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-   -   Mobius dashcam install (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11184)

Goran 15th February 2016 06:28 PM

Mobius dashcam install
 
4 Attachment(s)
I have been reading dashcam reviews for ages, in the end I chose the relatively cheap Mobius camera based on some review which claim it is reliable long term.

I have been thinking where to run the wiring for a permanent installation. After looking through wiring diagrams I chose the driver's reading light switch.
It has a 12V feed, and can be operated with the switch so the camera can be switched off manually. Also I was hoping to avoid most of the pain of removing various trims to run the wire from the fuse box or cigarette lighter all the way to the roof.

Audi wiring diagrams are very frustrating. They mention one reading light plug 4-pin coming into the reading light switches, but neglect to mention the 5-wire plug going from the switches to the lights. Naturally this 5-pin plug has completely different wire colours to the 4-pin plug which feeds some wires directly into it anyway (??? thanks Audi)
So I had to use a bit of guesswork and an amp meter to figure out which wire supplied power to the driver's reading lamp in the central rearview mirror.
It turns out the red wire in the picture is an un-switched +12V feed, and the 3rd pin the green wire is the ground for the driver's side reading light. Hopefully that's all it is :)

Luckily i had some spare wires with the same pins, so I removed the 3rd green wire from the plug after the switches going into the mirror housing. I inserted my own wire and pin going to the negative terminal of the dash-cam lighter socket charger.
For the + feed I soldered a wire to the red pin-1 plug and soldered the other end to the + terminal of the cam charger.
The reading light no longer works but the switch now operates the dash cam charger. Working fine so far for a brief test run.
Let me know if I messed someting up, the wiring diagram is painfully confusing showing 6 light bulb type object where as there are only two reading lights in the mirror housing???


Where I got stuck is trying to prize open the plastic surround around the light switch and rearview mirror. I need just a little gap to feed through the usb power plug and cable to reach the camera at the top of the windscreen. I unbolted the two hex bolts visible under the light switch cover but that seems to have no effect, the damn thing won't budge.
Please let me know if you know how to remove this pesky plastic trim.

To be continued...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1455560992

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1455560992

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1455560992

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1455560992

Goran 15th February 2016 07:02 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Here is the first picture with some wire labels (my interpretation).

Also, out of curiosity anyone know how to remove the little light bulbs in the mirror housing? The transparent plastic hatch is easy to remove but fingers won't fit in there to pull out the bulb.


http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1455562970

The_Laird 15th February 2016 07:16 PM

On the topic of the bulbs, Brian posted on this some time ago IIRC, he used long nosed pliers with the jaws padded with foam or something similar

moltuae 15th February 2016 07:50 PM

Does the cigar lighter lead have a mini USB on the other end?

My dash cam (a Transcend 220) did. So rather than attempt to tuck away the cigar lighter plug like that, I purchased a USB lead and DC-DC regulator.

This was the lead I bought, though this has a right-angled USB plug. I you need a right-angled plug check the bend direction is right for you (right-angled USB plugs are available in left and right bend):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0058TW7WC

I used a DC-DC regulator like this (can't find the exact one):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GXXFBC0

I fitted the regulator (with an inline fuse) in the driver's foot-well fuse area. Then I ran the lead up behind the A-post trim, then tucked it under the roof-lining along the top of the windscreen. The trim can be a bit difficult to prize back far enough in places, but once done the cable is complete concealed except for the inch or two where it connects to the dash cam.

MikkiJayne 15th February 2016 11:40 PM

You could also take the gubbins out of the cig lighter adapter and just wrap it up in tape. They're usually only the size of a large stamp. That's how my fixed phone charger bracket runs in my A6 :)

Without following all the tracks, I'd say some of the surplus lamps in your diagram are probably for switches, rather than bulbs you can get to.

Elsawin implies that the mirror has to come off before that trim will move. Its not very clear on how though - "use screwdriver to lever out interior mirror on left side between mounting plate and mirror base"

Architex_mA8tey 16th February 2016 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne (Post 106581)
Elsawin implies that the mirror has to come off before that trim will move. Its not very clear on how though - "use screwdriver to lever out interior mirror on left side between mounting plate and mirror base"

The mirror is on like a ball bearing mount and if you lever it hard enough will come off by levering forwards or backwards but it's a real pig to get back in again due to how hard the springs are on the ball bearing mechanism. I used a towel to protect the mirror whilst I levered it back on with both hands +++

moltuae 16th February 2016 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey (Post 106584)
if you lever it hard enough will come off by levering forwards or backwards but it's a real pig to get back in again

Yeah, ain't it just!

Knocked my mirror off while I was out once. Spent half an hour in a car park trying to get the damn thing back on!

tc4332 16th February 2016 10:25 AM

+1 on that Mark & Neil.
I knocked mine off when I was connecting my dash cam supply from the four pin socket in the roof electrics. The supply there is ignition fed and is ideal for my Roadhawk HD2 camera, and there is more than enough space for the voltage dropper.

Architex_mA8tey 16th February 2016 10:40 AM

Heres the spring in question shown on top of the mirror for clarity (this one is D2 but the principle is the same on both)

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1349986729

David's8 16th February 2016 10:49 AM

It all seems a bit of a faff when for £15 Nextbase sell a kit which includes transformer, piggy back fuse holder and plenty of cable witha standard micro?/mini? USB plug at the end. I used that and just gently pushed it behind the roof and A pillar lining takaing it down to the driver's side fuse panel where I pluuged it into a suitable fuse socket. Must have taken me around 20mins.


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