Power

[Preload]

Has anyone installed a permanent power supply as I'm thinking of a front and rear Dash Cam?

[Helijock]

I had a front and rear camera fitted by Halfords, but had problems with the cameras dropping off line. I took the car to an auto electrician who said the "hard" wiring by Halfords was only a splice. They carried out a real hard connection and it works fine now.

[Willpower]

I have a Nextbase 622gw front and rear camera, also installed by Halfords.  This particular model comes with a piggyback fuse connector as an integral part of the hardwire kit.
You take out an always live fuse from the main fusebox, insert the Nextbase supplied hardwire cable, then reinsert the fuse, in the adapter. 
Works fine.   

[Preload]

I had a front and rear camera fitted by Halfords, but had problems with the cameras dropping off line. I took the car to an auto electrician who said the "hard" wiring by Halfords was only a splice. They carried out a real hard connection and it works fine now.

Thanks Helijock

[Preload]

I have a Nextbase 622gw front and rear camera, also installed by Halfords.  This particular model comes with a piggyback fuse connector as an integral part of the hardwire kit.
You take out an always live fuse from the main fusebox, insert the Nextbase supplied hardwire cable, then reinsert the fuse, in the adapter. 
Works fine.   

So there is a permanent live in the fuse box.  I think I'll have one fitted as I do not like wires showing

[Willpower]

There is always a permanent live somewhere.
Cigarette lighter , Interior lights , Horn.  Something somewhere always needs power if operated without ignition.

[Preload]

There is always a permanent live somewhere.
Cigarette lighter , Interior lights , Horn.  Something somewhere always needs power if operated without ignition.

The ciggy lighter is off on mine

[Helijock]

You don't want it connected to a permanent live fuse. The idea is that when the ignition is off, the internal battery of the camera powers it up in the event of a bump etc on the car.

[Willpower]

You don't want it connected to a permanent live fuse. The idea is that when the ignition is off, the internal battery of the camera powers it up in the event of a bump etc on the car.

This is true to a degree. However the penalty for not having it hard wired in, is that you have to use the cigarette lighter, if you have one, as a power supply.
Or a 12v outlet close enough to the dashboard.
This means that you will have some cabling in view and not be able to use the lighter should you need to.  And to be honest, it's an eyesore. 

The Dash Cam will automatically power on and be ready to use once power is available.
In some vehicles this will be when connections are made, for others the Dash Cam will power on once the ignition has been turned on. Mine comes on as soon as I open the door and the room lights come on.

When power is cut off, after a time lapse, the Dash Cam will perform an automatic shutdown process and fall back on the internal battery.
 
If your camera has the facility as mine does and Intelligent Parking Mode is active, then when motion is detected, it triggers recording automatically using the camera internal battery.

The battery will obviously recharge when 12 volts becomes available.

[Preload]

My Dash Cam has a special lead for the parking system to work and it has to be permanent a live circuit

[Helijock]

My camera is hard wired including the rear camera and no wires are visible.

[Preload]

My camera is hard wired including the rear camera and no wires are visible.

Did you do it yourself?

[Helijock]

No, Halfords. They did a good job with running the cables, but the connection in the fuse box was iffy and had it permanently fixed by an auto electrician.