I recently hard-wired (sort of) a dash cam using an add-a-circuit (see photo) at the interior fuse box connected to a 12V female socket (see photo), into which went the cam's 12V male plug. I chose the seat warmer' ACC fuse, but I seem to have chosen poorly. Seat warmers stopped working after a while. Inspection revealed that the add-a-circuit tried to plastic weld itself to the fuse box while blowing the seat warmer fuse. Luckily everything came apart and a new seat warmer fuse was able to be returned to the original fuse slot. Everything stock works as normal with no further issues. I have not reconnected the dash cam circuit.
Inspected the wiring setup. Made sure grounding was correct - 12V socket black to car body. Connections were done with crimp-style connectors. No loose, frayed, or stray wires. Correct amperage fuses were used. All fuses and add-a-circuit were seated correctly. Electrical tape wrap on the 12V plug connection.
This particular cam's 12V power plug has a large rectangular housing for the e-guts, hence this setup choice. I am loth to disassemble the plug and try to wire it directly into an accessory circuit, e.g. the overhead dash light. I like the add-a-circuit + add'l 12V socket at the fuse box idea, and I already have the wiring cleanly tucked/fished.
Can I use a different fuse circuit for this same setup - cameral needs a 10A circuit?
Finally, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around how the load of both the seat warmers' 15A circuit and the dash cam's 10A circuit resulted in the warmer fuse blowing out, given that they should have maintained separate circuits. Was it simply a matter of the two loads (25A total) overheating the plastic add-a-circuit item at the fuse box's single slot for the 15A warmers, eventually creating a short on the add-a-circuit's warmer fuse? If anyone wants to bother to confirm or explain what happened, that would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer!
Inspected the wiring setup. Made sure grounding was correct - 12V socket black to car body. Connections were done with crimp-style connectors. No loose, frayed, or stray wires. Correct amperage fuses were used. All fuses and add-a-circuit were seated correctly. Electrical tape wrap on the 12V plug connection.
This particular cam's 12V power plug has a large rectangular housing for the e-guts, hence this setup choice. I am loth to disassemble the plug and try to wire it directly into an accessory circuit, e.g. the overhead dash light. I like the add-a-circuit + add'l 12V socket at the fuse box idea, and I already have the wiring cleanly tucked/fished.
Can I use a different fuse circuit for this same setup - cameral needs a 10A circuit?
- If so which fuse would be best, or...
- will I risk the same thing happening?
Finally, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around how the load of both the seat warmers' 15A circuit and the dash cam's 10A circuit resulted in the warmer fuse blowing out, given that they should have maintained separate circuits. Was it simply a matter of the two loads (25A total) overheating the plastic add-a-circuit item at the fuse box's single slot for the 15A warmers, eventually creating a short on the add-a-circuit's warmer fuse? If anyone wants to bother to confirm or explain what happened, that would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer!