Dash cams automatically operate when you turn on your vehicle and go off when you stop driving. However, your dash cam can continue to record when your vehicle is o. In this way, it operates like a surveillance camera when it is in parking mode.
Operating your dash cam while the vehicle is off is essential to providing continuous coverage of what’s happening when you are in park mode. When your car is off, parking mode will allow your dash cam to continue monitoring activity and detect any risks that may pose a danger to your vehicle.
We will explore why parking mode is vital in providing sufficient 24-hour coverage. We will also explain various park mode methods to ensure you select the best option for your needs.
What is the parking mode?
Parking mode can provide 24-hour protection when you’re not driving. Recording after parking can capture events like parking ticket issues, vandalism, hit and run accidents, break-ins, suspicious activity, and theft. Park mode recordings can offer vital backup when trying to establish responsibility when accidents happen. However, they need additional power sources to provide current when your vehicle is not running. If you have a continuous power outlet in your vehicle, you can set the dash cam to activate while it continues to connect to the power source.
If there’s no continuous power outlet, leaving your dash cam running when the engine is off can deplete your car battery. Several devices that can keep your dash cam running while your engine is off. Such devices provide continuous monitoring of your voltage to protect your battery from running down while the camera is still working.
Benefits of parking mode facility
When you park your car, your dash cam goes into a type of sleep mode and switches on when it senses activity. There are several ways your dash cam can function when your car is off. It all depends on the type of power accessory you installed to monitor off-driving activity. Instead of letting your dash cam run continually, you can program it to activate our record only when it senses movement. This way, it only records actual events but also conserves battery power.
Time-sensitive
Customizable software also utilizes time intervals to provide coverage only at peak times. These devices can start recording and saving when there is contact with the vehicle. For example, some dash cams can record in 30 seconds cycles before and after an event and then save the recording for review later. The feature also locks the recording before saving to prevent deleting or overwriting to provide a permanent record.
Voltage protection
If your battery falls below the voltage levels, your camera will stop, and you may miss vital coverage if an accident happens. A voltage protector measures voltage usage and shuts off the power supply if the electricity falls too low. It also helps protect the battery from running out and assures your dash cam gets the power it needs to keep running.
Dash cam power sources
Dash cams receive power through the connection cable in your cigarette lighter or by hardwiring in the car battery. The dash cam comes on and off when you use the ignition. When the cigarette socket continues to run while the car is off, the dash cam will continue to record until you turn off the engine. It’s advisable to disable the socket when the power is off to reserve recording support. It’s also convenient to be able to monitor activity around your car while you park for shopping and other activities.
Looping benefits
You can set the dash cam with a looping feature to delete previous activity when recording files get full. The feature saves space to record and store new information, so you don’t miss any incidents.
Styles of parking mode
Several park mode styles can provide the type of recording protection that’s right for you. Here are a few to consider.
Time-lapse mode
This feature is useful for several reasons. If you have limited memory space or park in a high-traffic area, you can get full coverage of what’s going on around your vehicle. Besides, you may want to get quick snippets of what’s going on around your vehicle. In time-lapse mode, the dash cam captures footage at specific intervals like every couple of seconds to periodically monitor activity. Other dash cam models also switch to full recording mode only when there is movement or impact.
Motion sensing
Motion sensing is ideal if you park in isolated areas and require continuous recording and peace of mind. The dash cam automatically switches on and begins to record movement or contact with another vehicle or individual.
Radar mode
The method works if you plan to part for an extended. It provides a high-frequency radar movement to start recording activity. Radar mode also reduces power usage significantly and records up to three times longer than some other parking mode methods.
Buffer parking mode
In buffer parking mode, dash cams record all the time without updating the activity to the memory file. It saves the recordings on a built-in memory chip inside the dash cam. In an accident, the dash cam only records the first few seconds and saves it to the internal storage. Afterward, the recordings upload to both memory systems for you to review.
How long does parking mode last?
Parking mode will last depending on a few factors. These may include:
- The voltage limit on your battery
- How energy efficient your dash Cam works
- The temperature around the vehicle
- Your memory card capability
- The amount of activity around your vehicle
- The size of your car battery
Cloud feature
Storing on cloud and similar storage software provides additional backup to protect your dash cam footage. If your dash cam footage gets lost or stolen, you’ll still be able to retrieve it on the cloud network.
Accessories to use with parking mode
A hardwire kit can connect to your fuse box in the vehicle to draw power from your car battery. Be sure to select the right size connections for installing the hardwire kit to complement your vehicle battery.
Independent battery packs
External battery packs can attach to the hardware or cigarette lighter outlet in your car. The extra power will activate your dash cam when the vehicle is in motion. Likewise, when the engine is off, the packs continue to supply dash cam power.
CBD-11 power cable
You can also consider CBD-11 power cable instead of installing a hardware kit to power your dash cam. These power cables are compatible with older model vehicles by working through the car battery. Your dash cam will power up when you plug it into the OBD port.
Capacitors
Your dash cam comes with a built-in capacitor as backup protection when there’s no supply power supply to the dash cam. It will save any footage if there’s a power failure or other emergencies. Capacitors operate for short periods after your vehicle goes off to preserve any recordings from being lost or damaged.
Capacitor benefits
Capacitors tend to be more energy-efficient than your standard car battery. Unlike car batteries, capacitors can also withstand high heat levels and will hardly explode or overheat. Capacitors are rechargeable and work to operate your dash cam while connected to a power outlet in your car. They are more suitable for emergency backup supply and are not ideal for replacing your regular power source.
Summary
Your dash cam works when your car is off, provided you install adequate backup or additional power sources. Recording events after your engine shuts off ensures you get timely updates on the activity surrounding your car. There are several options to help you select the best solution to your park mode needs.
