Blackvue DR500GW-HD DashCam Install - 2014 Limited
I've used a dashcam for a couple of years - have not yet needed the recorded video, but with all the incompetent drivers I encounter on the roads each day I know it's a matter of when, not if, I'll need it. I'm fond of the Blackvue line of dashcams, which are made by the Korean company Pittasoft. You can read more about their products here: BlackVue - Full HD 1080p Dash Cameras with GPS. I recommend this forum if you'd like more info about the other dashcams available out there: DashCamTalk Forum • View forum - Dash Cam Forum.
This is an overview of my recent installation of the Blackvue DR500GW-HD dashcam, their current top-of-the line model. It's GPS enabled (GPS coordinates are superimposed on the video); has built-in wifi so you can see the live view of the camera or recorded video on your wifi-enabled smartphone; and it's low profile. I installed mine up against the ceiling on the driver's side of my '14 Limited - it's the cylindrical object with the blue light in the first photo attached. I wired it to the harness contained in the overhead console. Before removing the overhead console, I suggest you first wash your hands as you'll be getting very intimate with the headliner around it and it can soil easily. To remove the console, grasp the front edge (closest to the windshield) and pull hard straight down - this will begin loosening the 4 clips holding it to the roof, and then you'll be able to work your fingers to the sides to get more downward leverage. The clips are engaged very tightly and you'll think you shouldn't have to pull that hard to release them, but you will. (It's surprising how hard you have to pull on this thing.)
Once all clips release, you'll have the same thing as in the second picture attached - a console dangling by the wire harness. Now just unclip that harness and set the console aside. I cut the power wire included with the Blackvue dashcam to a more reasonable length, then stripped the outer insulation to expose the inner power and ground wires. I ran the now shorter power cable up behind the headliner and over to the wiring harness for the overhead console. I installed an in-line fuse holder to the power wire for the Blackvue and then connected the power wire to the gray wire of the console wire harness (the gray wire on the right side of the harness in the third picture attached), and the ground wire to the black wire in the middle of this harness. I stripped the insulation back on each wire in the harness and soldered my connections; you could easily use wire taps if that's your thing. This setup works for me, as power is only supplied to the camera when you touch one of the front outside door handles and it cuts off when the interior lights shut off after you turn off the ignition. Although this dashcam has a parking mode, I didn't really want the camera powered full-time to avoid draining the battery. To reinstall the overhead console, simply plug the wire harness back in, line up the clips to their respective holes, and give it a whack straight up to reseat the clips.
That's a summary of my install - post any questions you might have.
I've used a dashcam for a couple of years - have not yet needed the recorded video, but with all the incompetent drivers I encounter on the roads each day I know it's a matter of when, not if, I'll need it. I'm fond of the Blackvue line of dashcams, which are made by the Korean company Pittasoft. You can read more about their products here: BlackVue - Full HD 1080p Dash Cameras with GPS. I recommend this forum if you'd like more info about the other dashcams available out there: DashCamTalk Forum • View forum - Dash Cam Forum.
This is an overview of my recent installation of the Blackvue DR500GW-HD dashcam, their current top-of-the line model. It's GPS enabled (GPS coordinates are superimposed on the video); has built-in wifi so you can see the live view of the camera or recorded video on your wifi-enabled smartphone; and it's low profile. I installed mine up against the ceiling on the driver's side of my '14 Limited - it's the cylindrical object with the blue light in the first photo attached. I wired it to the harness contained in the overhead console. Before removing the overhead console, I suggest you first wash your hands as you'll be getting very intimate with the headliner around it and it can soil easily. To remove the console, grasp the front edge (closest to the windshield) and pull hard straight down - this will begin loosening the 4 clips holding it to the roof, and then you'll be able to work your fingers to the sides to get more downward leverage. The clips are engaged very tightly and you'll think you shouldn't have to pull that hard to release them, but you will. (It's surprising how hard you have to pull on this thing.)
Once all clips release, you'll have the same thing as in the second picture attached - a console dangling by the wire harness. Now just unclip that harness and set the console aside. I cut the power wire included with the Blackvue dashcam to a more reasonable length, then stripped the outer insulation to expose the inner power and ground wires. I ran the now shorter power cable up behind the headliner and over to the wiring harness for the overhead console. I installed an in-line fuse holder to the power wire for the Blackvue and then connected the power wire to the gray wire of the console wire harness (the gray wire on the right side of the harness in the third picture attached), and the ground wire to the black wire in the middle of this harness. I stripped the insulation back on each wire in the harness and soldered my connections; you could easily use wire taps if that's your thing. This setup works for me, as power is only supplied to the camera when you touch one of the front outside door handles and it cuts off when the interior lights shut off after you turn off the ignition. Although this dashcam has a parking mode, I didn't really want the camera powered full-time to avoid draining the battery. To reinstall the overhead console, simply plug the wire harness back in, line up the clips to their respective holes, and give it a whack straight up to reseat the clips.
That's a summary of my install - post any questions you might have.