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Blackvue DR500GW-HD DashCam Install

43K views 88 replies 32 participants last post by  Shiftn3rdon1 
#1 · (Edited)
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.
 

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#4 ·
just a word to anyone thinking about buying an ebay dashcam you get what you pay for if its 25 or 35 bucks dont believe its claims of being HD quality they arent cant even read a license plate from the car in front of you at a light. they are good enough to record someone that hits you or pulls out in front of you but thats about it. and forget about night time quality its like watching a snowstorm

the one i use is made by a company in taiwan called DOD i think mine was around 170.00 it came straight from taiwan and its true HD

thanks to the original poster for his post, i am a semi truck driver and we cant afford to leave anything to chance. evidence is they only way to keep youre name clear
 
#5 ·
Good advice on the eBay dashcams kennzz; I agree! You definitely get what you pay for with regards to dashcams. And thanks for what you do - I know that most everything I eat, wear, use, and drive was on a truck at some point before it got to me.
 
#6 ·
thanks northland most people including myself(till i started driving) never even give it a second thought. All we are to most people are a pain in the ass to be next to or near on the highway(which we are)
best story i ever heard was on the radio on a trucking channel. A lady was standing in line at the checkout at walmart, she was complaining about all the semis in the parking lot (about the only place with a parking lot large enough for us to get into) a driver was standing behind her to which he replied "lady if it wasnt for those trucks you would be standing in an empty field naked right now" i dont think she had a comeback.....thanks again
 
#8 ·
What do you think of the GoPro cameras? they would be more versatile than a permanently mounted dashcams.
I thought about a GoPro also - they are very versatile and provide a nice image. They are large, however, and since I wouldn't need to move it to any other vehicle I wanted a lower-profile cam that I could hardwire into the Jeep and just leave it there. There are also several apps out there that will allow you to use your smartphone as a dashcam, but I didn't want to be forced to mount my iPhone and turn on the camera every time I got in the Jeep.
 
#11 ·
Youtube beat me to that, Nuka - just go there and do a search on whatever dashcam you're interested in; you'll find day and night time videos and reviews by owners.
 
#14 ·
Wipers don't sweep up that high on my '14, either - but between keeping the Jeep clean and the wide angle (both in height and width) of the dashcam's lens, it doesn't affect the recorded video nor does it bother me.
 
#17 ·
I'm curious why you went with mounting on the driver side vs. the passenger side where it would be out of your field-of-view. Does the LED on the cam cause any distraction?
Primarily personal choice - you could easily mount it on the passenger side as well. I turned off all status LEDs in the settings, so the only one that comes on is the blue GPS light - which doesn't bother me at all.
 
#18 ·
I didn't find a constant 12V source up there when I tested the wires, but I was happy when I found the one I did so there might be one there that I didn't locate.
 
#20 ·
They make adapters you can use to hardwire the camera to a constant 12v source. The adapter includes a feature to turn off once the battery reaches a specified level, so it doesn't drain your battery.

I'm considering getting one of these for my GC, but I definitely want it hard wired. My primary concern is people hitting my car in the parking lot, accidents or other craziness is a plus, but people hit my car in the parking lot way more often :(
 
#22 ·
Correct - you can turn off the microphone in Settings within the Blackvue Viewer software (which is installed on your computer when you install the DR500GW software onto the microSD card). You can also turn off the LEDs; mph overlay; and there are lots of other user configurable settings.
 
#23 ·
Thanks Northland for your write-up of the installation. It was detailed enough for me to complete the job easily and quickly. I've now had the camera installed for a few days and have to configured the way I need it.

With the supplied software I've turned off all the lights that I can. I covered the other lights (GPS & WiFi) with black tape so they wouldn't be visible.

Thanks again!
 
#24 ·
Glad to help! I'm still running my DR500GW; have come very close to needing the video off it on several occasions but with my Stebel air horn I was able to frighten the crap out of the texting drivers of a few vehicles that started drifting into my lane before they hit me. Hope they were dressed up fancy on their way to the party of the year and peed themselves real good and long.
 
#28 ·
Sorry, new to this forum. I have a dash am and wanted to hardware it for my 2012 Summit. Is there a wire in overhead that I can use and what is this other mention of a harness adapter that people are using for their radar detectors? I don't want wires plugged in everywhere and I'm sure having a dash am when parked would be nice as long as it doesn't drain the battery.
 
#38 ·
Yep - just cut the cig adapter off (3-4 inches above it, to leave some wiring in case you ever want to re-attach it); strip the insulation on the cord and you'll see the power and ground wires inside. I don't recall what fuse I used - it was just an inline fuse kit I had laying around. Don't need a very high-rated one, though - I imagine a 2 amp would be plenty.
 
#39 · (Edited)
Thanks.

I was in a t-bone accident 2 1/2 weeks ago where a lady ran a stop sign in her nissan sentra and hit my X5. X5 got totaled, now im in a JGC Overland V8. Gonna put this baby back on!

here is the video, sent it to GEICO to make sure her ins pays for everything!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xI7F6QUOqM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xI7F6QUOqM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">
 
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