[harsh79]

For the past few months I'd been using a Power Bank to keep my front and rear dash cams running when parked at unfamiliar or sketchy locations. But ever since coming across BHPian 'ashesh' thread about his i20's interiors nearly going up in flames due a Power Bank that exploded inside the armrest console, running dash cams off a Power Bank while parked was put to a complete stop.

Ashesh's thread - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...nside-car.html

What made me shudder was that I had left two dash cams running off a live Power Bank under similar conditions for several hours, that too on numerous occasions. Maybe mine survived because it was never left inside a closed space (like the armrest console or the glovebox), or maybe it was sheer luck.

Either way, I was done playing with Lady Luck!

With Power Banks out of the equation (at least during summer), started looking for a hardwire kit with BDP (battery discharge prevention).

A BDP hardwire kit draws power from the car's battery and can provide continuous power to a dash cam when the car's engine is OFF. If the battery's voltage drops to the preset cut-off value, the BDP kit cuts power to the dash cam and switches OFF.


Other options considered -

1) BlackVue Power Magic Pro - https://www.blackvue.com/power-magic-pro

Voltage cut-off protection and timer cut-off protection.

2) MotoPark Multi Safer - https://www.blackboxmycar.com/produc...iant=303721987

Voltage cut-off protection and timer cut-off protection.


Why did I pick the Vico-Power PLUS over the other two?

In addition to the voltage cut-off protection and timer cut-off protection available on MotoPark's Multi Safer and BlackVue's Power Magic Pro, the Vico-Power PLUS features over-temperature protection, over-current/surge protection and a LED display.


Vico-Power PLUS: Battery Discharge Prevention Hardwire kit

VicoVation Vico-Power PLUS - http://www.vicovation.com/productdet...3C859&lang=eng


Features

• Low voltage protection - 11.6/11.8/12.0/12.2/12.4V for 12V and 23.2/23.4/23.6/23.8/24/24.2/24.4/24.6V for 24V
• Over temperature protection - 50°/55°/60°/65°/70°/75°C
• Timer protection - 2/6/12/24/48/72 hours
• Over Current/Surge protection
• Timer ON/OFF button
• Parking mode ON/OFF button
• LED display

Timer protection can be enabled by switching the side button to 'Timer' from 'Normal'. Switching the side button to 'Timer' will provide power to the dash cam for a set number of hours, depends on the timer cut-off preset selected.

Parking mode can by disabled by switching the side button to 'Bypass' from 'Activate'. When Switched to 'Bypass', the dash cam will receive power only in ACC mode (Accessory Mode) or when the engine is ON. With the button switched to 'Bypass', the Vico-Power PLUS will function like a two wire hardwiring kit that's wired to a 'Switched' fuse.

Downloadable manual - http://www.vicovation.com/uploads/Vi...334832.pdf.zip


Cost

Bought on eBay.com - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vico-Power-P...t/172451693264

Price - $59.95

Shipping - $22.25 (USPS First Class Mail International)

Total - $82.20


Unboxing

[harsh79]

Install and set-up

From the manual



I do not agree with what VicoVation illustrates on page 12 & 14 of the manual. Please don't wrap wires around a fuse's leg. Crimp or solder the wire to a fuse-tap instead.



Special notices -




Items required

1. Two appropriate fuse-taps
2. Soldering or crimping tools
3. Heat shrink tube (if soldering)
4. Multimeter

Install

'ACC' and 'Battery' wire soldered to a fuse-tap each, then insulated with transparent heat shrink tubing. I've used two different sizes of heat shrink tubing to compensate for the thinner wire on the 'ACC' and 'Battery' ends



Wiring ready for installation. 3A fuses inserted into both the fuse-taps. The Vico-Power PLUS's 'Battery' wire comes with a 2A inline fuse. In the unlikely event of the dash cam pulling over 2 amps due to a malfunction or such, the inline fuse will blow first



Ground (GND) wire location. The forked spade connector goes around the bolt



Original fuse pulled out and added to the fuse-tap. Both fuse locations tapped are rated for 10A. VicoVation's manual recommends using fuse locations with a rating of 10A or less



A 'Switched' and 'Constant' fuse location were located using a multimeter

Fuse-taps connected to the appropriate fuses. Yellow wire (Battery) connects to a fuse location that receives constant power from the battery. Red wire (ACC) connects to a fuse location that receives power only when ACC (accessory mode) is engaged or the engine is ON



Anker 5 port USB adapter connected to the Vico-Power PLUS's 12V female socket.

The Vico-Power PLUS's output current is rated at 1A (Max. 2A). Even though I have a 5 port adapter connected, don't plan on running more than two dash cams off this device




Set-up


Voltage offset

If there is a difference between the voltage measured through a multimeter and what shows on the Vico-Power PLUS's display, the offset needs to be corrected.

Voltage measurement from the fuse box with the engine OFF - 12.6V

Voltage showing on the Vico-Power PLUS - 12.5V

Offset - +0.1V


Low voltage cut-off

Once the battery reaches the low voltage cut-off threshold, the Vico-Power PLUS will turn OFF power to the cameras and switch OFF automatically.

Voltage measurement from the fuse box with the engine OFF - 12.6V

Voltage measured with the Vico-Power PLUS running and powering the dash cam in ACC mode with the engine OFF - 12.4V

The cut-off needs to be set at least 0.2V lower than the reading in ACC mode with the dash cam running. Cut-off voltage set to 12.2V

Plan on experimenting with 12.2V, if the recording time while parked turns out to be too short, will give 12.0V a go.


Temperature protection

Set to 65° C. If the ambient temperature of the device ever crosses 65° C, the device will cut power to the dash cam and turn OFF. If one doesn't want to utilise the temperature protection feature, it can be turned OFF in the settings.

Timer Protection

Set to 2 hours. After two hours of recording in parking mode, the device will cut power to the dash cam and turn OFF.


ACC restart reboot function

Set to OFF as none of my dash cams are made by VicoVation and I don't want them to reboot when I enter the car and start the engine.


Up and running

Start-up logo



ACC Mode (Switched power)



Battery Mode (Constant power)



Voltage reading with the engine turned OFF



Voltage reading with the engine turned ON



Parking mode ON (red dot blinks up & down in ACC mode and left & right in Battery mode)



Ambient temperature reading



Dual Lock tape stuck to the unit's back. Still contemplating where to stick the main unit. Probably the panel it's resting on or somewhere inside the glovebox.




Overview and bench test (from Youtube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDSneK-ddY

Review, installation and set-up (from Youtube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqB7_Xc7uO0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyytQfoitTY

Since I've had the Vico-Power PLUS in action for just 3 days, don't feel like I'm in a position to comment on the pros and cons as of now.

While looking for a BDP hardwire kit a few months ago, I came across mostly positive experiences about this kit. I hope my experience is no different.

If there's anything I like or hate about the Vico-Power PLUS in the days to come, you'll definitely see it here.

Cheers!

[Aditya]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Modifications Section. Thanks for sharing!

[greenhorn]

Fancy gadget, but in my opinion, a bit of overkill, when the basic battery voltage protection is available for a fraction of the price, something like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Led-Display-...wAAOSwWdZZYKXX

there are different types with different controls

Or you can buy a DVR hardwire kit with undervoltage protection
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auto-Car-Bat...cAAOSwY3BZHWaf

[harsh79]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

Or you can buy a DVR hardwire kit with undervoltage protection
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auto-Car-Bat...cAAOSwY3BZHWaf

The low voltage protection on most of these is set too low and can't be adjusted. The one you've linked shows the cut-off at 11.5V.

I did look at the basic ones and if I had to pick one from just this category, my choice would be either the Power Magic Pro or the Multi Safer.

Timer cut-off was a prerequisite.

[harsh79]

Correction:

Parking mode ON. In Battery Mode the red dot blinks left to right under Normal Mode and up & down with the Timer function ON