C5X7 best way to fit dashcam

[aerodynamica]

Hi all, I have a dash cam in the Xantia (Viofo A129 duo front and rear cams) I hard wired it in to the car and the front camera can be removed leaving the mounting with GPS module in it on the windscreen. Rear cam is similar and there's a wire through the headlining to link them.

I'm planning on a similar thing wirh the C5 where i can transfer between the mounts. Did this with my ID19 and the Xantia.

The C5 I understand is sensitive to accessories being added and I'm wondering the best way to power the camera. I have a hard wire kit with fusebox connection and wonder if anyone knows the best switched supply in the glove box fusebox that will not upset the signals to/from the BSI and expected voltages .

The hard wire kit has a voltage monitor that allows the camera to work while parked but stops the function where the battery gets to a certain value and you can select 4 different limits.

[GiveMeABreak]

See my illustrated post here when I fitted my front and rear cameras Graeme. I cover the fuses too. Mine was a saloon, but same principle.

viewtopic.php?t=56754

[aerodynamica]

Thanks Marc

[aerodynamica]

That's great Marc, I was actually thinking of routing it through the headlining but I see the sense in routing the front to rear wire through the sill trims.

The only thing I'd add for anyone else thinking of fitting a cam, having read your guide is to check the location of the cam(s) on the window. You have to fit it in a location that is cleaned by the windscreen wipers otherwise your camera will only see clearly when it's dry. This proved tricky on my old 1968 ID where the fairly small wipers leave quite a big gap in the middle top of the windscreen. And of course the D rear view mirror is attached to the dashboard! On the Xantia the rear camera is on the glass so I can have the rear blind up all the time. All my Citroens from the 70s CXs all the way through to the Xantia and XM had rear blinds - were Citroen alone in including this as standard? Tell a lie - my first BX didn't have it..

[Paul-R]

The only thing I'd add for anyone else thinking of fitting a cam, having read your guide is to check the location of the cam(s) on the window. You have to fit it in a location that is cleaned by the windscreen wipers otherwise your camera will only see clearly when it's dry.

That's exactly what I found on my X7. On my RHD car I had to mount the camera to the right of the rear view mirror so that it could peer through the windscreen where the wipers clean.

Ideally it should have been to the left of the mirror so that the screen is completely obscured by the mirror but that area is missed by the wiper blades. On the RH side it's only partially obscured by the mirror but it's not particularly easy to see the screen from the driver's seat and I have to hope that it's enough to comply with regs about screens with moving images not being visible to the driver.

On our Mk2 Peugeot 308 the wipers actually wipe the screen so that the camera can be mounted to the left of the rear view mirror and is completely obscured.

On LHD cars the same problem will be the case as the wiper patterns are the mirror image.

[Hell Razor5543]

Most dash cams can switch off the backlight (for the screen) after a pre-set time. As my van has a boxed in cargo space it does not have a rear view mirror, so the screen goes off after 30 seconds. That way it cannot distract me.

[aerodynamica]

Yea my cam goes dark after a minute or so too

[Ceenine]

Marc
Thanks for your fantastic instruction on selecting and fitting the Rexing dash cam.This should save me hours.
Are dash cams a big sale item in the UK and is the main reason for fitting for insurance purposes?
In you listing of tools required, do you think a Vietnamese massage would do just as well, thinking that Thai might be just your personal preference?

[GiveMeABreak]

Are dash cams a big sale item in the UK and is the main reason for fitting for insurance purposes?

Nah, not in my case - it's because of all the nutters on the roads and people that should have long retired from driving.

... like the elderly chap yesterday who decided to start his car, reverse out of his parking bay into the road without looking, in front of me and just stopped there whilst he seemed to be adjusting himself and putting his seat belt on, before doing a 360 degree turn in front of all the traffic.

In you listing of tools required, do you think a Vietnamese massage would do just as well, thinking that Thai might be just your personal preference?

Whatever floats the boat, all I know is that I couldn't move for a week after all that Pilates / Yogic flying routine getting that lot wired in!

[myglaren]

I am seriously considering a dashcam based mainly on the idiocy I see on the dashcam YouTube clips.
But more because my car is such a pain in the arse to reverse park, which I always do.
Rear vision is very poor and the reversing lights are rubbish.

Has to be said that, perhaps it is where I live but I very rarely see any examples of bad driving.
Except the day before yesterday. Not too bad but a queue at lights where the two lanes merge directly after the lights. Two cars in the outside lane. That are turning left! But just have to get in front of everyone else.
But my youngest son and sometimes one of my daughters does use my car quite a bit and do longer journeys, usually Scotland and sometimes Wales, has been France and Switzerland but not often.
They are more likely to encounter situations where a dashcam could help.

I am looking at a 10" mirror cam that is a mirror, a front display or a rear display, camera in the rear window switched on selecting reverse or by tapping the screen (mirror).

Could be an invaluable insurance protector.

[GiveMeABreak]

The Ace fitted something like that Steve to his X7 - pics here:

viewtopic.php?t=52248

[myglaren]

I had forgotten that. I would like a Greek one (like Greek music).
I had seen one in a YT clip that was good but American. Similar but not quite the same available here, have one lined up on Amazon. Need to procrastinate a while before releasing the funds for it.

Problem with the Civic is mounting the rear camera. It won't fit in the place that it should, not enough space where the boot catch is. I can direct it through the glass under the 'spoiler' but it may distort the image.

Not mine but similar. See where the stupid reversing lights are?

[GiveMeABreak]

What about where the rear number plate lights are - some of these replace one of the 2 lights with the camera - this type are designed to replace one of those.

[myglaren]

Will likely get pulled for a light out.
Going to try a camera through the tailgate when I get my car back.

[Paul-R]

Will likely get pulled for a light out.

No, you don't lose a light. The type I've seen for a PSA vehicle has a combined camera and number plate light in one unit. Maybe available for your car?