Vehicle Battery Drainage

Battery Drainage

All Thinkware Dash Cams feature our Advanced Parking Mode features.

When wired and set up correctly, Thinkware Dash Cams should not be causing battery drainage on your vehicle. 

If you are encountering any Battery Drainage issues, please follow the troubleshooting steps outlined below.

If the steps outlined do not correct the issue, please reach out to our team at support@thinkware.com or 1-844-865-9273.

Battery Protection Settings

Thinkware Dash Cams feature 3 Battery Protection Settings to ensure you do not return to the vehicle with a dead battery. These include the Voltage Cut Off, Record Timer, and Wintertime Battery Protection.

Battery Protection (Voltage Cut-Off)

Thinkware Dash Cams have a built-in voltage meter. It is designed for the Dash Cam to automatically power down, once the vehicle's battery voltage level is lower than the selected value for more than 5 mins.

Record Timer

The Record Timer is designed to automatically power down the Dash Cam after the selected period of time to protect your vehicle's battery.

Typically the Voltage Cut Off will power down the Dash Cam faster than the Record Timer. Depending on the model of Thinkware Dash Cam, the Record Timer can be disabled. 

*It is recommended to disable the Record Timer when using the iVolt Battery Pack as a source of power to utilize the full functionality.

Wintertime Battery Protection

The Wintertime Battery Protection Setting powers off the dashcam at 0.2V earlier than the selected Voltage Cut-Off value in colder months to protect your vehicle's battery.

During extreme cold, your vehicle's battery can deviate and drain quicker. This setting prevents returning to a drained battery during these cold months.

Troubleshooting

1. Ensure the Dash Cam is entering parking mode when you turn off the ignition.

*The Dash Cam will verbally announce "Parking recording will now start."

If you do not hear this message, the dash cam is not entering parking mode correctly and may drain the vehicle's battery. Please check the hardwiring to the vehicle. 

For more information regarding the dash cam not entering Parking Mode, click here.

2. Ensure you have enabled the Battery Protection Settings.

*If disabled the dash cam battery monitoring system will not be active and the dash cam will continue to operate until the vehicles battery can not supply enough power to it.

3. Check the Vehicle's Battery Voltage in the most recent Continuous Recording file. 

Note the voltage level in the bottom-left corner of the most recently recorded Continuous video file.

When the engine is running, a reading above 14.0 volts is an indication of good battery health.

*Anything below 14.0 volts indicates that you may need to replace or recharge your vehicle's battery for the dash cam to operate correctly.

*A vehicle battery that has low voltage after being replaced could be a sign of a faulty battery. While this is rare, it is not unheard of. 

4. Ensure the Dash Cam is powering down with the Voltage Cut-Off value selected.

a. Note the Voltage Cut-Off Value you have selected.

b. Turn off the ignition and allow the dash cam to record overnight in parking mode.

c. Turn on the ignition and review the most recent recorded Parking File.

d. Note the Voltage Value in the bottom-left corner. Ensure the last recorded video is above or shows the approximate Voltage Cut-Off value you have selected.

*The Dash Cam will power down once the vehicle's battery voltage level is lower than the selected value for more than 5 mins.

*If the Dash Cam is running past the Voltage Cut-Off value selected, please contact us.