2019 Boxster - Dashcam Query

[Goldie70]

Hi,

Picked up my first Porsche last weekend. Loving it so far!

I’ve always had dashcams on previous cars, lately favouring a non hard wired option (with wires tucked behind trim and plugged into cigarette lighter).

seems that the 12V outlet in the Boxster is always live... 24/7. So is the USB port in the glovebox.

Anybody found a work around? Or know of a good ICE dealer in the Surrey area who might be able to instal (and not put cars warranty in jeopard)?

Goldie

 

[Chappelle]

Leave it live? My dash cam has a parking mode and knows when the car is parked. Can capture if somebody bumps your car when parked.

Id expect any hard wiring will infringe the warranty. Porsche are particularly strange about mods

 

[Davidbf1.com]

I’d be really keen for anyone to chime-in on the warranty question.
I had a Thinkware F770 dashcam (F & R) professionally installed in my 981 Boxster a few months after buying it in 2017.
I’m aware of the finickyness of Porsche re warranty in general - I took my Zunsport Grilles off prior to it going in for major service - but I’d be concerned if my professionally-installed dashcam gives them cause to quibble on any potential future warranty matter unrelated to this install - mechanical, bodywork or electrics.

 

[Goldie70]

Hi,

Quite hesitant to leave the camera running 24/7. I get you about capturing hit and runs, but surely its not good for the battery in the car to have something draining it all the time?

Goldie

 

[Peter_Bull]

I have mine fitted as you describe and works off the cig lighter on the glove compartment. This does not infringe on the warranty as it not deemed as a permanent fit.

It is not live 24/7. The PC informed me that it is live for 3 hours max then cuts off. Not sat there to check that though.

 

[Goldie70]

Hi

Interesting that there could be a three hour cut off. I shall test it this evening!

My PC told me they didn't know of a solution and to ask on here...

A sub question would be, how did you manage to get the cameras wire up into the lining at the top of the screen? In my previous cars it has always been pretty easy but a brief inspection on the Boxster seemed to reveal that the trim was pretty tightly attached to the screen top?

 

[malarcy]

no matter how professional an install is - they are cutting or tapping into wires that are meant for something else. You can however hardwire without lasting surgery - the piggy back fuse kits work well - I am not familiar with the fusebox on the 718 - but on previous models there were unused, switched (on with ignition) fuseways available - or, find a peripheral device and "piggy back" the fuse (such as interior lights, or electric windows). The installation is "plug something into the fuse way" - you can hide the transformer behind trim or under the dash and then run the cable.

On my 987.2 I use fuseway c1 (which would be 4wd controller on a 997 4s) - transformer behind the trim near fusebox and cable run behind the door seal. I used the nextbase hardwire kit.

While I was fitting it - I saw evidence of a previous, install where power had been spliced from another line. I would personally rather avoid that kind of permanent "touching" if i could.

Opinions vary on how long the ciggy lighter / usb sockets stay live - I guess you could look at the camera and see when (if) it stopped recording if you wanted to work it out - but my preference remains non permanent hard wire into the fusebox.

 

[Goldie70]

Hi,

Had a chat with a different guy at PC and he said hard wire in is a No No because of warranty. I guess you could take it back out for trips into service centre but that seems like a big faff.

He also said the passenger side footwell 12v outlet has no cut off... as it’s there for trickle chargers (to charge what I have no idea)

so, pretty much out of ideas.... guess it will be no camera for me.

G

 

[malarcy]

Point is with the "hardwire" it a push in connector in the fusebox its the work of moments to unplug it and tuck it out the way, less agg than removing zunsport grills, it's not actually hardwired - just plugged into something that switches off.

 

[Goldie70]

Ok,,, where is the fusebox? Do you have pictures of your set up in place?

 

[malarcy]

Mine is a 987.2 - so may well be different - in mine the fuse box is in the driver side footwell - I can dig out some photos tomorrow of my install - but find the box - and have a look at empty fuseways for a start. In mine its C1 - 3 rows down, 1 in from the left - but I doubt they are the same down to that level.

 

[tscaptain]

He also said the passenger side footwell 12v outlet has no cut off... as it’s there for trickle chargers (to charge what I have no idea)

The battery! Many leave their cars connected to trickle chargers/battery conditioners like Ctek as the cars are renowned for having flat batteries if they are left for a few weeks or have a lot if short journeys.

 

[Goldie70]

Hi,

Ok, so the 12v out let can also act as an input? (Just asking to understand).

G

 

[GrahamW]

Hi,

Ok, so the 12v out let can also act as an input? (Just asking to understand).

G

Correct and handy for the aforementioned Ctek battery conditioner.

 

[farleton]

Just to underline what Graham W has said I have a 987.2 and I have a CTEK battery conditioner plugged into the 12v socket in the centre console whenever the car is in the garage and I have not found that the socket switches itself off. I have posted elsewhere on the problems with Porsche batteries expiring after an unacceptability short period when the car is left idle. I used my Porsches as my daily driver for 13 years without a single battery problems. In the first 4 years of retirement 2 batteries expired hence the use of a CTEK.

 

[Brian_Innes]

I also endorse the comments above from S. Wallis.

I've owned 5 Caymans during the past 11 years and have always connected the Ctek charger during periods when the car is in the garage via the cigarette lighter socket in the central console. Although I'm not a smoker, I always spec the smokers pack for the convenience of the lighter socket. The socket stays connected live when the Ctek is plugged in, and I have had no problems with batteries whatsoever.

Regarding the dash-cam installation. I have a Nextbase dash-cam installed in my 718 Cayman GTS. The cabling runs behind the passenger sun visor and down the door frame A-pillar behind the soft rubber door seal. I prised free the plastic sill cover next to the floor carpet and routed the cable under the front passenger seat.

The dash-cam power socket is then plugged in to the cigarette lighter socket before I drive off. To avoid draining the battery, I unplug the power socket each time I park the car. I choose not to activate the parking nudge sensor option on my dash-cam.

Brian

 

[andrew0401]

Looking to install a dashcam in a 981 - any easy to follow guides anyone has found - I get the bit about tucking cables behind trim etc but how and where to create a small gap or totally remove?

Thanks for any clues

 

[fniikks]

So what is the best decision with the cam? Reading all the comments, I am confused now. I am from the UK, give me a hint on where I can check this out, please. I think I will not cope with it myself. So it looks I will need the help of the service center. I will need to check the location of the nearest one. But anyway, thanks for this information, I find it very relevant and useful.