For car owners looking to keep their vehicles secure, dashcams are a popular solution. A common question arises when considering powering these devices: “Can I have OBDII always plugged in?”. Understanding the implications of using your car’s OBD-II port to power accessories, especially dashcams, is crucial for maintaining your vehicle’s health and electrical system. Let’s delve into this topic to clarify whether it’s a safe and viable option.
The On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD-II) port in your car is primarily designed for vehicle diagnostics and monitoring. It’s a gateway to your car’s computer system, allowing mechanics and car owners to read error codes and access performance data. However, the OBD-II port also provides a power source, which makes it a tempting option for powering devices like dashcams, GPS trackers, or even phone chargers.
Using an OBD-II adapter to power your dashcam can seem like a clean and simple solution, especially if your cigarette lighter socket is always powered or inconveniently located. These adapters often come with features like low voltage cut-off switches, designed to prevent your car battery from draining excessively if the dashcam is left running when the engine is off. Brands like Koolatron offer “battery saver” adapters that incorporate this functionality, automatically cutting power to the accessory if the battery voltage drops below a certain threshold, typically around 11.6 volts.
Alt text: Close-up view of an OBDII port located in the interior of a vehicle, highlighting its standard trapezoidal shape and pin configuration.
If your car’s cigarette lighter only works when the engine is running, an OBD-II power supply might appear even more attractive for continuous dashcam operation, particularly for parking surveillance. For such setups, you could consider using an OBD port adapter with a similar low voltage cut-off feature. This ensures that your dashcam can operate in standby or surveillance mode when parked, utilizing motion or G-sensor activation, without risking a dead battery.
However, it’s important to be mindful of power draw. While the OBD-II port is designed to supply power, it’s not intended for high-drain continuous usage. Typically, OBD-II ports are designed to provide up to 4 amps. Most dashcams, even dual-channel models, usually consume 2 amps or less, making them generally safe to power via OBD-II in terms of amperage.
Alt text: A dashcam professionally installed on a car windshield, illustrating a typical setup for vehicle video recording and safety.
For scenarios where your cigarette lighter is always on, and you prefer using it, a robust cigarette lighter splitter can be employed. By using a heavy-duty splitter rated at a minimum of 10 amps, you can connect both a battery saver adapter (like the Koolatron) and a high-quality cigarette lighter to USB adapter. This setup allows you to power your dashcam via the battery saver while still retaining a USB port for charging other devices.
When you need to use the OBD-II port for its primary purpose – vehicle diagnostics – simply unplug the adapter and connect your diagnostic scanner. Using an OBD-II adapter for powering a dashcam in the ways described is generally considered safe and convenient, offering a practical solution for continuous power without significantly taxing your car’s electrical system or hindering diagnostic access.
