Has Anyone Installed a Dash Cam?

You’re welcome. Just to be clear, I provide information only; my recommendation is not to modify the car at all.

Of the fuse styles in the image you shared, the fuses on the Prius and Prius Prime are most similar to the “Low-profile mini fuse.” My previous posting has a link to a drawing showing the dimensions and tolerances.

If you use a vacant position in the junction block, then you wouldn’t need an adapter, just a fuse and a pigtail repair wire. If you use an adapter, then you probably won’t be able to reinstall the cover on the junction block.

 

I swear to "choose appropriate exclamatory name here!" that you people out there in the Midwest have MASSIVE intestinal fortitude! Watching Mr. Priuscatprimeguy's video of your morning commute reminds me of watching astronomy programs about frigid planets like Neptune!! Brrrr!! I absolutely admit to having been TOTALLY spoiled these past 56 years living in that Clark Kent weather state, California. I was blessed with an invitation to this wonderful state at 7 years old.
You are Supermen/women and I worship at your altar! Brrrrr
If you ever want a break, come on out here; it is crowded with other "refugees", but it is a lot of fun! My best to ya, brave souls!! (Please don't bring matches!)

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When I worked for Toshiba America Medical Systems they sent me out to Irvine and Carson for training, ahhhh those were the good times back in 1978-1991

 

Anyone have any further information on this? It would be useful to have the onboard camera act as a dashcam, especially if the video stored is persisted in onboard memory and if there is sufficient amount of video is stored and the video can be retrieved.

 

See my previous postings, both about the liftback Prius but equally applicable to the Prius Prime:

• Dash camera access | PriusChat
• Forward recognition camera as dashcam? | PriusChat

 

As shown in the Electrical Wiring Diagram, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com, the RADIO circuit is supplied from the battery via the D/C CUT fuse, which the dealer installs during pre-delivery service. The Navigation Receiver Assembly (radio head unit) has both switched (ACC and IG) and unswitched power inputs, and RADIO is the unswitched one. DOME is also unswitched at the fuse, but if you’re finding it at the No. 30 Junction Connector (O14) above the roof headlining, it’s switched by the DOME CUT relay.

For your dashcam’s switched input, consider using P/OUTLET NO.1, which is switched by the ACC relay, instead of RADIO; and for the unswitched input, consider using a new circuit, as I previously described, instead of DOME, unless you don’t mind it being cut off after a few minutes as the interior lights are.

 

Those cams have very wide fish-eye lenses. I'm not sure the distortion is from the curved glass.

I would hesitate to mount the view through the lower window. That window gets significantly more road slop on it, and is rarely clean enough to see through. But then again,you're in LA and probably don't get the snow and road salt I do.

 

I haven't yet.

 

I don't know how likely it is to cause you trouble, but placing anything on your windshield that obstructs the driver's view is illegal. I know there are a lot of common-sense arguments that would seem to get around that (like the fact that some factory equipment blocks more of the driver's view than your camera), but none would prevail if a cop decided to ticket you.

 

just kindly remind the cop that the radar gun in the window of the cops car is also obstructing the cops view

 

What an amusing anecdote to share with your cellmates!

 

+1 for that comment.

Really, there is virtually no chance of such a ticket sticking with my installation. It's behind the mirror and the body of the camera is in that black dotted spot. It blocks nothing.

 

A couple of "smart aleck" comments: Garmin now offers a luxury GPS which includes a camera, and the whole deal is under $300 (depends where you get it; The GPS Store has some great prices). The reason I didn't get it, is that I'm more concerned about getting rear-ended, and nobody seems to offer an "out of the box" solution, for rearview cameras which can display live action while recording it. The built-in camera inside the GPS should take up less overall space for those of us who insist on a separate GPS and a camera. I locate my GPS in the lower left corner of my windshield.
I am going to have my shop (alarms, tinting, backup beeper, radios, etc), build in wiring for my new Garmin which gets traffic info from my phone. He has done a very sanitary installation of this type for me before. I'm also going to have him study lighting up the inside-mirror buttons on my Advanced; if anybody can do it, he can! I'll report back,
P.S. the cop who didn't like my tinting (though he didn't give me a ticket), never said a word about my windshield-installed Garmin.

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AChoiredTaste.com

 

Hi Henri - A few things:

I believe California passed a law a few years ago that allows GPS units to be mounted to the lower left or lower right corner of the windshield (what good the lower right would do, I don't know). If it's anywhere in that region, I doubt you'd ever have problems. I doubt most cops ever say anything about windshield mounts unless you're watching TV or something on the attached device, but it is a possibility.

Why do you want a GPS device? Do you think it's better than the one built into the dash tablet? And are you saying that you would like a camera facing out the back that shows live traffic constantly as you are driving? I've seen some aftermarkety rear-view mirrors that do that. Why is that on your list? Do you not like the visibility looking into the rear-view mirror?

Why light the mirror buttons? Are you referring to the ones that open your garage door?

What didn't the cop like about your tinting? What exactly did he say about it? I'd like to know just to have an understanding of what at least one cop noticed and commented on.

The thing I'd really like to have done next is to have the back of the rooftop satellite antenna become an LED third brake light. I like the lights on the Prime, but I'd really like to have a high 3rd Brake light that would be more easily seen by taller vehicles. I don't know that there's any acceptably-aesthetic way to do this, though.

 

Mr. Insighter,
"Why do you want a GPS device? Do you think it's better than the one built into the dash tablet?"
The Garmin DriveLuxe 51 LMT-S which I just bought to replace my over 10 year-old Garmin Nuvi 3490 LMT, is in a different league than ANY factory-installed GPS.
I've beaten that drum here in several postings, but again:
1) Much, much faster
2) Way more, easily programmable features
3) Frequently updated
4) Smooth, quick voice command to load a NEW address. Less than 10 seconds to locate a new address and begin navigation
5) Line of sight
6) Very clear visuals
7) Ability to transfer to other cars, rentals, etc.
8) Much better accuracy
9) Now my new GPS links to phone for latest traffic.
10) Lifetime free Maps, and traffic updates
Etc., etc., etc.!!

"And are you saying that you would like a camera facing out the back that shows live traffic constantly as you are driving? I've seen some aftermarkety rear-view mirrors that do that. Why is that on your list? Do you not like the visibility looking into the rear-view mirror?"

I would like to see people driving in my blind spots to rear of car. It's not a high priority, but I find it useful. My Advanced does compensate somewhat with the Blind Spot Monitoring and the Rear Traffic and Pedestrian Alert.

"Why light the mirror buttons? Are you referring to the ones that open your garage"
Yes, the Advanced inside mirror buttons are "invisible" at night when I frequently try to open my remotely controlled garage door.

The cop told me that I could get a ticket for my tint; I told him I need it to block the sun for my health (skin cancer, etc.). The tint is not very dark, but it is visible. My son had the same problem; you need to get a doctor's prescription for this if you have a valid health problem.

Regarding visibility of rear brake lights:
have you seen a Prime's brake lights, especially at night? They are VERY visible!!



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AChoiredTaste.com

 

I've tried several times. I put my foot on the pedal, but by the time I hop out of the car and run to the back, they're already off.

Interesting point about the navigation. I always liked the navigation on my iPhone 7+ better than the one in my last car. I like the Prime's navigation better than my last car, but I still think my iPhone's is probably better. It is constantly updated and can switch viewing angles as you approach an intersection. It also responds well and quickly to voice commands. But, more than all of that, it interacts really well with my Apple watch. While you're using the navigation on your iPhone, your Apple watch always displays (when the watch display is active) an arrow showing the direction of your next turn and the distance to that turn. It also taps you on the wrist when you are getting close, which is a great reminder if you have the radio on or are on a call. It also tends to be very accurate. I don't know if the Garmin is better than that, but I can't see having three navigation devices, so I think I'll be sticking with the Prius' and the iPhone's.

As far as seeing in the blindspots goes, wouldn't back-facing cameras mounted under the side-view mirrors be the best option?

The tint laws here in California are ridiculous. Other states allow tint on front windows, so there's certainly no reason it shouldn't be legal here. At least it's not like the UK where basically all tint is illegal. Then again, I think they're used to unreasonable searches and seizures. We really need a ballot initiative. The legislators will never stand up to the carping from the law enforcement community.

I know what you mean about the mirror buttons. I'll be interested to see what you might manage in that regard. It sounds like you're like me in your desire to make everything in your Prime exactly how you'd like it. My next mods are probably going to be a couple of LED lights in the cargo compartment (I think I want them at the back of the hatch door, facing down, so that they shine down and illuminate the cargo area when the hatch is open. I'm also going to have some D-rings mounted back there somehow so that I can put a flat cargo net down (like the one my '03 Insight had).