Will My Dash Cam Drain My Car’s Battery?
A dashcam is like a camera that can prevent crashes and mishaps. It can also deter aggressive drivers who are caught speeding or running red lights by recording their license plate numbers and threatening messages. Many people think that using their dashcam while driving drains their battery life, but this isn’t exactly true. Dashcams use very little power, and in most cases, are much less draining than 12-volt batteries used by more traditional appliances like radios and televisions.
Many dashcams state that they will not drain your battery to below a certain point, usually 39.2 volts. Although more power-draining than radios and televisions, a dashcam is less draining than power-hungry items like fog lights and GPS systems.
Battery Consumption of Dashcams
Dashcams, at times, can have a negative effect on the car’s battery. This is mainly due to the high performance of dash cams. Dashcam batteries are usually under warranty by the manufacturer, and if it malfunctions, you can always replace it with another one for free.
However, how do you know if your battery is dying? There are some general signs to look out for. The first sign of a potential problem is the illumination of the dashcam’s power LED indicator(s). When the LED light is dim, or the dashboard camera turns off by itself during driving, then there might be a problem with your car’s battery.
Another indication of a dying battery is the malfunctioning of the dashcam’s system. The settings of the accessory revert every time the car is switched on, indicating a change thereon. If you have to turn on your ignition for longer periods than usual, that is also an indication. If these things happen frequently, you should check the dashcam’s power consumption quickly and see if anything’s wrong with it. If all signs point to a weak battery, then you need to replace it.
How Do We Know That the Dashcam Is Draining Your Car Battery?
1. Check the power consumption to see if the battery is draining or not.
2. Dashcams with a built-in screen can inform the status of the battery.
3. Use a digital multimeter to check the voltage of the car’s battery with that of the dashcam.
4. Test the dashcam’s current drain by doing a simple operation such as recording a few minutes of video footage and checking for abnormal power consumption afterward.
5. Keep a diary of all the actions you perform with your dashcam.
6. Get your car serviced and see if there’s a malfunction that could be causing an issue with the battery.
Measures to Prevent High Consumption
1. Use the USB data cable to connect your dashcam with the computer instead of connecting both devices to a power outlet.
2. Use a car cigarette lighter adapter to connect your dashcam with the cigarette lighter section instead of using a power outlet.
3. Recharge the battery by leaving the camera turned on while you sleep at night or when you’re away from your vehicle for a long period of time.
4. Buy a booster pack that will help charge your dashcam efficiently while driving and will not let the battery drain quickly.
5. Keep your video recording settings at lower resolutions and shorter recording times for optimal power consumption while saving storage space.
Conclusion
The dashcam is a useful accessory for every vehicle owner. Not only does it provide security, but it also helps us in case we get into an accident, or another problem occurs. However, there are cases in which the dashcam drains your car’s battery.
To avoid it from occurring, all you have to do is keep your dashcam powered on as much as possible to charge its battery. This way, when you’re driving, it won’t drain the battery. You can check the voltage of your car’s battery using a multimeter.