I've got a plug-in dashcam but it's a bit annoying because everytime you turn the vehicle off, you still have to unplug the cam. Is there a way to wire it to power so that it will only come on when the vehicle is turned on and not just constant?

 

Dash cam is plugged into the cigar lighter I assume?

You will have to do some wiring changes

Adding a relay would be best, 12v, 30amp relay

I don't have a 2007 fuse diagram but in 2006 Fuse 29 in cab was 20amp for cigar lighter, it also powers OBD2 port, which should be OK with key on power

You can intercept the wire out to cigar lighter and OBD port there
One terminal of the fuse will have 12volt all the time, the other terminal is the OUT to the Lighter

Or you can intercept the wire at the back of the lighter


OR

You can add a separate POWER port that has key on power, and use a double fuse tap

 

I see, you mean add a relay inline with the cigar lighter. Then just tape it up and protect it?
Or I suppose it'd probably be easier and less prone to damage adding it behind the socket itself behind the bezel trim of the head unit

 

Switched ignition relay like suggested is the easiest option.

 

I've got a relay, a VFM 15F41 Z07 Siemens. 85 and 86 is the coil, 87A is N.C and 87 is N.O with 30 as my common.

Lemme try this first. 12V battery power(probably from radio unit) to 85. 86 to 87. 30 to cigarette lighter. Is this right?

 

No

If you are cutting the power wire to cigar lighter then one end goes to 87 and the other end to 30, so its still using the power from the 20amp fuse

85 and 86 activate the relay, which connects 87 and 30 together

So ground either 85 or 86, doesn't matter which one
Then connect the other one to any Key on power wire, relay's coil only uses maybe .4amps so won't effect any key on circuits fuse or wiring

12volt cigar power------------87........30---------------cigar lighter
12v key on--------------------85........86----------------ground


Because circuit is still using designated fuse(20amp) and wire size, cigar lighter can be used for any powered device specified as compatible, if you connect it to a lower amp fuse and wire the circuit would be fine for the low amp camera, but it you plugged in a high amp device you would blow that circuits fuse and maybe melt some wires
This way you are just making stock circuit a key on/off circuit with the added relay

 

This is for your 5 pole relay
85 = 1
86 = 2
87 = 5
87A = 3
30 = 4

1 is switch power signal, 2 is to ground (completes circuit, your "coil side" of the system) This would be the switched ignition wire
3 is unused in this situation
4 is your 12v high amp power feed
5 is to the device you wish to switch on when you key the car on

- As per Ron's suggestion, mine is "opposite" in terms of the high amp 12v circuit, but either way works. The benefit to his setup is you wont ever have leg 87A powered at any time which may be beneficial if you are using a simple "add a relay" harness

A 4 pole would use the same switching power setup, but the switched power could be set up to either leg on 3 or 5.

 

Thank you all, haven't tried it yet but when I will I will update. Thanks for the help

 

That should be it right? Wanna make sure I fully understand.
So basically the coil is going across where the cigarette lighter used to be, which was just the 12V in and then to ground, effectively replacing the lighter for now, THEN
The N.O contact is going in between the two cut lines of the cigarette lighter.

 

I thought you wanted it to be OFF when key was OFF

In that case Blue 12 V in need to be key ON 12v, key off 0v

Yes cigar 1 and 2 are the high amp wires and would be connected when coil has 12v and ground

 

Key on 12V. I would need to splice into a different power source then wouldn't I. Like the radio 12V in?

 

Yes, and its for the "coil" in a relay so only .5amp(1/2 amp) draw so won't effect any key on circuit

You don't need to find and then "cut" or splice into radio wire, you can use a fuse tap in the cab fuse box, tap the radio fuse, or any key on fuse

 

Ok, update. Did it today, just like we talked about. Took the radio 12 V wire, put a tap into it into a fuseholder with a working 15 A, fuse into 85(or 1) on the relay, and 86 (or 2) on the relay is connected to a ground. Cut the cigarette lighter right off and put one end to 87(or 5) and the other end to 30 (or 4). Doesn't work. I have 12 V DC across 1 and 2 on the relay so it's receiving power, but nowhere else on the relay can I get 12 V. I have resistance between 4 and 5, when relay is powered, but no V and the lighter does not work. I have tried 3 different relays too so it can't be that. What am I d

Labelled

ing wrong?

 

Can't tell the colors real well from the picture , but

Black w/yellow stripe wires, both of them need to be on #86
Added orange wire needs to be on #85
White with red stripe wire coming from the plug should be on #87
other end of white with red stripe wire (can't see in picture, not sure what you did with it) needs to be on #30

 

Ok, so I'll move the black/yellow from the cigar lighter to the ground on 86.
Orange wire is on 85
White with red stripe to 87.
Other end of white with red stripe? The only white/red strip I have is one end of the socket. Which one are you talking about?
And I seem to have a misunderstanding of relays. I assumed 30 was another return path for the circuit to complete but it seems I'm wrong. What is it's function?

Updated pic, don't know if it'll help

 

The white with red wire you cut giving you 2 ends, one end goes to the plug, where is the other end of it ?

 

Oh sorry, misunderstood. That was my old feed so it goes nowhere and is looped up top.

 

OK there it is, that end needs to go to # 30

 

OK, so a relay works that it needs its own feed for the coil and then an additional feed for the contacts and the common? I always thought it pulled power from the input of the coil to N.O and N.C internallu in the relay and that 30 was the common that was connected to the ground, also via the coil.

 

Cigar lighter wire
Cigar light Fuse----------(Red white)------- pin30xxxxxxxxpin 87-----(red/white)-------cigar lighter plug

Black/yellow wire is the cigar lighters GROUND?
You can't cut that or cigar lighter has NO Ground

You can splice into it and use it as relay coil ground, pin 86, but cigar lighter still need a ground for you to use it to power anything


Radio wire?
What color is that?
That should be hooked to 85

 

Ok, the red/white feed for the cigar lighter, that is cut and not doing anything right now, needs to go one end of the N.O contact (87), the red white from cigar lighter goes to 30 and the black yellow from the cigar lighter needs to go to ground.

Relay power has been tapped into the radio feed (blue/white) up top with the blue tap and goes to 85 . So yes, it is connected to 85.
I feel my issue is that I mistook the common on the relay to be connected to ground but it is not, it is only there to complete the circuit.

 

All done and working great thank you guys

 

Good work

Thanks for posting the "it works"

 

I have a 2004 Ranger. It has two cigarette lighters than normally are always powered.

Caused a pain to use my web cam and, while the cam was plugged in, on or off, I could not use the keyless remote entry farther than 3 feet.

How one of my cigarette lighters is wired now so it can only be use while in accessory or running mode:

1) I removed the center console that holds the radio. Two phillips screws hold it in place. There are located right under the radio. I used a 9/32 socket. With a flat head screwdriver slowly pry the radio/lighters console away from the dashboard.

2) I peeled the acc/run blue/white wire on the back of the radio enough for me to be able to solder a wire unto the blue/white wire. That power wire is to the left of the larger connector as you seat in the vehicle. One of those testers with a wire in one end, a needle in the other end, and a light in the middle made it easy to find the correct power wire as you turn the ignition into accessory or run mode. Soldered my new wire and wrapped the soldered connection with electrical tape.

3) I cutted the red/yellow wire in my right sided cigarette lighter (that is the positive wire) and attached the other end of my new wire to the red/yellow wire coming out of the cigarette lighter. Soldered. Taped.

4) Test your work.

5) Placed the radio/lighters console back on the dash board. Suggest starting at the top.

The whole thing took about an hour.

Peace.

 

I have a 2004 Ranger. It has two cigarette lighters than normally are always powered.

Caused a pain to use my web cam and, while the cam was plugged in, on or off, I could not use the keyless remote entry farther than 3 feet.

How one of my cigarette lighters is wired now so it can only be use while in accessory or running mode:

1) I removed the center console that holds the radio. Two phillips screws hold it in place. There are located right under the radio. I used a 9/32 socket. With a flat head screwdriver slowly pry the radio/lighters console away from the dashboard.

2) I peeled the acc/run blue/white wire on the back of the radio enough for me to be able to solder a wire unto the blue/white wire. That power wire is to the left of the larger connector as you seat in the vehicle. One of those testers with a wire in one end, a needle in the other end, and a light in the middle made it easy to find the correct power wire as you turn the ignition into accessory or run mode. Soldered my new wire and wrapped the soldered connection with electrical tape.

3) I cutted the red/yellow wire in my right sided cigarette lighter (that is the positive wire) and attached the other end of my new wire to the red/yellow wire coming out of the cigarette lighter. Soldered. Taped.

4) Test your work.

5) Placed the radio/lighters console back on the dash board. Suggest starting at the top.

The whole thing took about an hour.

Peace.