Ever wondered how to keep your Rexing dash cam recording even when your car is off, without draining your battery or having messy wires everywhere? Getting a Rexing hardwire kit Type-C is the way to go! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about these kits, why they’re super useful, and how to get one installed so your dash cam is protecting your ride 24/7. It’s truly a must for vehicle security, giving you peace of mind whether you’re parked at the grocery store or leaving your car overnight.
Let’s be honest, nobody likes coming back to their car to find a dent, a scratch, or even worse, evidence of a hit-and-run, only to realize their dash cam wasn’t recording. That’s where a Rexing hardwire kit Type-C comes into play. It’s not just about a clean, factory-like installation. it’s about providing your dash cam with continuous power so it can keep watch even when your engine is off.
When you hardwire your dash cam, you’re essentially connecting it directly to your vehicle’s fuse box. This means it bypasses the cigarette lighter or USB port, which usually cut power when the car is off. With a hardwire kit, your Rexing dash cam can tap into both constant power always on and switched power on only with the ignition, unlocking features like parking mode and motion detection. This ensures you have eyes on your vehicle round the clock, ready to capture any incident. Think of it as having a silent guardian for your car, always alert and ready to record what happens around your vehicle, providing crucial evidence if anything goes wrong.
What Exactly is a Rexing Hardwire Kit Type-C?
So, what are we talking about here? A Rexing hardwire kit Type-C is an accessory that allows your Rexing dash cam to draw power directly from your car’s electrical system through the fuse box. Unlike simply plugging it into a 12V socket, which often turns off with your ignition, hardwiring provides a stable and continuous power supply. And the “Type-C” part refers to the USB-C connector on the end that plugs into your dash cam, which is a modern, reversible connector used by many newer Rexing dash cam models like the R4, DT2, and M2 Max.
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These kits typically convert your car’s 12V-30V input power down to the 5V/2A or 5V/1.5A that your dash cam needs, ensuring it gets the right amount of juice without any issues.
Why Go Type-C with Rexing? The Benefits You’ll Love
why bother with a hardwire kit, and specifically a Type-C one? The benefits are pretty clear:
1. 24/7 Parking Surveillance and Parking Mode
This is probably the biggest reason people opt for hardwiring. Most Rexing hardwire kits, especially the “Smart” and “Intelligent” ones, enable your dash cam’s parking mode features. This means even when your car is turned off, your dash cam can keep recording. Why a Hardwire Kit is a Must-Have for Your Dash Cam
- Motion Detection: If someone walks near your car or another vehicle gets too close, the dash cam can trigger and record.
- Impact Detection G-sensor: If your car gets bumped, scratched, or hit while parked, the G-sensor will detect the impact and save the footage.
- Low Voltage Protection: Don’t worry about a drained battery! Rexing hardwire kits have built-in low voltage protection. If your car battery voltage drops to a certain level often around 11.8V or 23.5V for trucks, the kit will automatically cut power to the dash cam, leaving you enough juice to start your car.
Studies show that a significant percentage of vehicle-related thefts and vandalism happen when cars are parked, especially at night. Having a dash cam with parking mode acts as a powerful deterrent and provides crucial evidence.
2. Clean, Tidy Installation
Nobody wants cables dangling across their dashboard or getting tangled around the gear stick. Hardwiring allows you to neatly tuck all the wires away, usually along the headliner, down the A-pillar, and into your car’s fuse box. The result is a professional, integrated look, almost like your dash cam came pre-installed. Rexing kits often come with handy tools like an installing crowbar and cable hiding clips to make this process easier.
3. Free Up Your Power Outlets
With your dash cam hardwired, your 12V cigarette lighter socket and USB ports are free for charging your phone, running navigation, or powering other accessories. It’s all about convenience.
4. Automatic Operation ACC Feature
Many Rexing hardwire kits come with an ACC Accessory detection feature. This means your dash cam will automatically switch to parking mode when your engine turns off and seamlessly switch back to normal recording mode when you start the car. You don’t have to manually fuss with settings every time you get in or out of your vehicle.
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Rexing Hardwire Kit Types: Smart vs. Intelligent
Rexing offers a couple of main hardwire kit variations you might come across:
- Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit Type-C: These kits are designed for continuous power and enable parking mode features through the dash cam’s internal sensors. They generally feature low voltage protection and ACC detection. They are compatible with models like R4, DT2, M3, M2 Max, RH2 Series, and more.
- Rexing Intelligent Hardwire Kit Type-C Port: These are often a step up, sometimes including an external motion sensor. For instance, some intelligent kits will power up the dash cam automatically once a motion is detected and record until the motion clears. An important note: if you have an intelligent hardwire kit with its own motion sensing, do NOT enable the parking monitor function in the dash cam’s settings. This can actually cause a malfunction, as the intelligent hardwire kit’s features will override the dash cam’s internal parking monitor.
Always double-check the compatibility of the specific hardwire kit with your Rexing dash cam model, as some older models might use Mini-USB instead of Type-C. Rexing also makes Mini-USB hardwire kits for their supercapacitor models like the V1-4K, V1P, V3, V5, and S1 series.
What You’ll Find in Your Rexing Hardwire Kit Type-C
When you unbox a Rexing hardwire kit, you’ll typically find:
- The Hardwire Kit Cable: This is the main cable assembly, usually about 11-13 feet long, with a voltage regulator box in the middle. It will have three main wires:
- Red Wire ACC/Switched Power: Connects to a fuse that gets power only when your car’s ignition is on.
- Yellow Wire Constant Power: Connects to a fuse that is always powered, even when your car is off. This is crucial for parking mode.
- Black Wire Ground: Connects to a metal bolt or screw on your car’s chassis for grounding.
- Fuse Tap Cables Add-a-Circuit: These nifty little devices let you safely tap into your car’s fuse box without cutting any wires. The kit often includes various popular fuse types e.g., Mini, Micro2 to fit most car models.
- Installing Crowbar/Pry Tool: A plastic tool designed to help you gently pry open interior trim panels for easy wire routing.
- Cable Hiding Clips: For securing any loose wires.
- User Manual: Always a good idea to consult this for specific instructions for your kit and dash cam.
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Getting Started: Pre-Installation Checks
Before you start pulling out trim pieces, here are a few things to consider:
- Check Compatibility: Make sure your Rexing dash cam actually uses a Type-C port and is compatible with the specific hardwire kit you have. Rexing sometimes lists specific compatible models.
- Locate Your Fuse Box: Most cars have a fuse box in the passenger footwell, under the dashboard, or sometimes in the engine bay or trunk. Your car’s owner’s manual will tell you exactly where it is and provide a fuse diagram.
- Gather Your Tools: You’ll need:
- The Rexing hardwire kit.
- A circuit tester or multimeter essential for identifying fuse types!.
- Wire strippers sometimes needed, but fuse taps usually avoid this.
- A wrench or socket set for the ground bolt.
- Zip ties or electrical tape for securing wires.
- Your car’s owner’s manual.
- A flashlight or headlamp fuse boxes can be dark!.
- Disconnect Your Battery: Safety first! Always disconnect your car’s negative battery terminal before working with electrical components to prevent accidental shorts.
Step-by-Step Installation: How to Hardwire Your Rexing Dash Cam Type-C
This might seem daunting, but I promise it’s doable for most DIYers. Just take your time and follow these steps.
Step 1: Mount Your Dash Cam and Route the Cable
First things first, mount your Rexing dash cam in your desired location, usually behind your rearview mirror for a discreet view of the road.
Then, starting from the dash cam, begin routing the Type-C cable. Use the included pry tool to tuck the cable neatly under the headliner, along the top of the windshield, and down the passenger or driver’s side A-pillar the trim piece between your windshield and side window. Continue routing it towards your fuse box. You want to hide as much of the cable as possible for a clean look. Understanding Your Rexing R4 GPS Logger
Step 2: Locate Constant and Switched Fuses
This is where your circuit tester becomes your best friend.
- Constant Power Yellow Wire: You need to find a fuse that’s always on, even when your car is off. This could be for things like the hazard lights, interior lights, or radio check your manual. With your circuit tester grounded, touch the probe to one side of each fuse in the fuse box. If it lights up with the car off and the key removed, you’ve found a constant fuse.
- Switched Power Red Wire: Next, find a fuse that only gets power when your ignition is on. This could be for the radio, cigarette lighter, or wipers. With the car off, test fuses until you find one that doesn’t light up. Then, turn your car’s ignition to the ACC or ON position engine off and test that same fuse again. If it lights up now, you’ve found a switched fuse.
Pro Tip: If you can find empty fuse slots that have constant and switched power, those are ideal, as you won’t be tapping into an existing circuit. However, using a low-amperage, non-essential circuit like the radio or an accessory port with a fuse tap is generally safe.
Step 3: Connect the Fuse Taps
Once you’ve identified your constant and switched fuse slots, grab your fuse tap cables.
- Original Fuse: Remove the original fuse from the slot you’re tapping into. Insert this original fuse into the lower slot of your fuse tap the one closer to the prongs. This keeps your car’s original circuit protected.
- Dash Cam Fuse: The Rexing hardwire kit itself has a built-in fuse, or you might place a low-amperage fuse e.g., 2A or 3A into the upper slot of the fuse tap. This protects the dash cam circuit.
- Connect Wires: Crimp or connect the yellow wire from your hardwire kit to the constant fuse tap, and the red wire to the switched fuse tap. Ensure these connections are secure.
- Insert Fuse Taps: Carefully plug the assembled fuse taps back into their respective slots in the fuse box. Make sure they are seated firmly.
Step 4: Ground the Black Wire
The black wire from your hardwire kit needs to be connected to a metal part of your car’s chassis. Look for an existing bolt or screw near the fuse box that’s directly connected to the car’s metal frame. Unscrew it slightly, slip the black wire’s ring terminal underneath, and tighten the bolt securely. This provides a good electrical ground.
Step 5: Connect to Dash Cam and Test
Finally, plug the Type-C end of the hardwire kit into your Rexing dash cam. Reconnect your car’s negative battery terminal. How to Master Your Rexing V1P: The Ultimate SD Card Formatting Guide
Now, it’s time to test:
- Turn on your car: Your dash cam should power on and start recording in its normal driving mode.
- Turn off your car and remove the key: After a few seconds or a minute depending on the kit/dash cam, your dash cam should automatically switch into parking mode, indicated by an LED or an on-screen icon. Gently tap the dash cam if it has a G-sensor to see if it triggers a parking mode recording.
- Wait a bit: Leave your car off for a while e.g., 30 minutes to an hour and then check your car battery voltage. The low voltage protection should kick in before your battery gets too low to start the car.
If everything works as expected, you can use the cable hiding clips to further secure any remaining loose wires and put your trim panels back in place.
Common Troubleshooting Tips
Even with the best instructions, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to tackle them:
- Dash Cam Doesn’t Turn On:
- Check all connections: Are the fuse taps securely in place? Is the ground wire firmly attached to bare metal? Is the Type-C connector fully inserted into the dash cam?
- Verify fuses: Make sure the fuses in your fuse taps both the original and the dash cam’s are good. Use your circuit tester to confirm power at each fuse tap.
- Battery disconnected: Did you remember to reconnect your car’s negative battery terminal?
- Incorrect fuse slots: Double-check that your constant and switched fuses are indeed providing the correct type of power.
- Parking Mode Isn’t Working:
- Check the yellow wire constant power: This is essential for parking mode. If this isn’t connected to an always-on fuse, parking mode won’t work.
- Intelligent Hardwire Kit Note: If you have an “Intelligent” kit with its own motion sensor, ensure the parking mode setting on your dash cam itself is OFF. The kit handles parking mode, and enabling it on the dash cam can cause conflicts.
- Dash cam settings: Some dash cams require parking mode to be enabled in their own menu. Make sure it’s turned on, unless you have an Intelligent kit that overrides it.
- Supercapacitor Charge: Some dash cams with supercapacitors might need a good drive or an overnight charge via a USB charger to fully charge the supercapacitor, which supports parking mode.
- Car Battery Drains Too Quickly:
- Low Voltage Protection: Confirm your Rexing hardwire kit has low voltage protection most do and that it’s functioning.
- Parking Mode Sensitivity/Settings: If your dash cam offers adjustable parking mode sensitivity or recording duration, you might need to lower it. Excessive recording in parking mode can still draw power.
- Aging Battery: If your car battery is old or weak, even proper low voltage protection might not be enough to prevent it from struggling to start after extended parking mode use. Consider having your battery tested.
- Wires Are Backwards Red/Yellow: Some users have reported that for certain Rexing kits, the red and yellow wires might need to be reversed from what the diagram states to get proper constant/switched power behavior. If you’re encountering issues where the camera stays on when the car is off but parking mode doesn’t work, or it only works when the car is on, this could be the culprit. Always test with your circuit tester to confirm which wire provides constant power and which provides switched power in your setup, regardless of color.
Hardwiring your Rexing dash cam with a Type-C kit is a fantastic upgrade that provides enhanced security and a much cleaner vehicle interior. With a little patience and the right tools, you can get it done yourself and enjoy peace of mind knowing your car is constantly monitored. Rexing mayaris review
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hardwire kit for a dash cam?
A hardwire kit is a special cable and voltage regulator that connects your dash cam directly to your car’s electrical system, usually through the fuse box. This allows the dash cam to receive continuous power, even when the engine is off, enabling features like 24/7 parking surveillance and freeing up your car’s 12V outlets.
Do all Rexing dash cams use Type-C hardwire kits?
No, not all Rexing dash cams use Type-C ports. While newer models like the R4, DT2, and M2 Max often feature Type-C, many older Rexing models and supercapacitor-based dash cams still use Mini-USB ports. Always check your specific dash cam’s port type and buy the corresponding hardwire kit Type-C or Mini-USB.
How does the Rexing hardwire kit protect my car battery from draining?
Rexing hardwire kits include built-in low voltage protection. This smart system monitors your car battery’s voltage. If the voltage drops below a preset threshold typically around 11.8V for 12V systems or 23.5V for 24V systems, the hardwire kit will automatically cut power to the dash cam. This ensures there’s enough charge left in your battery to start your car.
Can I install a Rexing hardwire kit myself, or should I get professional help?
Many people successfully install Rexing hardwire kits themselves. The kits usually come with fuse taps and pry tools, and there are plenty of online guides and videos to help. However, it does require a basic understanding of your vehicle’s fuse box and using a circuit tester to identify constant and switched power. If you’re uncomfortable working with your car’s electrical system, getting professional installation is a safe and reliable option. How to Find the Bolt Pattern on Trailer Rims
What’s the difference between the red and yellow wires in a hardwire kit?
The red wire ACC or Accessory usually connects to a “switched” fuse, meaning it only receives power when your car’s ignition is on. The yellow wire BAT or Battery connects to a “constant” fuse, which provides power 24/7, even when your car is turned off. The black wire is for grounding to the car’s chassis. Both constant and switched power connections are necessary for proper parking mode functionality, allowing the dash cam to know when the car is on or off.
Why might my parking mode not be working even after hardwiring?
Several reasons could cause parking mode issues. First, double-check that your yellow constant power wire is correctly connected to an always-on fuse. Second, if you have a Rexing “Intelligent” hardwire kit with its own motion sensor, you generally should NOT enable the parking monitor function within your dash cam’s settings, as the kit overrides it and enabling it can cause conflicts. Also, ensure your dash cam’s internal supercapacitor is fully charged a good drive usually does the trick as it helps maintain power during parking mode transitions.
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