Installation of a wired power source - Hardwiring ➡️ Powering the camera via ON/OFF Button

[Luka64]

Hello everyone!
After a long time of research on the Internet, and most of the time in this forum, I managed to complete my project: Installation of a wired power source - Hardwiring Powering the camera via ON/OFF Button.
I think it's only fair that I share my experience here, because without all the information I got here, I would never have been able to complete my project.

A brief history and reason for this project. After I bought the car dashcam, it came with a 2-meter power cable that plugs into the cigarette lighter. I couldn't adequately hide the cable under the elements of the car, and I don't like it when the cables hang over half of the interior of the car. In the attachment, picture 1 shows a picture of the car interior before, while picture 2 shows a picture of the car interior after the project was completed.


Now let's start with all that "how to" part. The list of needed components are:
1) Power source for the camera: RAM-GDS-CHARGE-V3CU (picture 3)
2) Fuse Tap (picture 4)
3) USB Hub: IN Type-C + USB-A, OUT Type-C (picture 5)
4) Extension USB Type-C cable 2 meters long cable (picture 6)
5) Extension USB 3.0 0.5 meters long (picture 7)
6) 3M double-sided adhesive tape (picture 8)
7) Wire harness tape (picture 9)
8) New button set (we will get to that later)
9) Posi Tap (Picture 10)



In order to be able to install the components, it is necessary to disassemble certain parts of the interior of the cabin. I didn't take pictures of all the disassembly steps while doing this project, but I will attach videos from which I learned and watched how each part was disassembled. Videos explaining how to disassemble the parts are below:
Access to cabin fuses
Removing the handle for opening the hood and accessing the cabin fuses from the bottom

 

[Luka64]

After the parts were disassembled, I installed the power supply from the side and glued it to the metal frame of the car using 3M double-sided adhesive tape. (picture 11)

I grounded the black INPUT side cable of the power supply by connecting it to the car structure. (picture 12)

After that, I connected the red INPUT side cable of the power supply to the cable that comes from the camera power button module: Camera ON (I will mention this later).

Next I connected the green OUTPUT Type-C power connector to the Type-C INPUT interface of the USB Hub. I installed the USB Hub from the inner side and glued it to the metal frame of the car (on the other side of the power supply) using 3M double-sided adhesive tape. (picture 13)


Moving on, I feeded the USB Type-C extension cable from the area where the cabin fuses are, through the "A-pillar" and UNDER the Airbag, under the roof upholstery, under the inner front roof light and all the way to behind the mirror mount. (pictures 14, 15 and 16)


In order to be able to install the cable, it is necessary to disassemble certain parts of the interior of the cabin. Videos explaining how to disassemble the parts are below:
Removing the A-pillar trim
Removing the inner front roof light

In order for the cable to pass behind the mirror mount, I had to cut the plastic cover of the Line Assist camera.


To implement this project, it is necessary to install (feed) a cable (3 copper wires) that extends from the power source (fuse compartment inside the cabin) to the camera ignition button (above the gearbox). The functions of the mentioned wires are: 1) 12V from the car to the camera power button module, 2) grounding, 3) 12V from the camera power button module to the power supply (RAM-GDS).


I taped the mentioned 3 wires together with wire harness tape to protect them but also to gain some strength. In order to be able to properly install (feed) such a newly created cable, it is necessary to pass it behind all the key elements of the car so that it does not interfere with daily work. Make sure that the cable goes BEHIND the Airbag for the legs. (picture 17)


To secure it in place, I tied it with ties to the existing wires that run along that route. My new cable is the top one, all wrapped in black tape (red arrow).

Video that explain how to disassemble the necessary parts of the car's interior and how to properly feed the cable is below:
Feeding the cable from fuse box to mode (power) button


Wire number 1) 12V from the car to the camera power button module: is connected (crimped) to the Fuse Tap. 2 fuses go to the Fuse tap. A new 3A fuse (Because the camera works on 5V/3A), and an old 20A fuse (Because the Fuse tap is connected to the place where the 20A fuse was - Cigarette lighter). (picture 18)

Wire number 2) grounding: is connected to the structure of the car. (picture 19)

Wire number 3) 12V from the camera power button module to the power supply: is connected (crimped) to the Red INPUT side cable on the power supply. (This connection is mentioned above)

 

[Luka64]

In order to "revive" the dead button and enable the camera to turn on via the button, it is necessary to install a new button set. I had an existing button set in the car (5G1927137S) which had 2 active buttons: 1) ESC OFF 2) Start-Stop OFF (picture 20)

In order to be able to turn on the camera using the button, I needed a new button set (5GG927137E), which, in addition to the mentioned buttons, also had an additional button: 3) MODE (picture 21)


To be able to replace the button set and install the camera power button module, it is necessary to disassemble certain parts of the interior of the cabin. Videos explaining how to disassemble the parts are below:
Removing the central box at the gearbox
Replacing the button set


By replacing the old one and installing a new button set, the new MODE button is movable, but it still needs to be "revived" - assign it a new function, turning the camera on and off. In order for this to be possible, it is necessary to connect the module with the button, but also with the previously feeded 3 wires.


Scheme of the needed module is shown in the attachment, picture 22. I could never make a module myself, but my friend jadran14 helped me with it.
** If you need any help with electronics (device repair, making various modules like this one, or anything else for that matter), feel free to contact him. **

Scheme of the button set connectors is shown in the attachment, picture 23.


Below is a description of the functions of the wires and how to connect them to the module and the button. (picture 24)
1) Wire (+12V) from the module to port number 3 of the button connector (mode) = black → gray wire
2) Wire (output - OFF) from the module to port number 6 of the button connector (mode LED) = yellow → brown wire
3) Wire (grounding) from the module to port number 1 of the button connector (ground) = green → Posi Tap → brown wire
4) Wire (output – ON) from the module, connect to the wire that goes to the power source (RAM-GDS) – red power wire.
5) Wire (+12V) from the car, connect (crimp) to the Fuse Tap.
6) Wire (grounding) connect to the car structure.


After making the necessary connections, I also wrapped the above-mentioned wires leading to the new button with wire harness tape to protect them but also to gain a bit of strength. After that, I glued the module to the metal ventilation pipe using 3M double-sided adhesive tape. (picture 25)


The "MODE" button now performs the desired function - turning the camera on and off, but it is not entirely appropriate for such a function to have a car icon and the text MODE.

A step further is to replace the icon and text on the new "MODE" button, so that it has a camera icon and the text OFF. (pictures 26 and 27)
** Here I give credit to this forum user Dustinict. He remade the existing MODE button for me so that it has a new icon and text. **


Finally, I connected the male end of the USB 3.0 extension cable to the USB-A INPUT interface of the USB Hub. The USB Hub is installed in the space where the cabin fuses are. (picture 28)

I feeded the female end of the USB 3.0 extension cable to steering wheel height adjustment lever and secured it with a tie. In this way, I have quick and easy access to the USB stick on which all videos (recordings) from the camera are saved. (picture 29)


This completes the installation of the camera button power camera system!