Permanent live Grand Picasso mk2

[Dustysweeper]

Is there a permanent live fuse I can use to wire in a motion sensitive dash cam?

VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Thanks in advance

[GiveMeABreak]

Try these in the BSI Fuse box:
F11 (5 Amp)
F12 (15 Amp)
These are both battery positive.

[Rp0thejester]

Would that kill the battery being live all the time? On a similar note would it be possible on a C8 to put a permanent live connection to the 12v (cigarette lighter) outlet so a 12v solar panel could charge the battery when not in use?

[GiveMeABreak]

Normally, no - because it is only consuming power when it is being used and current drawn. A decent dash camera should have a power monitoring system that detects when the car battery is falling beyond a certain level, which should then switch the dash cam off when it gets to this point.

Personally I never used the 'Car Parking' mode of a dash cam because I don't trust the power monitoring features - having got caught out with my last one in the C5. I used a battery positive and kept forgetting to turn the camera off when I locked the vehicle and ended up draining the battery almost flat on more than one occasion.

I changed it to a switched live fuse, so is only active when the car ignition / engine is running. I rarely use a car park so no loss for me.

[GiveMeABreak]

On a similar note would it be possible on a C8 to put a permanent live connection to the 12v (cigarette lighter) outlet so a 12v solar panel could charge the battery when not in use?

The issue you may have with the cigarette lighter is that if it is BSI controlled, the BSI will cut off the supply after a certain time rendering that pretty pointless.

In order to use one of those, you should get one that is connected to the diagnostic port which share a common live pin to the battery. Also make sure your solar charger is fitted with a rectifier diode to prevent the charge reversing at night.

Just remember to disconnect it from the OBD port before starting the car!

[Dustysweeper]

Try these in the BSI Fuse box:
F11 (5 Amp)
F12 (15 Amp)
These are both battery positive.

Thank you.