Here’s how to power up your Rexing dash cam with an OBD hardwire kit, getting that essential 24/7 parking surveillance and a super clean install. It’s a must for keeping your ride protected, and honestly, once you go hardwired, you’ll wonder why you ever did it any other way. Using a Rexing OBD hardwire kit directly taps into your car’s OBD-II port, giving your dash cam continuous power for features like parking mode, all while keeping your cigarette lighter free and those pesky wires out of sight. You get that peace of mind knowing your car is being watched even when you’re not around, thanks to clever features like automatic ACC detection and built-in low voltage protection. We’ll walk through everything from why these kits are awesome to getting yours set up perfectly and even tackling any little hiccups along the way, so you can enjoy uninterrupted recording and a sleek, professional look.
Why Go OBD Hardwire for Your Rexing Dash Cam?
You’ve got a Rexing dash cam, and that’s already a smart move for road safety. But let’s be real, constantly plugging and unplugging it from your cigarette lighter is a hassle, and those dangling wires? Not exactly a clean look. That’s where a Rexing OBD hardwire kit really shines, turning your dash cam into a true always-on guardian for your vehicle.
24/7 Parking Mode: Your Car’s Personal Bodyguard
This is probably the biggest reason most folks switch to hardwiring. Ever worried about what happens to your car when it’s parked overnight or in a busy lot? A Rexing OBD hardwire kit makes your dash cam’s parking mode work, keeping it powered even after the engine is off. Think of it as having an extra pair of eyes watching your ride around the clock.
- Impact Detection G-Sensor: If someone bumps your car, the built-in G-sensor will feel it and trigger the camera to record a short, crucial video clip, locking it so it doesn’t get overwritten. This means you’ve got evidence of those parking lot dings or even more serious incidents.
- Motion Detection: Some kits and dash cams offer motion detection, so if anyone gets too close or something moves in front of your car, it starts recording. This is especially useful for capturing suspicious activity.
- Time Lapse: For those who want continuous surveillance without huge video files, time-lapse recording captures footage at a lower frame rate, making your memory card last longer. This means you can see hours of activity condensed into minutes, making review much quicker.
This kind of continuous monitoring means you’re prepared for parking lot hit-and-runs, vandalism, or even attempted break-ins. It’s about having solid evidence if something goes wrong.
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Battery Protection: Smart Power Management
One big concern with powering a dash cam 24/7 is draining your car’s battery. Nobody wants to come back to a dead car! Thankfully, Rexing OBD hardwire kits come with built-in low voltage protection. This smart system monitors your car battery’s voltage and, if it drops to a critical level like 11.8V for 12V systems or 23.5V for 24V systems, it automatically cuts off power to the dash cam. This leaves you with enough juice to start your car the next time, which is super important. It’s a non-negotiable feature for peace of mind, ensuring your battery stays healthy while still providing vital surveillance.
Clean & Clutter-Free Installation
Let’s be honest, those power cords snaking across your dashboard or dangling from the cigarette lighter port aren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. Hardwiring, especially with an OBD kit, solves this problem beautifully. It eliminates visible wires, giving your vehicle a much cleaner and more integrated look. Plus, it frees up your cigarette lighter or USB port for other devices, like charging your phone or powering another accessory. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in how your car feels inside. Cracking the Rexing User Manual: Your Ultimate Dash Cam Guide
Automatic ACC Detection
This is another really handy feature that makes life easier. With ACC detection, the hardwire kit automatically senses when your car’s engine is off or on. When you turn off your ignition, the dash cam will smoothly switch to parking mode. And when you start your car again, it seamlessly transitions back to normal recording. You don’t have to remember to turn it on or off, or manually change modes. it just handles it, so you can focus on driving.
Simplicity: Plug-and-Play Mostly!
Compared to traditional fuse box hardwiring, an OBD hardwire kit offers a much simpler installation. Many Rexing OBD kits are designed to be “plug and play,” meaning you just connect it directly to your car’s OBD-II port for uninterrupted power. This often means no complicated fuse tapping or dealing with intricate wiring, making it a truly DIY-friendly option. You’re bypassing the need to identify specific constant or switched fuse slots, which can be daunting for some.
Understanding Your Rexing OBD Hardwire Kit
Before we jump into the actual installation, let’s quickly break down what you’re likely working with when you get a Rexing OBD hardwire kit. Knowing these details will make the setup process much smoother.
Different Connector Types
Rexing dash cams, like many electronics, use different types of power connectors. You’ll typically find kits with either a Type-C USB port or a Mini-USB port. It’s super important to check which port your specific Rexing dash cam uses and make sure your hardwire kit matches. For example, some Rexing OBD Smart Hardwire Kits are compatible with their Type C Port Dash Cams, like the RH2 Series, V1PFlex X4, M2 Max, M3, M2 Max Pro, and R4. Others might be for older Mini-USB models like the V1-4K or V1P. Double-checking this upfront saves you a lot of headache and ensures compatibility. Powering Up Your Rexing Dash Cam with an OBD Hardwire Kit: The Ultimate Guide
What’s Usually in the Box?
When you unbox your Rexing OBD hardwire kit, you’ll usually find a few key components:
- The OBD Hardwire Cable: This is the main cable with the OBD-II connector on one end and your dash cam’s power connector Type-C or Mini-USB on the other. Rexing cables are often quite long, typically around 10.5ft or 11.5ft, giving you plenty of length to route it neatly around your vehicle’s interior.
- Installation Tools: Many kits include a small plastic installing crowbar and cable hiding clips to help you tuck away the wires. These are super handy for getting that professional, hidden look without damaging your car’s trim.
- Fuse Taps Sometimes: While true OBD hardwire kits are designed to plug directly into the OBD port, some hardwire kits not necessarily OBD-specific ones that come from Rexing might include fuse taps. For a direct OBD plug-in, these wouldn’t be used, but it’s worth noting their presence in some broader “hardwire kit” packages.
Voltage Compatibility
Rexing hardwire kits are designed to be widely compatible with most vehicles. They typically accept an input voltage of 12V-30V from your car’s electrical system and convert it down to a stable 5V/2A or 5V/3A output for your dash cam. This means it’ll work in everything from small cars to larger trucks, which is great because you don’t have to worry about specific vehicle types, just that universal OBD-II port. This wide range ensures your dash cam gets the steady power it needs.
Step-by-Step Installation: Rexing OBD Hardwire Kit
Alright, let’s get down to business! Installing your Rexing OBD hardwire kit is a pretty straightforward process, and with these steps, you’ll have it done in no time, giving you that clean, professional setup.
1. Pre-Installation Checklist: Get Ready!
Before you start pulling panels or routing cables, a quick check-in will save you time and potential frustration. What Exactly is Rexing OBD2?
- Confirm Dash Cam Power Requirements: Just to be absolutely sure, reconfirm that your Rexing dash cam uses the correct connector type Mini-USB or Type-C for your specific OBD hardwire kit. This is a crucial step to avoid frustrating re-dos.
- Locate Your Vehicle’s OBD-II Port: The OBD-II port is pretty standard across modern vehicles. It’s almost always located on the driver’s side, often under the dashboard, near the steering wheel column. Sometimes it’s hidden behind a small cover or panel. A quick peek in your car’s manual or a quick online search for your car model should pinpoint its exact location.
- Charge Your Car Battery: Make sure your car battery is fully charged. This is a good practice anytime you’re messing with vehicle electronics, especially if you plan on immediately testing the parking mode features, as they draw power.
- Gather Your Tools: You’ll likely need the plastic installing crowbar and cable clips that came with your kit. A flashlight can also be super helpful for looking under the dash in those tight, dark spaces.
2. Connect the OBD Hardwire Kit
This is where the “plug-and-play” magic happens!
- Plug It In: Simply take the OBD-II end of your Rexing hardwire cable and plug it firmly into your vehicle’s OBD-II port. You should feel it click securely into place. This connection provides both constant and switched power to the dash cam.
- Connect to Dash Cam: Now, take the other end of the hardwire cable Mini-USB or Type-C and connect it to your Rexing dash cam’s power input.
That’s it for the electrical connection! No need to find specific fuse slots or worry about constant/switched power sources, as the OBD port handles that internally. This is the beauty and simplicity of the OBD hardwire kit.
3. Route and Hide the Cable for a Clean Look
This step is all about aesthetics and safety. You don’t want cables dangling where they can obstruct your view or get snagged, so let’s get them hidden.
- Start at the Dash Cam: Many people find it easiest to start routing from the dash cam itself. Gently tuck the cable along the top edge of your windshield, usually just above the headliner.
- Down the A-Pillar: Use the plastic crowbar often included with the kit to carefully pry open the edge of the A-pillar trim the plastic panel running along the side of your windshield. You can usually tuck the cable right into the gap. Be gentle here. you don’t want to damage any clips or interfere with airbags, if present.
- Along the Dashboard or Door Seal: Continue routing the cable down the side of the dashboard, along the door seal, or under the floor mats. The goal is to keep it hidden and out of the way, making it look like a factory install.
- Towards the OBD Port: Finally, bring the cable down to where your OBD-II port is located, ensuring there’s enough slack but no excess cable clutter. Use the included cable clips to secure any loose sections and keep everything tidy.
4. Test the Connection
Once everything is plugged in and routed, it’s time to test!
- Ignition On: Turn on your car’s ignition. Your Rexing dash cam should power on and start recording as usual. Look for the recording indicator light or icon.
- Ignition Off Parking Mode Test: Turn off your car’s ignition. After a few moments it can sometimes take 1-5 minutes for your car’s computer to fully “sleep” and activate parking mode, your dash cam should switch into its parking mode. You might see a specific icon on the dash cam screen or notice it stop continuous recording and only activate with motion or impact.
- Check Low Voltage Cutoff: While you can’t easily test the low voltage cutoff in real-time without intentionally draining your battery, knowing it’s there provides peace of mind. Ensure your parking mode settings are configured as desired e.g., G-sensor sensitivity, time-lapse options.
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Optimizing Your Parking Mode Settings
Having an OBD hardwire kit means your dash cam can truly protect your car 24/7. But to get the most out of it, you might want to tweak a few settings on your Rexing dash cam to perfectly match your needs.
Understanding ACC Detection with Your Hardwire Kit
Remember how we talked about ACC detection? Your Rexing OBD hardwire kit handles this automatically. This means when your car is on, the dash cam records normally. When you turn it off, the kit intelligently tells the dash cam to switch to parking mode. You typically don’t need to enable a separate “parking monitor function” within the dash cam settings itself if using an intelligent or smart hardwire kit, as the kit often overrides or manages this feature automatically. If you do, you might get a message like “To use parking monitor, please make sure Smart Hardwire Kit is connected”. Just hit OK and select your desired parking mode option G-sensor, Time Lapse from the menu.
Choosing Your Parking Mode: G-Sensor, Motion, or Time-Lapse
Most Rexing dash cams offer different ways to record in parking mode, giving you flexibility for different situations:
- G-Sensor Impact Detection: This is fantastic for capturing hit-and-runs or bumps. The camera stays in a low-power state and only wakes up to record when it detects a significant impact. You can usually adjust the sensitivity low, medium, high to prevent false alarms from things like heavy winds, while still catching actual incidents.
- Motion Detection: If your dash cam has this feature, it will start recording when it detects movement in its field of view while parked. This is great for capturing suspicious activity around your car, like someone lurking too close.
- Time Lapse Recording: Instead of full-motion video, time-lapse records a continuous stream of still images at a very low frame rate. This saves a lot of space on your SD card, allowing for much longer parking surveillance periods. You can then quickly review hours of footage in a short amount of time, perfect for monitoring long parking sessions.
Go into your dash cam’s menu and explore these options to pick what works best for your needs and parking environment. Consider where you typically park your car and what kind of protection you prioritize.
Adjusting Low Voltage Cutoff If Applicable
Some hardwire kits or dash cams might give you options to adjust the low voltage cutoff level, though many Rexing OBD kits have a fixed, safe setting e.g., 11.8V. If yours does offer adjustments, keep these points in mind: The Ultimate Guide to Rexing on Skates: What It Is & How to Master It
- Higher Voltage e.g., 12.4V: This is the safest choice for your car battery, cutting off power earlier and ensuring plenty of juice for starting. However, it means less parking mode recording time, as the dash cam will shut down sooner.
- Lower Voltage e.g., 11.8V: This gives you longer parking mode recording, as the dash cam will stay on for a longer period. However, it puts more strain on your car battery and might be risky if your battery is older or if you don’t drive frequently, potentially making it harder to start your car.
Generally, sticking to the default or a slightly higher setting is recommended to prolong battery life, especially if you have an older battery or don’t drive your car every day. Your car battery is a significant investment, so protecting it is key.
Common Rexing OBD Hardwire Issues & Troubleshooting
Even with the best instructions, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues you might run into with your Rexing OBD hardwire kit and how to troubleshoot them, just like a seasoned pro.
“Dash Cam Not Powering On/Off Correctly with Ignition”
- Check OBD Connection: First, double-check that your OBD hardwire kit is fully and securely plugged into the OBD-II port. Sometimes a loose connection can cause intermittent power issues, making the dash cam act flaky. Give it a firm push to ensure it’s seated properly.
- Vehicle Ignition Cycle: Make sure you’re properly testing the ACC detection. Turn the ignition completely off, wait a few minutes for the car’s systems to power down, and then turn it back on. The dash cam should respond accordingly, switching from parking mode to normal recording.
- Dash Cam Itself: If the hardwire kit seems fine e.g., you see a power light on the kit itself, try plugging your dash cam into a different power source like the original cigarette lighter adapter to confirm the dash cam itself is working. Sometimes the issue might be with the dash cam and not the hardwire kit.
“Parking Mode Not Activating”
This is a pretty common one, and there are a few reasons why your Rexing dash cam might not be entering parking mode as expected:
- Firmware Update: Make sure your Rexing dash cam’s firmware is up to date. Sometimes new kits require the latest firmware for full compatibility and feature activation. Check the Rexing website for your specific model.
- Super-Capacitor Charge: If your dash cam uses a super-capacitor many Rexing models do, especially those designed for parking mode, it needs to be sufficiently charged to properly engage parking mode. If the dash cam is new or hasn’t been used much, a long drive 90 minutes or so can often charge it up enough to function correctly. Alternatively, you can sometimes charge it indoors with a phone charger and the appropriate USB cable overnight.
- Dash Cam Settings: Double-check your dash cam’s internal menu settings for parking mode. Ensure that G-sensor or time-lapse mode is selected and configured. Remember, the hardwire kit generally manages when the dash cam switches modes, but the dash cam’s settings dictate how it records in that mode.
- “Hardwire Kit Connected” Message: If you get a message like “To use parking monitor, please make sure Smart Hardwire Kit is connected” and you know it is, sometimes this is just an informational message. Press “OK” or the equivalent button on your dash cam, and then you should be able to select your parking mode options G-sensor, Time Lapse.
“Concern About Battery Drain”
While Rexing hardwire kits have excellent low voltage protection, some users might still worry or experience battery drain, especially with older car batteries. Rexine: Everything You Need to Know About Finding and Using This Versatile Material
- Check Low Voltage Cutoff Setting: If your kit has adjustable cutoff voltages, ensure it’s set to a safer, higher level e.g., 12.4V if you’re concerned about battery health, especially if you have an older battery or don’t drive frequently.
- Car Battery Health: Parking mode draws power, so an older or weak car battery might struggle more. Consider getting your car battery tested at an auto parts store, especially seasonally if you use parking mode regularly. A healthy battery is key for reliable parking mode.
- Disconnect if Parked for Long Periods: If you’re parking your car for an extended period more than 14 days or in extremely cold temperatures below -20°F, it’s a good idea to temporarily disconnect the hardwire kit from the OBD port or your dash cam. This prevents any unnecessary draw on your battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main benefit of a Rexing OBD hardwire kit over a standard cigarette lighter plug?
The biggest perk is 24/7 parking mode surveillance. A standard plug only powers your dash cam when the car is on, but the OBD hardwire kit provides continuous power even when your engine is off, protecting your vehicle from incidents like hit-and-runs or vandalism in parking lots. Plus, it gives you a much cleaner, wire-free installation and frees up your cigarette lighter port for other uses.
Does a Rexing OBD hardwire kit drain my car’s battery?
Rexing OBD hardwire kits come with built-in low voltage protection. This smart feature automatically cuts power to your dash cam if your car battery’s voltage drops to a critical level like 11.8V for a 12V system. This ensures you’ll still have enough power to start your car, preventing battery drain. However, if your car battery is old or weak, it’s always wise to get it checked regularly.
Is installing a Rexing OBD hardwire kit difficult for a beginner?
One of the major advantages of an OBD hardwire kit is its simplicity! It’s generally considered “plug and play” for most vehicles, connecting directly to your car’s OBD-II port without the need for complicated fuse box wiring. The main challenge is often routing and hiding the cable neatly, but with the included tools and some patience, it’s definitely a DIY-friendly project.
What kind of parking mode features can I expect with an OBD hardwire kit?
With an OBD hardwire kit, your Rexing dash cam can utilize advanced parking modes like impact detection G-sensor, which records when your car is bumped. motion detection, which records when movement is sensed around your vehicle. and sometimes time-lapse recording, which captures continuous footage at a low frame rate. These provide comprehensive surveillance even when you’re away from your car. Uncovering Rexine Near You: Your Ultimate Guide to Finding and Using This Versatile Material
My Rexing dash cam shows a message saying “Hardwire Kit is Connected” but parking mode isn’t working. What should I do?
This message is often just informational. Press “OK” or the equivalent button on your dash cam. You should then be presented with options to select your desired parking mode, such as G-sensor or Time Lapse. If it still doesn’t work, ensure your dash cam’s firmware is updated and that its internal super-capacitor if it has one is sufficiently charged, which often happens after a good long drive.
What Rexing dash cam models are compatible with an OBD hardwire kit?
Compatibility depends on the specific OBD hardwire kit you purchase, particularly the connector type. Rexing offers kits with Type-C USB for newer models like RH2 Series, V1PFlex X4, M2 Max, M3, R4 and Mini-USB for older super-capacitor models like V1-4K, V1P, V3. Always check the product description to ensure the hardwire kit matches your dash cam’s power port.
Can I leave my Rexing dash cam in parking mode indefinitely with an OBD hardwire kit?
While the low voltage protection prevents your car battery from draining completely, leaving your dash cam in parking mode for extremely long, continuous periods e.g., several weeks without driving or in extreme temperatures below -20°F might still put a strain on your battery over time. For very long parking durations, it’s recommended to temporarily disconnect the hardwire kit or consider getting your battery health checked seasonally.
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