Dash Cam install - where to get micro blade fuse taps?

d4m0 · Postby **d4m0** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 2:53 pm

I have my dash cam in my hot little hand, ready to install in my ND2, which I'm led to believe uses "micro blade fuses". I've dríven all over Brisbane (which was nice, in some ways) visiting all kinds of shops ("you want a what?" type conversations over the phone led nowhere useful), without any luck (at all). Altronics, Jaycar, Repco, and Autobarn with no luck - they all had "mini" ones, which looks far too big. I found a few on Google, but nowhere that will deliver them for a reasonable cost in the desired timeframe (must be this weekend!!).

Any advice, or alternatives to using these fuse taps? I'm a bit of a klutz, so didn't want to be stripping wires and splicing...

An example of the product:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Add-A-Circuit-Fuse-Tap-MICRO-Fuse-Holder-APS-ATT-mini-LOW-PROFILE-12v-Free-Fuse-/271502992577?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTabs_0

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:18 pm

If you really want the fuse taps i'd just grab the internet ones and wait.

So far as needing the camera running by the weekend, i'd just use the cig lighter until they arrive. If you need to power a GPS or something as well, then buy a cheap double adapter for the socket.

Although, if it were me, i'd just tap the wires for the back of the cig lighter.
Usually they're just a bullet connector, or a blade connector, so you can just crimp up a quick little patch piece (female connector on one end, male on the other, these will go between the lighter and factory plug, and a spare wire coming out of one of those crimps for the cam)

d4m0 · Postby **d4m0** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:23 pm

Thanks for replying. The cam has a “parking mode”, so just running off the cig lighter (acc) is only have the install. I’d need to work out where I can get power when the car is off (there’s a little box that cuts the power if the battery drops below 12.5V).

Where do they live (full time power wires) in the ND?

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:45 pm

What is the rush?
Just use it via the cig lighter until they arrive by post.
If you can't get them at Jaycar you're unlikely to get them locally.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 4:05 pm

d4m0 wrote:Where do they live (full time power wires) in the ND?

Closest I can think of would be the interior light. (pre switch) since you can normally turn on the interior light without the car being on at all.

Of course, being a new car it's got all these silly sensors etc, and i've seen on Falcons the interior light is ECU controlled (why, I have no bloody clue)
So it may not be as simple as that.

To be honest, for anything post-NB i'd chat with an electrician first.

With the parking mode, dont most dashcams have a battery in them specifically for this reason?

d4m0 · Postby **d4m0** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:07 pm

bruce wrote:What is the rush?
Just use it via the cig lighter until they arrive by post.
If you can't get them at Jaycar you're unlikely to get them locally.

I found some auto electrician tucked down an alleyway, who had some, but wanted $18 each for them. Now it looks like I’m waiting for the internets to deliver...!

d4m0 · Postby **d4m0** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:08 pm

hks_kansei wrote:With the parking mode, dont most dashcams have a battery in them specifically for this reason?

Yeah, not this one - it comes as an optional extra. I dunno, it all seemed so easy in my head when I started this.... journey...

ianoz · Postby **ianoz** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 9:27 pm

like this?
https://www.rfiwireless.com.au/mobile-p ... -fuse.html

QLD - Brisbane
Northlands Business Centre,
30 Raubers Rd
PO Box 340
Banyo, QLD, 4014, Australia
Phone: +61 7 3621 9400

hks_kansei wrote: the interior light is ECU controlled (why, I have no bloody clue)

not sure with Falcadores, but on some cars this is part of the safety features so it can turn on the interior lights (and hazards) after it registers an accident

d4m0 · Postby **d4m0** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 11:21 pm

ianoz wrote:like this?
https://www.rfiwireless.com.au/mobile-p ... -fuse.html

Yeah, exactly like that. Your Google-Fu is better than mine - I’ll call them on Monday. Thanks much!

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 3:40 pm

ianoz wrote:
hks_kansei wrote: the interior light is ECU controlled (why, I have no bloody clue)

not sure with Falcadores, but on some cars this is part of the safety features so it can turn on the interior lights (and hazards) after it registers an accident

Not sure.

I just remember when dad had a BA or BF falcon as a work car the interior light wouldn't turn on with the doors open etc.

He had to get a mate (who worked for ford at the time) to bring over the fancy diagnostic computer to change the setting in the ECU to allow the light to come on with the doors open. (govt job, and apparently ford were just installing all the govt cars with the police spec settings at the time, one of which was to not have interior lights come on for doing speed traps etc)

It just floored me at the time that something as simple as a single 5watt bulb needed a $20k diagnostic computer to make it turn on....

Willo · Postby **Willo** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 3:45 pm

They're PWM controlled now (Pulse Width Modulation, duty cycle like electronic throttle bodies), so they fade in and out, more controllable for certain situations. Can be on LIN networks as well for less wiring, diagnostics etc.

d4m0 · Postby **d4m0** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 7:34 am

So I spoke at length to Jeff at Autobarn in Virginia, and he was the first one (of the store fronts) that knew what I was actually talking about. He did some investigation and ultimately got some in for me.

Sadly, the Mazda fuse receptacles are a bit taller than the fuse taps I got, but I cut some of the plastic molding off the taps so they seated properly.

Thanks all, for your help.