Power drain on car battery from 5V 1A Car Cam

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Power drain on car battery from 5V 1A Car Cam

afe66

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#150413 22-Jul-2014 00:10

I've ordered a carcam out of curiosity from China and have a question about power drain on the car battery.
It draws 5v 1A via the standard usb converter into cigarette point.

I have a ex uk ford focus from about 2006 and it seems the cigarette lighter power point is live even when engine off and keys not in the ignition. I deduced this from it charging my phone before I insert the key.

So the question is, does this mean I can leave the camera "on" when I get out of the car or should I pull the charger out of cig point to prevent the car battery going flat ?

How long can a normal car battery cope with 5v 1A draw before the battery won't start the car ?

Memory shouldn't be issues as I think it's got motion detection so I won't record 8Gb of the inside of my garage.

Thanks in advance.

A.

Bung

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#1093379 22-Jul-2014 00:28

5v 1A is a typical output capacity for a usb charger. Your camera is likely to draw something less than that. Then you need to know how efficiently the charger converts the nominal 12v to 5v to know the input current.

I suspect the camera if running would be the same as leaving the interior light on. That's flattened batteries for me in the past.

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RunningMan

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#1093411 22-Jul-2014 07:34

It's a common issue for the UK Ford's - the 12v socket is always live, not switchable.

Grab something like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/other-accessories/auction-755974919.htm and connect it so a switched circuit instead.

nakedmolerat

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#1093485 22-Jul-2014 09:19

RunningMan: It's a common issue for the UK Ford's - the 12v socket is always live, not switchable.

I think this is to all Ford. We have NZ Ford bought new last year, and it did the same thing. I found it extremely annoying!

RunningMan

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#1093492 22-Jul-2014 09:24

You may be right. All the Aussie designed I've seen have been switched on acc but the European designed are constant on. IMHO switched is preferable but I can see the sense in a live one also

hsvhel

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#1093501 22-Jul-2014 09:38

That would drain the battery, consider the current condition of your battery also.
YOu could add another cigarette adaptor behind the dash on a switched source and use that leaving the factory one free

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Bung

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#1093540 22-Jul-2014 10:43

nakedmolerat: I think this is to all Ford. We have NZ Ford bought new last year, and it did the same thing. I found it extremely annoying!

I suppose it depends on the circumstances. On a UK trip we found it very useful that you could leave camera or phone batteries charging in the locked car.

Niel

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#1093843 22-Jul-2014 18:28

Bung: On a UK trip we found it very useful that you could leave camera or phone batteries charging in the locked car.

Hopefully not on the dashboard in the sun...

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ajobbins

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#1093849 22-Jul-2014 18:44

You might be able to find an ACC power wire you can tap into and power it that way. You'll surely find one behind the radio, if you can get behind it.

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afe66

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#1093897 22-Jul-2014 20:37

Dashboard surgery options limited by the other half I fear.

It being the family car and all.

Will look at options mentioned above.

Sounds like I will be pulling charger in and out as I get in and out of the car to save the battery in the meantime.

Thanks

A.

blakamin

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#1093930 22-Jul-2014 21:09

Some cameras have the ability to turn themselves off when they detect no G's and then only top-up charge so shouldn't drain the battery too much. Mine does this, but I can't leave it in the car in summer as it would melt.

frankv

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#1094165 23-Jul-2014 12:37

Hopefully your camera has a micro-USB connector... You can buy micro-USB cables which include a switch... $11 on TradeMe IIRC.

frankv

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#1094177 23-Jul-2014 13:03

Bung: 5v 1A is a typical output capacity for a usb charger. Your camera is likely to draw something less than that. Then you need to know how efficiently the charger converts the nominal 12v to 5v to know the input current.

5V @ 1A is probably equivalent to 12V @ 0.5A, allowing a bit for conversion inefficiency. Maybe you need 1Amp-hour (240Amps for 15 seconds) to start your car? A typical battery might be 16Amp-hour? So running your camera for 30 hours on a fully-charged battery would mean you wouldn't be able to start your car. Less if your battery isn't fully charged or isn't brand-new, or your car is poorly tuned.

In other words...

I suspect the camera if running would be the same as leaving the interior light on. That's flattened batteries for me in the past.

richms

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#1094199 23-Jul-2014 14:01

If it's used daily should be no problems. I got sick of no permanently on power in my falcon so grabbed permanent 12v from the stereo loom for a dual usb output converter. It takes a few mA when nothing plugged in. Once phones etc are full they take stuff all current. Even powered on they take near nothing with a full battery.

Richard rich.ms

richms

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#1095882 25-Jul-2014 21:07

If running it flat worries you, this from DX should solve it so long as it does what they claim.

http://www.dx.com/p/5v-1-5a-mini-usb-port-power-cord-w-low-voltage-protection-for-car-dvr-gps-black-11-36v-334535

Richard rich.ms