Back Seat Camera Power?

[FergyA]

So I bought a new dash cam on Prime day and am thinking of putting my old one in the back window. The quality is kinda crummy for a front (which is why I'm replacing it), but for a rear it's probably perfect. I also don't like the idea of a 2 channel camera that requires running a wire across the whole truck, down the pillar, across an airbag, etc. This means a separate rear camera is my best option. I don't expect to need to pull footage from it often, so I'm not worried about 2 cards, different apps, or any of that.

My problem is a separate camera means I need to find a way to power it. Are there any power sources that are only live when the truck is on behind the rear seat or nearby that anyone can think of? Besides the USB on the back of the center console? I'm trying to avoid occupying a plug that means disabling my rear camera if a passenger wants to use it. (Plus I think this charger stays on for a little after the ignition is turned off?) Any ideas? I can probably figure out a 5V voltage regulator myself if I can find a source to tap into.

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[OxygenMask]

This doesn't answer your actual question but... running my rear cam cable from the windshield to the back window was a snap. Really easy. Didn't remove anything, just tucked it up inside the headliner, then under the door seals above the doors ( pull the door seals loose, run the cable, palm press the seals back in place.)

Running the power cable from the windshield down to the fuse panel was the same. Pulling the door seals loose is the key. Piece of cake.

So you could run your rear cam power cable to the fuse box easily. Way easier than getting to the center console...

There are Utoob videos galore...

 

[FergyA]

I'm not running my front camera off of the fuse box, I'm running a mirror tap, which is why I'm after this. And sorry, but like I said I'm not running anything down the a pillar with an airbag in there as well. That's why I went with the mirror tap to begin with.

 

[SLJ]

Very easy to run cables front to back along floor inside under the door sills. You can pull up the plastic over the carpet/floor and just stuff them in there. Ran my rear camera cable that way. Five minute job.

 

[FergyA]

You know, fair point! That avoids the a pillar and is fairly easy. Might be a little silly that my rear camera is hard wired and my front is USB only, but oh well lol.

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