How To Hardwire A Dash Cam On Jeep JK?

If you want to protect your Jeep JK from bad motorists and tackle crime, the importance of a small windscreen-mounted dash cam is huge. Unfortunately, many of us lack the knowledge necessary to hardwire a dash camera.

Fortunately, hardwiring a dash cam on a Jeep JK is not rocket science, it’s pretty straightforward. You can do it yourself if you put in a few hours of research: In short, hardwiring a dash cam involves installing a hardwire kit and running the power cord from the fusebox to the dash cam.

You probably won’t be able to Hardwire dash cam from this briefly mentioned answer; keep reading for a fair detailed explanation of how to hardwire a dashcam.

How To Hardwire A Dash Cam On Jeep Jk?

Before we take you through the step-by-step process of installing the hard wire on Jeep JK, let us walk you through a few basics. There are two ways you can power the dash cam.

First, directly from the socket, that is, when you buy the dash cam, it comes with lead and an adapter that can be plugged into the vehicle cigarette socket. The problem with this method is that the dash cam will start recording only when the ignition is turned on.

The second way is to hard wire the dash cam. In simple language, the cam’s power should come directly from the battery. For that, you have to run the wire from the dash cam to the fuse box or a particular fuse slot.

Here is a step-by-step guide to hardwiring the dash cam on Jeep JK. By the way, you need to ensure you have the necessary tools.

Tools To Hardwire Dash Cam on the Jeep JK

20 Torx
Add-a-fuse

Female 12V 5A socket adapter

Step 1: Decide the perfect place

This is a very crucial step. Never mount a dash cam in place that might obstruct the front view. The ideal place to mount the dash cam is on the windshield.

Also, placing the dash can in the wrong place is against the law in some places. So make sure you set the dash cam in the right place on the windshield of Jeep JK.

Step 2: Locate the Fuse Box and the Respective Fuse

The fuse box of the jeep JK is located under the hood on the passenger side behind the filter. Make sure to consult JK’s manual. Once you have located the fuse box, now locate the particular slot. Most probably locate the M6 fuse. Of course, take help from the manual.

Step 3: Install the Add A Fuse

Once you know the location of the Fuse slot, it’s time to install the fuse on the particular slot. Besides, a Hardwire installation kit has multiple wires; one should find good ground. Make sure to attach a 12v 5a cig lighter plug.

Step 4: Run the cable From the fuse Box to the Dash Cam

There is a little foam-filled hole under the passenger side panel. Pop off the panel. Now, your job is to run the power cord through the hole.

Now remove the passenger side mirror using 20 Trox. The purpose of removing the mirror is that you can pop out the windshield trim so you can run the cord through the trim. Once the cord reaches the dash cam, plug everything in. That’s all.

3 Common Issues And Solutions When Installing A Dash Cam On Jeep Jk.

While installing the dash cam, you may face one of the following issues. Knowing them beforehand will help you eliminate possible mistakes and take care of them.

1. Choosing the Proper Location

There are three basic areas where you can place the Dash Cam. The area that you will choose should not obstruct the driver’s view. The best place will be just behind the rear view of the mirror on the passenger side so it can capture the best view.

2. Extra Dash Cam Battery to avoid Battery Drain

The sole purpose of hardwiring a dash cam is to record even when the ignition is turned off. Since it continues running, the battery will drain. You can buy an extra dash cam battery.

3. Selecting the right Fuse Slot

Since the Dash Cam will continue recording, you must select a slot with power even when the engine is off. You can use a multimeter to check the voltage. Also, make sure to check the manual to find out the right fuse slot.

What are the benefits of installing a dash cam on Jeep Jk

The Dash Cam of your Jeep JK brings many benefits, such as tackling crime and preventing your car from bad motorists. Also, If you have a dash cam installed in your car, you may get up to 30% discounts. The other reasons include the following:

Since the hard wire allows the dash cam to start even when the ignition is off, the cam will record everything when the jeep is in parking mode and save your car even if you leave your car unattended.
The cable can be hidden inside the trim, keeping Jeep JK clean
Allow discount on the insurance premium

Other than advantages, there are a few disadvantages as well. There are costs involved if you want to hardwire your dash. However, considering its benefits, it is worth the cost.

How Much Does It Cost To Hardwire A Dash Cam On A Jeep Jk?

Total cost changes depending on several factors. Since the process is a bit complex, you might have to hire a professional. On the other hand, if you are confident you can save money doing it by yourself, that would otherwise go into the mechanic’s pocket.

20 Torx is around $6 to $10

Add-a-fuse $10 to 15
Female 12V 5A socket adapter $15 to $20

The cost of the camera, depending on the brand and quality, is at least $120. Also, the cost of a mechanic changes from area to area, and experienced people charge more than novices.

On average, the cost of hard-wiring dash cam, excluding the dash cam and charge of the mechanic, is around $50.

FAQs

By now, hopefully, we were able to cover everything you need to know about installing a hardwire dash cam on the Jeep JK. Still, you might have some relevant questions about it. Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions that you might want to know.

Do dash cameras work when the Jeep JK is off?

Dash cam record even when the Jeep JK is off when you Hardwire the dash cam than when the dash cam is plugged into the vehicle cigarette socket.

There are two basic ways Dash Cam takes power. First, directly from the socket. The second way is to hard wire the dash cam.

Is it good to hardwire a dash cam on a jeep jk?

Obviously it’s a good idea. Dash Cam of your Jeep JK brings many benefits that include but are not limited to:

Dash cam will record everything and save your car even if you leave your car unattended.
The cable can be hidden inside the trim, keeping Jeep JK clean
Allow discount on the insurance premium

Does the dash cam record sound inside the jeep jk?

The answer is yes. Dash Cam records video and audio. It has many built-in features that allow both to record audio and video.

What Jeep JK fuse should I hardwire my dash cam too?

The best strategy is to follow the vehicle manual to locate the right fuse slot and select the slot with enough power to run the dash cam.

Does hardwiring a dash cam void the warranty on a jeep jk?

Usually, installing a dash on the Jeep JK will not void the warranty. You can install the dash cam to increase your safety without any impact on the warranty.

Conclusion

There you have it all. Hopefully, you have successfully installed a Dash Cam on your Jeep JK. Installing the dash cam is not too tough, but professional installation is better if you are not confident.

Make sure to select the right place to mount the dash cam. Also, select the appropriate fuse slot. There are many fuse slots; not all have power when the engine is off. So you have to select the slot that will power the dash cam even when the ignition is turned off.

Before connecting the fuse to the fuse slot, you can voltage the input and output sides using a voltmeter. 12.0V should be considered the input, while 0.0V is the output.

How To Hardwire A Dash Cam On Jeep JK?

How To Hardwire A Dash Cam On Jeep Jk?