Most modern dash cams have a parking mode feature that allows them to monitor your parked vehicle and record incidents. Parking mode uses motion detection mode or G-sensors to detect disturbances and start recording when your car is off.
However, the dash cam needs to be hardwired to the vehicle’s battery to enable parking mode. Dash cams powered through the 12V outlet/cigarette lighter port will not work when the car is off, since power cuts out when you turn off the ignition.
The Significance of a Hardwire Kit
To enable parking mode, your dash cam needs to be hardwired to the vehicle’s battery, rather than powered through the 12V outlet. Hardwire kits splice into the car’s fuse box to connect the dash cam to constant 12V power.
Hardwire kits often include tools to select an appropriate fuse for power, plus cable concealers and voltage protectors. This provides clean, seamless installation. A hardwire kit specially designed for dash cams keeps your car battery protected.
Parking Mode to Report Thieves
Parking mode can provide evidence if your car is damaged or broken into while unattended. Motion-activated recordings capture any person approaching your vehicle.
If your possessions are stolen, the video can be provided along with a police report and insurance claim. And if a hit-and-run driver damages your parked vehicle, the dash cam footage may capture identifiable details like the car’s make, model, color, and license plate.
A rear camera can catch valuable footage of a rear-end collision to your parked vehicle that a forward-facing cam would miss. Some systems also allow you to add a cabin camera to record interior video when the vehicle is off. This provides evidence in case of theft or vandalism.
PRO TIP: Use either a 3-channel or 4-channel dash cam for complete coverage
A multi channel system with several recording angles leaves fewer blind spots when your car is unattended. Just be sure to hardwire the system properly to enable parking mode.
How Parking Mode Can Drain a Vehicle’s Battery
Parking mode is handy for keeping watch over your parked car, but it does require drawing continuous power from the battery. Depending on the dash cam’s power settings, this can fully drain the battery after a period of time, especially if the car sits unused for multiple days.
To prevent excessive battery drain, quality dash cams have voltage cut-off features. This allows the device to detect when the battery drops below a preset threshold, such as 11.8 volts, at which point parking mode will automatically disable. This preserves enough battery charge to start the vehicle.
It’s important to note that while parking mode dash cams can certainly be the cause, there’s a ton of reasons a car battery repetitively dies so fast, even after getting a new one. Make sure you check all of the possible explanations before you go blaming your car camera.
Be Sure to Install Parking Mode Correctly
To get the most from parking mode, check your dash cam manual for optimal setup guidelines:
- Adjust motion sensor sensitivity to avoid accidental triggers from passing cars.
- Set the time threshold after motion stops before the camera stops recording. 15-30 seconds is common.
- Configure voltage cut-off to around 11.8V to avoid fully draining the battery.
- Angle your camera to best capture approaching vehicles and persons.
When your car is parked and turned off, a dash cam with parking mode can continue recording video when the camera detects motion. This motion detection activates the front camera to start recording onto the memory card. The dash camera is able to function in this state by drawing continuous power from the car’s battery through a hardwire kit installation.
This allows the dash cam records important footage if an incident occurs while your unattended vehicle. Just be sure to configure the settings properly to avoid fully draining the car’s battery. With parking mode enabled, your dash camera can capture video evidence even when your car is parked and you’re far away, providing peace of mind.
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