25A or 30A and see what happens. I assume that’s not specifically a good idea, but I’m also sure the hardware can handle more than the standard fuses allow, just as a safety precaution...
![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:40 |
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That would have been the first thing I did.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:40 |
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So it is somewhere above 240w (12v*+20A) and you want to go bigger? Ha..
Google says; The G1W (plugged in via 5v regulator) draws about 0.25A @ 12v
so I would think something is wrong.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:41 |
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I really wouldn’t. Fuses are somewhere easy to replace if they burn out, but wiring generally isn’t - quite apart from the fire risk.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:50 |
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Are you sure it’s not a knockoff? Either way, there’s definitely something wrong with it. Throw it away and get a new one.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 12:50 |
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Huh. I use the same one. Have had it for over a year now and dont have any problems like that.
Recently though, I did plug it and my GPS and my Sirius satellite radio into a splitter box (three plugs into one) and having no issues. Maybe try something like that to see if it tricks it...
![]() 11/16/2015 at 13:14 |
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As a quick test maybe, but not a good long term solution.
Like davedave said, the wiring harness may be designed for only so much.
It sounds like the camera draws too much power, the USB cord is transferring power, just not enough power for it to turn on. I’ve seen that happen with gadgets before.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 13:31 |
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Dat laughing cow cheese doe
![]() 11/16/2015 at 14:15 |
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It records in the correct format, so I doubt it’s a knockoff. The only thing that may play a role in this is that the battery is almost completely fried. I’m not sure if it was damaged by heat or what, but the camera would only ever turn on when plugged in; otherwise it would come on very briefly, then drain itself in a matter of seconds.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 14:15 |
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Do you know if there’s a fix for it, or do I just need a new camera?
![]() 11/16/2015 at 14:48 |
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I think you need a camera that draws less power...I wonder if that’s even on the spec pages for these things?
Maybe there’s some kind of converter? I mean I remember using the old school plug into the lighter socket to convert for a normal house plug.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 20:18 |
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That would just mean replacing the camera, then. It didn’t cause any trouble before, and I’ve had it for several months.
![]() 11/17/2015 at 09:00 |
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That’s very odd.