Sorry, I pulled a rookie move and screwed up the frame rate on the dash cam footage at the end, which made it look terrible. I deleted the video and this is the reposted content.
ourkaravan it’s dashcam footage, it’s never gonna look great lol ordered two of those usb charges from your link. I had just installed the cheap amazon ones (which worked) but I wanted the better quality ones. Thanks
My go-tos are usually iOverlander and google aerial imagery, which I use to find backcountry roads. I use the US Public Lands app to make sure I am on forest land and not national park land where boondocking is not permitted. Imagery blows through a lot of cel data so I try and have a few areas in mind before I get there.
This is handy to pop up on my feed as been planning to fit mine for long time and keep putting it off. Thank you for showing how the dash comes apart. Questions - Why did you choose to install hidden usb socket instead of just stripping wires and connecting them together? Did you also change your lighter circuit fuse for the increased current and check the cable sizes too?
Hi Greg, I wasn't sure tearing apart a USB port would really gain me anything, and it would make it more difficult to mount. Dashcams only seem to last a few years and die from our intense heat, and if/when it does it won't take more than 2 minutes to remove the radio face place and the upper dash trim to replace it. I'll just assume the micro-usb cable will be replaced by USB-C or something else by that time. I would not recommend changing the lighter circuit fuse. The fuse should be rated to protect the wire, and I'm sure MB did their homework there. The wiring I tapped appeared to be AWG 16, adequate for the load. The math looks like this: dashcam is 5V 1 amp and the max rating for the exposed USB port is 5V 4.8 amps. My recollection is the factory lighter circuit is fused at 15 amps at 12 volts. Plenty of power, but I wouldn't recommend tapping this circuit if you use the lighter. If you need more there's a 25A outlet in the lower dash, however it has fulltime power. Good luck and safe travels. P.S. The parasitic draw of the Blue Sea USB ports is only 1mA.
@@ourkaravan i build it in en its working like a dream , took the power from the clovebox light , because mine ciggaret plug is not switched by the ignition
I have, on my NCV3 Sprinter I disconnected the battery and waited a few minutes (to ensure no residual power) and popped the trim cover off with trim tools. I would consult the manual first to ensure your vehicle doesn’t have specific precautions.
Ham Radio ? I have 3 Ham Radios installed in my 2016 Sprinter, one Icom D-Star, one Yaesu Fusion and one Kenwood APRS . I have 4 USB Charging ports sold by QSRadio.com that are on sale this month for $12.00. and never heard ANY noise from them- what Radio are you planning to install? What is your Ham Call ? Thank you for showing how easy it is to disassemble the Dash - you have inspired me to make a few more changes. Thank You N2OYU
Sorry, just saw this as the links put this in the spam folder. I have a basic Yaesu FT1900R in my 4Runner and the single band and lack of features hasn't been a limitation for me. I'll likely stick with Yaesu just so I don't have to learn a whole new menu structure. Thankfully the dash is easy to disassemble. I have the feeling it will come apart many more times in the future. Take care!
