VANTRUE USB-C OBD Hardwire Kit with LED Screen: features and who it suits

The VANTRUE OBD Hardwire Kit is a power cable that lets a dash cam draw power from the car's OBD-II port instead of the cigarette-lighter socket. That gives the camera power while the car is parked, so its parking mode can work, and a low-voltage cutoff with a small screen keeps an eye on the battery. Here is how it works and what to check first.

Why a dash cam needs a hardwire kit for parking mode

Most dash cams are powered from the 12V socket, which in many vehicles switches off with the ignition. Once the engine stops, the camera stops too. Parking mode, which watches for bumps or motion while the car is parked, needs a constant supply.

The traditional way to get one is a hardwire kit wired into the fuse box with a fuse tap. This kit takes a simpler route: it plugs into the OBD-II diagnostic port, which on most cars sits under the dashboard near the steering column. VANTRUE describes it as plug and play, with no fuse tap needed, and the listing images show the cable routed up along the windscreen trim to the camera.

Low-voltage protection and what the settings mean

Running a camera from the battery for hours has one obvious risk: a battery too flat to start the car. The kit's low-voltage protection cuts power to the dash cam when the battery voltage falls below the level you choose. VANTRUE lists three settings for each system:

• 12V vehicles: 11.8V, 12.1V or 12.4V.
• 24V vehicles: 23.6V, 24V or 24.4V.

As a general guide, a healthy, fully charged 12V car battery rests at roughly 12.6 to 12.7V, and the voltage falls as it discharges. A higher cutoff stops recording sooner and leaves more charge for starting; a lower one gives longer parking coverage. Older batteries and cold weather leave less in reserve, so a higher setting is the cautious choice in winter.

The voltage screen

An LED display on the control box shows the battery's real-time voltage and the cutoff you have set. That makes it easy to see how the battery is doing after a long park and whether the setting suits your car. The control box comes with an adhesive pad, so it can be fixed out of the way.

Compatibility and specs

The kit is made for USB-C dash cams and is compatible with all Vantrue dash cams; VANTRUE says to plug the cable into the power port on the camera's mount. According to the listing images, the output is USB-C at 5V and 2A, the input range at the OBD-II end is 11.6V to 40V, and it suits 12V and 24V vehicles, from sedans and SUVs to vans and trucks. The cable is 13.12 ft (4 m) long, enough to reach from the port to the top of the windscreen in most cars.

Some vehicles cut power to the OBD-II port when the ignition is off, and a few place the port where a plug gets in the way of your knees. Check yours before relying on it for parking mode.

Who it suits

It suits owners of Vantrue USB-C dash cams who want parking mode without wiring into the fuse box, and drivers who switch the camera between vehicles, including 24V trucks and vans.

What to check before you buy

• Your dash cam: confirm it has a USB-C power input and a parking mode.
• Your OBD-II port: check that it stays powered with the ignition off, and where it sits.
• Battery health: an older battery calls for a higher cutoff setting.
• Cable route: plan a path that stays clear of pedals and airbags; follow the manual.
• Voltage system: pick the cutoff range that matches a 12V or 24V vehicle.

The short version

• A USB-C hardwire cable that powers a dash cam from the OBD-II port, with no fuse tap.
• Low-voltage cutoff at 11.8, 12.1 or 12.4V (12V) and 23.6, 24 or 24.4V (24V).
• An LED screen shows live battery voltage and the set cutoff.
• Made for Vantrue USB-C dash cams, plugged into the mount's power port.
• A 13.12 ft (4 m) cable for 12V and 24V vehicles.

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