Why Dashcams Are Becoming a Hidden Cause of Battery Drain

Dashcams are becoming popular amongst car owners in India. They can record incidents on the road, damage caused while parking and even disputes you may encounter. Drivers can capture all the events that take place in stressful situations, whether it's in traffic or in a packed parking lot.

Unfortunately, many dashcams keep recording after the car has been turned off. If the installation is done poorly, it can also kill your car battery. Dashcam battery drain is indeed one of the hidden problems for drivers.

How Dashcams Draw Power

• They Need Constant Power: Dashcams need power to function. In most cars, the dashcam is powered by the vehicle. When the engine is off, the power is drawn from the battery. When the engine is off and the car battery is being used, the dashcam draws power from it.
• Driving Mode and Parking Mode: Driving mode means the dashcam is only recording when the car is in motion. In parking mode, when the car is stationary, the dashcam remains alert. It can even record when it senses movement.
• Small Usage Can Add Up: Dashcams are not the worst power consumers, and most don't draw much power. However, when this continues for many hours a day, the battery can be excessively drained.

Why Parking Mode Drains Batteries

• Motion Detection Stays Active: In the Parking Mode, most dashcams use motion detection that impacts sensors. Although this means the cam may not record continuously, it actively “listens” in the background. This makes it consume power.
• Battery Reserve Gets Reduced: A car's battery reserve is the power left to start the engine. If the dashcam draws too much power, the engine will not start. This explains why many people experience a car battery draining overnight after getting a dash cam.
• Older Batteries Are More Vulnerable: Older batteries lose charge faster and hold less reserve power. Short drives, long parking hours, cold weather, and accessories can make the problem worse. A dashcam that works safely with a new battery may stress an ageing one.

Signs Your Dashcam Is Affecting Battery Health

• Frequent Jump-Starts: If you have been jump-starting your car frequently, your dashcam likely has a setting that allows the camera to draw power for too long after the vehicle has been parked.
• Slow Engine Cranking: A weak battery can cause the engine to crank slowly. This is often an early sign that the battery does not have enough charge.
• Dashboard Battery Warnings: When a new electrical device is added to a modern vehicle, a warning sign will be on the dashboard if the vehicle or battery is low on power. These new indicators should not be ignored.

How Professionals Prevent Battery Drain

• Voltage Cut-Off Hardwire Kits: Experts use these kits to prevent deep battery discharge by cutting off power when a set voltage is reached.
• Battery Protection Modules: Battery protection modules determine how long parking mode stays on. These modules help drivers keep their cars protected without worrying about the battery dying.
• Regular Battery Testing: This involves testing the battery's health, checking its charge level and assessing its reserve power. Regular testing helps prevent sudden battery failures.

Conclusion

No one can deny the usefulness of dashcams, but improper installation is a major issue. You shouldn’t be forced to start the engine, especially if the dashcam was installed for parking security.

When the vehicle has repeated issues with weak power, slowly starts or worse, it should be checked by professionals. You can count on AIS Windshield Experts to examine issues caused by wiring, external device load or a car battery replacement.