2-Channel Dash Cam Install

[89Suburban]

Think of electrical as plumbing. Positive in negative out. Fuses don't matter which way. It's like asking which end of a piece of wire to hook up. It's just a piece of metal in insulation.

Diodes are one way flow however. It's like a one way valve.

 

[Rev_Night]

The fuse itself should not be pole specific, but the side that the feed is on might be.

What so how does that apply here? What is the feed in this situation and what is the correct orientation?

 

[tuckerrnr1]

What so how does that apply here? What is the feed in this situation and what is the correct orientation?

operator5362flink Clarified that it is a 3 leg fuse with the one in the center feeding the outer two. I did not catch that from the picture. If it were a two leg fuse and you were tapping from the line in side then the fuse would be moot.

 

[Rev_Night]

ok sweet. so i can use that fuse using the orientation in the picture then, since only the middle prong is used for power.

That being said, its pretty hard to fit this in. Do I just need to use more force?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJCD2FG2?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

 

[operator5362flink]

Many of the micro 3 fuse taps on Amazon are not molded correctly and users need to trim off some of the plastic to get them to fit. This one fits fine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHTXT3K6

It comes with 15 amp fuses. I changed them out for 5 amp fuses.

 

[Rev_Night]

Sounds good. I noticed the difference between your link and the one I posted is that mine has ridges on the left and right sides, while yours doesn't. There was another post here about someone shaving it with util. knife, I would prefer not to go down that route. I'll just order new ones.

Micro2 fuses (here), are the same. No ridges are left/right.

These fuse taps come with 2 banks of empty rows. The instructions say to remove the existing fuse and insert it into one row. Then take the fuse they give you and insert it into the 2nd row. But suppose the car fuse is a 10a and the product only comes with 15a. Should I buy on Amazon two 5a to use instead?

 

[operator5362flink]

That is what I did. 5 amps was plenty for both full time and accessory power feeds for my dashcam, so those went in the slots away from the fuse tap prongs.

 

[Rev_Night]

perfect! so 2 fuse taps means four 5a fuses to go in them

 

[operator5362flink]

perfect! so 2 fuse taps means four 5a fuses to go in them

No, put the truck’s existing fuse in the slot close to the prongs, as per the instructions.

 

[Rev_Night]

No, put the truck’s existing fuse in the slot close to the prongs, as per the instructions.

But that would mean I have a 10a and a 5a in the same fuse tap, right? The existing car fuses are 10a, the new ones im getting are 5a. So a 5a and a 10a would be in the same fuse tap. I don't know anything about electrical work. Is this correct? Wouldnt 2 separate amperages lead to an issue?

 

[operator5362flink]

No, with the fuse tap the original fuse protects the two existing circuits just as it did before, and the new fuse protects a NEW circuit for your accessory.

 

[Rev_Night]

Gotcha. Does it matter which slot the 10 and the 5 are in?

 

[operator5362flink]

Gotcha. Does it matter which slot the 10 and the 5 are in?

Yes, like in the instructions: original fuse closest to the prongs and fuse for new circuit away from the prongs.

 

[Rev_Night]

What instructions are you referring to? When I got my Micro3 fuses in, the "instructions" just said to plug it in ha. Written in English but barely

 

[operator5362flink]

These fuse taps come with 2 banks of empty rows. The instructions say to remove the existing fuse and insert it into one row. Then take the fuse they give you and insert it into the 2nd row.

 

[Rev_Night]

Yeah, one row and another row. It doesn't say if the rows matter re: old or new fuse

 

[operator5362flink]

original fuse closest to the prongs and fuse for new circuit away from the prongs

 

[Rev_Night]

hmmm I connected everything correctly (i think?) but the camera is not turning on. I know the camera is still good because it works when I use the cig lighter power cable. Both fuse taps appear to be inserted flush and fit perfectly.

F26
-Accessory
-Micro 3
-Pre-existing 10a in row closest to prongs
-Vendor provided 5a in row farthest from prongs

F44
-Constant/Battery
-Micro2
-Since this slot was empty in the fuse box, I put both vendor provided 5a in the fuse rows

Ground wire is attached to frame bolt

Thoughts:
1. Not super happy with one of the crimps. One of the wires crimped perfectly, the other required that I fold in the metal to create a better contact surface. I crimped using a multi-use wire splitter. The not great crimp (i tried a few times) holds but I can easily rip it out if I wanted to.
2. There was a previous post here about how his fuse 44, the hot line was switched. I believe his hot line was on the left, and the OPs was on the right. I used 2 different voltage pens and I was unable to determine which side was hot.

 

[operator5362flink]

FWIW I used F25 (micro3) for always on power in my 2024 Suburban LT

 

[Rev_Night]

Sounds good. Its raining today and my tahoe can't fit in my single car garage. I will post tomorrow