How to power your dash cam (iVolt Xtra Battery Pack)

Install an iVolt Xtra Battery Pack to power your dash cam while parked. Prepare the items below, then follow the input, output, and charging steps.

THINKWARE iVolt Xtra Battery Pack

Why use a dash cam battery pack?

THINKWARE dash cams have a built-in voltmeter and [Battery Protection] settings. These settings help protect your vehicle battery when using a Hardwiring Cable or OBD-II Cable for Parking Mode.

An iVolt Battery Pack may be useful if you need longer parking coverage or drive a vehicle with a small battery. While parked, the dash cam draws power from the battery pack, and the pack charges while you drive.

Compare iVolt Xtra standby times by recording mode and camera configuration below.

Standby Time	iVolt Xtra (7,500mAh)
Standby Time	Motion Detection	Energy Saving Mode
1CH	46.7 hrs	882.4 hrs (36.8 days)
2CH	25.1 hrs	882.4 hrs (36.8 days)

Based on U3000 PRO Dash Cam. Charging and run time may vary depending on the dash cam model and the environment.

Preparing for installation

Full iVolt Xtra installation wiring diagram

Note: A THINKWARE Hardwiring Cable for the dash cam is sold separately.

Required tools: Circuit tester and crimping pliers. Have electrical tape ready to insulate the wire joints.

1. Set the battery pack power switch to OFF.

iVolt Xtra switch in the OFF position

Caution: Choose a location that does not interfere with seat adjustment.

2. Position the pack under a seat or in the trunk.

Battery pack positioned clear of seat movement

Caution: Do not use a circuit controlling vehicle driving or safety systems. Use a fuse holder; do not solder the charging cable directly to vehicle wiring or a fuse.

Choose the input circuit for your battery pack

1. Check the vehicle manual to identify the relevant fuse circuit.

2. Use a tester to verify the power type described for your model below.

Select a constant B+ circuit that supplies power with the ignition on or off. Use a vehicle fuse rated 10A or less for iVolt Xtra.

Xtra input fuse circuit checked with a tester

Connect the input cable through the fuse box

Enlarged iVolt Xtra input-cable wiring section

1. Remove the selected vehicle fuse.

Vehicle fuse removed for fuse holder installation

2. Crimp the input power wire into the fuse holder sleeve.

Input wire inserted into the fuse holder sleeve and crimped with pliers

3. Fit the vehicle fuse and the confirmed battery-pack fuse into the corresponding fuse holder positions.

Separate fuse positions in the dual fuse holder

4. Check the fuse slot supply side with the tester.

5. Insert the holder with its input side toward the powered contact and its output wire toward the opposite contact.

Fuse holder installed in the selected input circuit

Caution: A coated grounding bolt can prevent a proper power connection.

6. Secure the black ground wire to a chassis grounding bolt.

Black ground cable eyelet securely fastened to bare metal chassis bolt near vehicle fuse box

Connect the output cable and dash cam

Enlarged iVolt Xtra output-cable wiring section

1. Connect the green output-cable wire to an ACC fuse circuit using a fuse holder.

2. Join the output wires to the matching dash cam Hardwiring Cable wires: yellow B+, red ACC, and black GND.

Output wires joined to matching dash cam Hardwiring Cable wires

3. Insulate the joined wires with electrical tape.

Electrical tape covering the joined power wires

4. Route and secure the cables along the vehicle wiring, allowing enough slack to reach the battery pack.

iVolt Xtra communication cable with U3000 PRO and U3000

1. Connect the Xtra communication cable to the U3000 external battery port.

Xtra communication cable connected to U3000 PRO, U3000 with the corresponding wiring diagram

2. Open the THINKWARE DASH CAM LINK app > [Dash Cam Settings] > [Record Settings] > [Use External Battery] > [Enabled]

Use External Battery - Enabled

Note: This connection provides battery status information and enables [External Battery Saving], which switches to Energy Saving Mode below 20% battery charge.

Connect and secure the battery pack

1. Plug the input cable into the battery pack input port and Plug the output cable into the battery pack output port.

Intput cable connected to the intput port and Output cable connected to the output port

2. Secure the battery pack with the supplied hook-and-loop tape.

Check charging and Parking Mode

1. Connect the Hardwiring Cable to the dash cam power input.

2. Set the charging switch to LOW for normal charging or HIGH for fast charging.

Note: LOW uses a charging current of up to 4.5A and takes approximately 100 minutes to charge. HIGH uses up to 8.5A and takes approximately 55 minutes.

Note: Vehicle input current is up to 6.5A in LOW and up to 13A in HIGH. These input values are separate from the battery charging currents above.

iVolt Xtra LOW and HIGH charging switch positions

3. Start the vehicle.

4. Check the charging indicator: red flashing for 10 seconds, followed by steady red.

Red indicator showing battery charging

5. Disable [Battery Protection] in the dash cam [Record Settings].

Dash cam battery protection setting turned off

6. Turn off the ignition.

7. Check that the dash cam enters Parking Mode.

Connect the iVolt app for Xtra

1. Install the THINKWARE iVolt app from the App Store or Google Play.

2. Follow the app instructions to connect to Xtra through Bluetooth.

THINKWARE iVolt mobile app interface displaying battery charge percentage and input/output voltage

Need more help?

Contact the support team for your region by email or phone. We’ll respond to your email as quickly as we can.

North America (US/CA)
Email: support@thinkware.com
Phone: 1-844-865-9273

United Kingdom
Email: support.eu@thinkware.com
Phone: +44 (0) 333-121-0008

Europe (EU)
Email: support@thinkwarestore.com
Phone: +49 69 943 22200