Struggling to get your new Rexing DT2 dash cam up and running smoothly? You’re in the right place! We’ve all been there, staring at a box full of cables and a user manual that sometimes feels like it’s written in another language. But trust me, getting your Rexing DT2 installed doesn’t have to be a headache. Whether you’re aiming for a quick setup using your car’s cigarette lighter or you’re ready to go for the super clean, hardwired look to unlock all those awesome parking monitor features, this guide will walk you through every step.
Dash cams have become a must-have for drivers, and it’s easy to see why. They offer peace of mind, acting as a silent witness in case of an accident, protecting you from fraudulent claims, and even deterring theft or vandalism. The global dash camera market is actually booming, expected to hit around USD 7.64 billion by 2030, growing at a solid 9.6% annually from 2024, largely because more and more people care about vehicular safety and want solid evidence for insurance claims. With so many of us relying on our cars, especially personal vehicles which make up a huge chunk of the market, making sure your dash cam is properly installed is key to actually getting those benefits. So, let’s get your Rexing DT2 installed right, and you’ll be hitting the road with confidence!
What You’ll Need
Before we jump in, let’s gather up all the bits and bobs you’ll need. Having these ready will make the whole process a breeze.
- Your Rexing DT2 Dash Cam Kit: This should include the front camera, rear camera if you have the dual-channel model, rear camera cable, car charger, 3M adhesive, cable clips, and user manual. The DT2 usually comes with a 32GB SD card and an electrostatic sticker too.
- Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit Optional, but recommended for parking mode: This is sold separately, but if you want 24/7 surveillance and parking mode, you’ll definitely need it.
- Micro SD Card Class 10/UHS-1 or higher, up to 128GB: Even if one came with your kit, it’s good to have a spare or a larger one if needed.
- Circuit Tester / Multimeter: Absolutely essential for hardwiring to find the right fuse slots.
- Fuse Taps / Add-a-Fuses: You’ll need two of these if you’re hardwiring, one for constant power and one for switched power. Make sure they match your car’s fuse type e.g., ATO, Mini, Micro2.
- Trim Removal Tool / Plastic Pry Tool: This little helper is fantastic for tucking cables neatly and safely behind your car’s trim panels without scratching anything.
- Microfiber Cloth & Cleaning Solution like rubbing alcohol: For cleaning the windshield before mounting, ensuring a strong, lasting bond.
- Zip Ties or Velcro Straps: Great for managing any excess cable and keeping things super tidy.
- Electrical Tape: Always handy for securing connections.
- Flashlight or Headlamp: For peeking into those dark corners, like under the dashboard or in the fuse box area.
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Getting Started: The Dash Cam Basics
First things first, let’s get the main unit ready and positioned.
Unboxing and Initial Checks
Pull everything out of the box. You’ll find the front camera, its mounting bracket, a rear camera if you have the dual model, all the cables, and a few accessories. Just give everything a quick once-over to make sure nothing looks damaged and all the parts are there. Remember to power down the device before inserting or removing a memory card. Gently push your Micro SD card into the slot until you hear a click.
Choosing the Perfect Spot
This is more important than you might think! You want your Rexing DT2 to have a clear, wide view of the road without blocking your own line of sight. The sweet spot? Typically, it’s behind your rearview mirror. This keeps it discreet, less noticeable to potential thieves, and out of your way while driving. Navigating Rexing Inc. Reviews: What You Really Need to Know About Their Dash Cams
Before you stick anything permanently, do a “test fit” with the dash cam plugged into the cigarette lighter just to make sure you can actually see where the camera is pointing and have a good visual. Check the camera’s screen to confirm the view. The Rexing DT2 is designed to be small and easily concealed, which is great for security.
Mounting the Front Camera
The Rexing DT2 uses an adhesive mount with an electrostatic sticker, which is a really smart way to do it because it protects your windshield and makes removal easier if you ever need to.
- Clean Your Windshield: Use that microfiber cloth and some rubbing alcohol to thoroughly clean the area where you plan to mount the camera. Any dirt or grease will weaken the adhesive, so make it spotless.
- Position the Electrostatic Sticker: Carefully peel off the protective film from the electrostatic sticker. Attach it to your clean windshield, right behind your rearview mirror is usually ideal. Press it firmly to get rid of any air bubbles.
- Secure the Mount and Camera: Now, peel off the 3M tape from the camera’s mount. Fix both the mount and the camera firmly onto that electrostatic sticker. Hold it in place for about 30 seconds to ensure a good bond. Make sure it’s properly oriented with the roof and hood line of your vehicle.
Connecting the Rear Camera If You Have One
If you’ve got the dual-channel Rexing DT2, installing the rear camera gives you a fantastic extra layer of protection, watching what happens behind you.
Mounting the Rear Camera
Just like the front camera, choose a good spot for your rear camera. It usually mounts on the inside of your rear windshield, aiming outwards. Try to place it high up and centered for the best view, making sure it doesn’t obstruct your rear view. Clean the area thoroughly before applying the adhesive mount. Rexing intelligent hardwire kit type c
Routing the Rear Camera Cable
This is where a little patience comes in handy. You need to run the rear camera cable from the back of your car all the way to the front dash cam unit.
- Start from the Rear: Connect the rear camera cable to the rear camera.
- Along the Headliner/Pillars: Use your trim removal tool to gently tuck the cable along the headliner the fabric ceiling of your car. You can then route it down the C-pillar the side pillar by the rear window, along the door sills, and then up the A-pillar the pillar by your front windshield to reach the front dash cam. The goal here is to hide the cable as much as possible, making it look like it came straight from the factory.
- Connect to the Front Unit: Plug the rear camera cable into the dedicated rear camera port on your Rexing DT2 front unit.
Powering Up: Two Main Options
Now for the juice! How you power your dash cam depends on how discreet you want it to be and if you want features like parking monitor.
Option 1: The Easy Plug-and-Play Cigarette Lighter
This is the quickest way to get your Rexing DT2 powered up, perfect if you’re in a hurry or don’t want to mess with your car’s electrical system.
Routing the Power Cable
- From Camera to Headliner: Plug the USB-C power cable into your Rexing DT2. Gently feed the cable upwards into the gap between your windshield and the headliner. Your trim tool will be super useful here.
- Down the A-Pillar: Route the cable along the headliner to the passenger side A-pillar the one next to your windshield. Use the trim tool to tuck the cable neatly behind the A-pillar trim.
- Under the Dashboard: Bring the cable down from the A-pillar and snake it under the dashboard, aiming for your car’s cigarette lighter socket.
- Hide Excess Cable: If you have a lot of extra cable, coil it up neatly and secure it under the dashboard using zip ties or Velcro straps.
Plugging It In
Finally, plug the car charger end of the power cable into your car’s 12V cigarette lighter socket. The Rexing DT2 should automatically power on when your vehicle starts and begin recording. Getting Started with Your Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit with Type-C Port: The Ultimate Guide
Option 2: The Pro Look Hardwiring with Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit
If you want a truly clean, wire-free look and access to features like the parking monitor, hardwiring is the way to go. The Rexing DT2 requires a Smart Hardwire Kit or Intelligent Hardwire Kit to enable its parking monitor functionality. This ensures your camera keeps recording even when your car is off.
Why Hardwire?
Hardwiring offers several big advantages:
- 24/7 Parking Mode: This is the main reason many people hardwire. It lets your dash cam stay powered even when your car is off, recording incidents like hit-and-runs or vandalism in the parking lot. The Rexing DT2’s parking monitor can detect impacts G-sensor mode or record continuously Time Lapse mode. The kit also includes voltage protection to prevent your car battery from draining completely.
- Clean, Professional Setup: No messy cables dangling across your dashboard or console. All wires are hidden, giving your car interior a much cleaner look.
- Frees Up Your Cigarette Lighter: Your 12V outlet remains available for charging your phone or other gadgets.
- Improved Safety: Hidden wires mean no distractions or potential interference with your driving.
- Reliability: Direct connection to your car’s electrical system provides a more stable power source, preventing power fluctuations that can affect performance.
Understanding Your Fuse Box
Your car’s fuse box is like its electrical nerve center. It protects your vehicle’s circuits from overloads. You’ll typically find it under the dashboard, in the glove box, or sometimes in the engine bay. Check your car’s manual to pinpoint its exact location. If your car has multiple fuse boxes, pick the one closest to where you’re installing the camera.
Identifying Power Sources
The Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit usually has three wires: a red wire, a yellow wire, and a black ground wire.
- Red Wire Switched Power: This needs to connect to a fuse that only gets power when your car’s ignition is on ACC power. This way, your dash cam turns on and off with your car.
- Yellow Wire Constant Power: This connects to a fuse that is always on, even when your car is off. This provides power for the parking monitor feature.
- Black Wire Ground: This needs to be securely connected to any bare metal part of your car’s chassis, like a metal bolt near the fuse box.
Using a Circuit Tester: This tool is your best friend here. The Ultimate Guide to Rexing Lock Video: Protecting Your Crucial Dash Cam Footage
- Find a Switched Fuse: Turn your car’s ignition to the “ACC” or “ON” position. Use the circuit tester to probe different fuses in the fuse box. A fuse that lights up the tester when the ignition is on, and turns off when the ignition is off, is your switched power source.
- Find a Constant Fuse: Turn your car’s ignition completely off. Probe fuses again. A fuse that keeps the tester lit even when the car is off is your constant power source.
- Avoid Critical Fuses: Try to pick fuses for non-essential accessories like your radio, wipers, or power windows. Stay away from fuses for airbags, engine control, or other critical safety systems.
Connecting the Hardwire Kit
- Install Fuse Taps: For both the constant and switched fuses you identified, you’ll use an add-a-fuse also called a fuse tap.
- Carefully remove the original fuse from its slot using a fuse puller or pliers.
- Insert that original fuse into the lower slot of your add-a-fuse.
- Insert a new, smaller fuse usually 2A or 3A, as recommended by Rexing or your hardwire kit instructions into the upper slot of the add-a-fuse. This new fuse protects your dash cam.
- Connect the red wire from your hardwire kit to the switched add-a-fuse, and the yellow wire to the constant add-a-fuse.
- Plug the add-a-fuses back into their respective slots in the fuse box.
- Connect the Ground Wire: Find a metal bolt or screw on the car’s chassis near the fuse box. Loosen it, slip the black ground wire’s ring terminal underneath it, and tighten the bolt securely. Make sure it’s a good, bare metal connection.
- Connect to Dash Cam: Plug the hardwire kit’s power connector into the USB-C charging port on your Rexing DT2.
Hiding Those Wires Like a Pro
Once everything is connected, it’s time to make it disappear!
- From Camera to Fuse Box: Route the hardwire kit’s main cable just like you would with the cigarette lighter cable: up into the headliner, down the A-pillar using your trim tool, and then behind the dashboard towards your fuse box.
- Around the Fuse Box: Gather any excess wire near the fuse box. Use zip ties or electrical tape to bundle it neatly and tuck it away into any empty space behind the kick panel or inside the fuse box area. The goal is to keep it out of sight and securely fastened so it doesn’t rattle or get in the way.
First Power-Up and Essential Settings
With all the wires connected, it’s showtime!
Turning It On
If you hardwired it, your Rexing DT2 should power on automatically when you start your car. If you used the cigarette lighter, just plug it in and start your vehicle. The camera will typically start recording automatically.
Formatting the Micro SD Card
This is a critical step, especially for a new SD card or one you’ve used before. Formatting prepares the card specifically for your dash cam and prevents recording issues or data corruption. Powering Your Protection: A DIY Guide to Installing the Rexing Hardwire Kit for Your DT2 Dash Cam
- Stop Recording: If the camera is recording, press the “OK” button to stop it.
- Access Settings: Press the “MENU” button twice to get to the “Setup Settings” menu.
- Find Format Option: Use the arrow buttons to navigate to “Format”.
- Confirm: Press the “OK” button to confirm and format the card. Remember to back up any important data on the card before doing this.
Key Settings to Adjust
Spend a few minutes going through the Rexing DT2’s menu to customize it to your preferences.
- Loop Recording: Make sure this is turned on. It allows the camera to record continuously, overwriting the oldest unlocked files when the card is full. The DT2 has this feature.
- Video Resolution: Choose your desired resolution. The higher the resolution, the clearer the video, but it will also take up more space on your SD card. The DT2 records in 1080p FHD.
- G-Sensor / Gravity Sensitivity: This detects impacts and automatically locks the current recording to prevent it from being overwritten. You can usually set the sensitivity High, Medium, Low. I’d recommend starting with “Medium” and adjusting if you find it too sensitive or not sensitive enough.
- Parking Monitor if hardwired: This is where you activate the parking surveillance. You can often choose between “Time Lapse” records 24/7 at a low frame rate or “G-Sensor” only records when an impact is detected while parked. Important: Do NOT enable this feature in the settings if you haven’t connected a hardwire kit, as it can cause malfunctions.
- Date/Time Stamp: Ensure this is enabled so your videos have accurate timestamps.
- Exposure: Adjust if your footage looks too dark or too bright.
- Plate Number: You can input your license plate number to be displayed on recorded video files.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best instructions, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to tackle them.
Camera Not Powering On
- Check Power Source: If using the cigarette lighter, ensure the lighter socket is working. Try plugging in a phone charger to test it. If hardwired, double-check your fuse connections – are they in the correct constant and switched slots? Is the ground connection solid?
- Cable Connection: Make sure all cables are securely plugged into the dash cam and power source.
- Vehicle Ignition: Some cars’ cigarette lighters only get power when the ignition is on.
Recording Problems / SD Card Errors
- Format the SD Card: Did you format it in the dash cam? This is a frequent fix for recording issues.
- SD Card Quality: Ensure you’re using a Class 10/UHS-1 or higher Micro SD card, as recommended by Rexing, and that it’s from a reputable brand. Low-quality or counterfeit cards can cause problems.
- Card Capacity: While the Rexing DT2 supports up to 128GB, ensure your card isn’t actually corrupted or full with unprotected files.
- Firmware: If you’re still having issues, check Rexing’s website for any firmware updates for your DT2, but only update if you’re experiencing problems or advised by support.
Parking Monitor Woes
- Hardwire Kit Required: Remember, the parking monitor only works with the Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit. If you’re using the cigarette lighter adapter, this feature won’t work.
- Correct Hardwire Connections: Double-check that your constant yellow and switched red wires are correctly connected in your fuse box. If they’re reversed, the parking monitor won’t work correctly, or could even drain your battery.
- Enable in Settings: Make sure the Parking Monitor feature is actually turned on in your DT2’s settings menu and you’ve selected either “Time Lapse” or “G-Sensor”.
Maintenance for Longevity
Taking a few minutes now and then to maintain your Rexing DT2 will keep it running smoothly for years. Rexing Hardwire Kit Type-C: Your 24/7 Car Guardian
Regular SD Card Care
Micro SD cards in dash cams go through a lot of read/write cycles, which can wear them out.
- Format Regularly: It’s a good habit to format your SD card every few weeks or once a month, even if it seems fine. This helps maintain its performance and prevents potential issues. Remember to back up any important footage first!
- Replace When Needed: SD cards aren’t designed to last forever, especially with continuous recording. If you notice persistent errors or corrupted files, it might be time for a new card.
Keeping Lenses Clean
Just like your car’s windshield, the dash cam lenses can get dusty or smudged.
- Wipe Gently: Use a soft, clean microfiber cloth to gently wipe the front and rear camera lenses. Avoid harsh chemicals that could damage the lens coating. A clear lens means clear footage when you need it most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of SD card does the Rexing DT2 use?
The Rexing DT2 accepts Class 10/UHS-1 or higher Micro SD memory cards, with a maximum capacity of 128GB.
Can I use the parking monitor feature without hardwiring my Rexing DT2?
No, the parking monitor feature on the Rexing DT2 requires a Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit or Intelligent Hardwire Kit to be connected to provide continuous power when the vehicle is off. Why a Hardwire Kit is a Must-Have for Your Dash Cam
Where is the best place to mount the Rexing DT2 dash cam?
The best place to mount your Rexing DT2 is typically behind the rearview mirror, as this position offers an unobstructed view of the road and keeps the camera discreet, reducing driver distraction and making it less noticeable from outside the vehicle.
How do I hide the power cables for a clean installation?
To hide the power cables, use a trim removal tool to tuck them along the headliner, down the A-pillar the side pillar by your windshield, and then under the dashboard to either the cigarette lighter socket or the fuse box. Use cable clips or zip ties to secure any excess slack.
What’s the difference between a switched fuse and a constant fuse for hardwiring?
A switched fuse only provides power when your car’s ignition is on ACC, so your dash cam turns on and off with your vehicle. A constant fuse provides continuous power even when the car is off, which is essential for enabling parking mode features. You’ll need both for a proper hardwired installation of the Rexing DT2.
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