FITCAMX Dash Cam

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › FITCAMX Dash Cam

josephhinvest

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#319276 8-Apr-2025 17:52

Has anyone tried one of the dash cams from FITCAMX.
I've just got a new [to me] 2021 corolla hatch and I'd like a dash cam. I've installed several in the past with piggy back fuses and running cables down the A pillar etc and I really really REALLY don't want to be prying off trim and fiddling in the fuse panel of this near mint car.
The FITCAMX camera taps power from the adaptive cruise control sensor located behind the rear view mirror. Their installation videos suggest the install takes only a short time, and frankly, it looks pretty great.
The dash cam doesn't have GPS, but other than that, it looks pretty good.
Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Joseph

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#3362137 8-Apr-2025 19:40

I got one for an Audi etron and it's fine. I guess I'd say good even... I just don't even notice it's there. Wifi works well enough. Looks 100% factory. I am a little frustrated with no GPS as well - but wanted something inconspicuous.

Pic quality is good, but I haven't had to go looking through night footage.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

hsvhel

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#3362138 8-Apr-2025 20:03

Do the Polarizing lenses make much of a difference, as i believe the glass is already polarized on most models?

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tweake

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#3362144 8-Apr-2025 20:38

josephhinvest: Has anyone tried one of the dash cams from FITCAMX.
I've just got a new [to me] 2021 corolla hatch and I'd like a dash cam. I've installed several in the past with piggy back fuses and running cables down the A pillar etc and I really really REALLY don't want to be prying off trim and fiddling in the fuse panel of this near mint car.
The FITCAMX camera taps power from the adaptive cruise control sensor located behind the rear view mirror. Their installation videos suggest the install takes only a short time, and frankly, it looks pretty great.
The dash cam doesn't have GPS, but other than that, it looks pretty good.
Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Joseph

that gives me the creeps. tapping into car sensor power supplies is a duckingly bad idea (especially any safety related sensor). thats a law suit waiting to happen. i've helped plenty of people over the years with car electrical issues caused by aftermarket gear screwing with sensor power. its not hard to pull off trim or just push cables under the edge.

Senecio

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#3362213 9-Apr-2025 08:18

tweake:

that gives me the creeps. tapping into car sensor power supplies is a duckingly bad idea (especially any safety related sensor). thats a law suit waiting to happen. i've helped plenty of people over the years with car electrical issues caused by aftermarket gear screwing with sensor power. its not hard to pull off trim or just push cables under the edge.

Agree. I'd much rather mess around with trim panels and tap into a non-critical fuse like a radio than mess around with anything safety related.

shk292

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#3362214 9-Apr-2025 08:19

It's a shame that car manufacturers don't include usb power by default at the rear view mirror position. It's not like dash cams are a new idea.

The idea of pulling trim off my car deters me from getting one and I'd be equally reluctant to mess with sensor power

Talkiet

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#3362230 9-Apr-2025 09:30

Bear in mind that they aren't talking about cutting wires or putting vampire (quick) splices on - they are providing a replacement loom component with passthrough for whatever device they are drawing power from. It's the cleanest way to do it... I'd rather not try and pull cable through a pillar with an airbag, or pull off the trim around an airbag to run a wise from a fuse box.

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

michaelmurfy

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#3362236 9-Apr-2025 09:58

I had a look at this camera for my wifes GWM Ora but like some others it was a hard nope when I saw it was pulling power from the front facing camera. I'm sure it isn't an issue, but the last thing I want is insurance telling me "an accident could have potentially been avoided if the front facing camera was working correctly and thus we're not paying out".

Installing a Blackvue - I hear everyone around the piller airbag but you can route around that. It's not too difficult to install.

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tweake

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#3362323 9-Apr-2025 16:19

Talkiet:

Bear in mind that they aren't talking about cutting wires or putting vampire (quick) splices on - they are providing a replacement loom component with passthrough for whatever device they are drawing power from. It's the cleanest way to do it... I'd rather not try and pull cable through a pillar with an airbag, or pull off the trim around an airbag to run a wise from a fuse box.

the problems i've run into is that sometimes accessories can draw enough (especially on start up) to cause enough voltage drop to upset the sensors. sometimes its electrical noise being fed back in. also with some gear its actually upsetting the earth side. sensors can be low powered enough that it doesn't take much to upset its signals.

Talkiet

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#3362325 9-Apr-2025 16:23

tweake:

Talkiet:

Bear in mind that they aren't talking about cutting wires or putting vampire (quick) splices on - they are providing a replacement loom component with passthrough for whatever device they are drawing power from. It's the cleanest way to do it... I'd rather not try and pull cable through a pillar with an airbag, or pull off the trim around an airbag to run a wise from a fuse box.

the problems i've run into is that sometimes accessories can draw enough (especially on start up) to cause enough voltage drop to upset the sensors. sometimes its electrical noise being fed back in. also with some gear its actually upsetting the earth side. sensors can be low powered enough that it doesn't take much to upset its signals.

My rule of thumb here is that if a product has a history of being sold in the US, and subject to their litigious society, and is still being sold, it's probably ok.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

tweake

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#3362329 9-Apr-2025 16:31

Talkiet:

My rule of thumb here is that if a product has a history of being sold in the US, and subject to their litigious society, and is still being sold, it's probably ok.

Cheers - N

but usa also gets tons of cheap fly by night products sold there to. their litigation system doesn't stop bad products being sold there at all. only need to look at some of the usa car gear imports we get here to show that.

Talkiet

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#3362330 9-Apr-2025 16:34

FitcamX have been around for a while and selling in the US for at least half a decade. I'm 100% comfortable using their supplied Y cable. I think there would be more risk snaking a cable through more of the car rather than following model specific instructions that they have tested.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

traderstu

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#3362484 9-Apr-2025 21:01

I grabbed one of these for my Prado this afternoon. Great service so far with camera shipped 4hrs after the order was confirmed. Happy with the price - $310 less a !0% discount using the "TECHJEFF" discount code, free shipping. I'l update when it arrives and is fitted.

josephhinvest

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#3362712 10-Apr-2025 14:16

Thanks for all the comments.
I can appreciate the potential issue with tapping power from a safety related system, and I also can see the reasons to be cautious with trim and airbags and taking power directly from the fuse box. So, I'm undecided as yet.

Cheers,
Joseph

johno1234

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#3362749 10-Apr-2025 16:45

Most cars have power up in the base of the rear view mirror for interior lights - why not tap in there?

Senecio

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#3362793 11-Apr-2025 06:54

Interior lights usually have 3 settings.

Permanently off
Permanently on
Switched with car door opening

Just need to remember to open the driver's door moments before a crash!

Joking aside, unless you have a battery back-up for parking mode, you will need an ignition switched power source for a dashcam to avoid draining the battery. A lot of camera's advertise an auto shut off but they're almost always set at 11.7V which is far too low for most modern cars to start.

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