How Much Power Does a Dash Cam Use? (Calculated)

The typical dash cam demands 0.5A at 5V, which is consistent with our previous example. It ought to be able to record in parking mode for at least 8 days. The car won’t start if that much power is drawn from the battery.

A dashcam provides security by creating a permanent record of your driving. In addition, dash cams can be used to catch potential road hazards or accidents. It is very important to know how much power does a dash cam use, and how much battery life is left.

Also, you must be aware of how much power your car battery is using for things like your navigation system and your smartphone.

If you have a lot of power-hungry devices running at the same time, then this can drain your car battery quickly.

So, you’re probably wondering how much power this thing is using. In this post, we’ll go over the details of how the dashcam operates and how much power it uses.

So, How Much Power Does A Dash Cam Use?

A dashcam consumes very little power, much less than most of your other devices. A typical dashcam will use between 2-4 watts, with some of the newer dashcams using even less.

A 2-4 watt draw will consume less than 10% of the total battery capacity. In terms of battery life, that’s not going to make much of a dent for most people.

Power usage is usually measured in watts, which is a measure of power. Watts are equal to the voltage multiplied by amperage.

Watts = volts x amps.

Your car battery has a voltage output of around 12 volts. This is how most dashcams get their power from the car battery.

Then, the dashcam uses a small circuit to transform the 12 volts into what it needs to power the camera.

How Are Dash Cameras Powered?

Dash cameras are made to record continuously while your car is running.

Many cameras include manual power on/off switches, but most of them start working as soon as they are hooked into the fuse box of the automobile or plugged into a 12V power source.

A lot of people wonder how they’re powered. They’re typically powered by two sources one is with a built-in battery and the other is the car battery.

The most common way to power a camera is by plugging it into your car’s cigarette lighter. 

This is what most people do because it’s convenient so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery while you’re driving.

Some people also install bigger batteries or use solar panels to charge their cameras while they’re driving.

Can You Leave The Dashcam On All The Time?

You certainly can, but the outlet needs to be active (most cigarette lighters tend to blow out with the ignition). It will gradually drain the battery, so you should be mindful of it.

Your battery can withstand a dashcam’s power consumption of 6 to 10 Watts for several hours.

It depends on the model of the camera. Some models have a motion sensor that will automatically turn the camera on when it notices movement.

Other models will only record when you press a button on the device, which means you would have to be present every time you want to record something.

Moreover, as long as your device is plugged in, you can leave it running 24/7. It’s recommended that you leave the camera running all the time.

The more footage you have, the easier it will be to find any footage you need in an emergency.

In addition, you can leave the GPS on all the time. It stores footage in a loop so it overwrites old footage.

I’ve had mine on for weeks at a time and it doesn’t fill up. I just charge it every few weeks and then plug it back in.

How Long Do Dash Cam Batteries Last?

The answer to this question will depend on which model you have, as well as how frequently you use it.

Most dashboard cameras on the market come with a modest internal 250 mAh battery that lasts three to five minutes.

For fire safety reasons, the internal battery of the dash cam is compact.

Most of the best models on the market today will last between eight and 14 hours on a single charge. You’ll also want to consider how long the battery takes to charge.

The most important thing to know about how long your battery will last is the type of battery you’re using.

However, there are a few tricks you can do to extend the life of your battery.

1. First, make sure you’re using the right kind of memory card.
2. And secondly, use good batteries.
3. One of the things you need to know is that a good quality battery can last up to six hours.
4. But, when it comes to low-quality batteries, they don’t go more than two hours.

How To Save On Your Dash Cam’s Power Usage?

The most popular way to power your dashboard camera is via hardwiring it to the fuse box of your car.

By hardwiring, you may use your dashboard camera even while the engine is off without being concerned about the battery dying.

A dash cam can be a great addition to your car, providing an extra level of security and peace of mind. However, if not used properly, a dash cam can quickly drain your car’s battery.

Here are some tips to help you save on your dash cam’s power usage.

1. Turn off the display and voice guidance when not in use.
2. Ensure that the lens is not dirty. A dirty lens will drain power as the dash cam tries to focus.
3. Most dash cams come with an indicator to show how much battery life is left. Check this when parked to ensure a full battery.
4. Avoid using the parking mode. While this mode can be useful, it can drain your battery when you’re not using the car.
5. Many dash cams have a G-sensor that can be set to record only when you are driving and not while you are parked. Make sure that you buy the dashcam that has this important feature.
6. Furthermore, if you can’t find a good quality battery, consider using a solar charger. This will help extend the life of your battery and save you on your monthly power bill.
7. The number of hours you can record on your dashcam will depend on how often you use it. You’ll also need to factor in the power consumption of the device. If you’re looking for a dashcam that will give you the best quality and the most recording time, you’ll need to look at the higher-end models.
8. Lastly, the most important thing is to have a car charger that can fully charge your device in less than 6 hours. You can check the charging time on the box or the product page of the car charger online. You can also use an inverter to power your camera off the cigarette lighter.

See Also: Best Dash Cam Under 50

Conclusion:

As we have learned in this article, the most important thing to look for in a dashcam is the quality of the camera.

You’ll want to make sure that it is as high quality as possible, and that it is easy to use.

However, if not used properly, it can quickly drain your car’s battery and we can do the above-mentioned tricks to help you save on your dash cam’s power usage.

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it.