BlackVue DR900S-2CH Install DIY

[jgoad13]

BlackVue DR900S-2CH Dash Cam with Power Magic Battery (Hard Wired)

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** There is also a PDF you can download of this install at the end of the write up. Thanks to @Blue for putting that together.

Tools Required:
*Plastic Interior Panel Pry Tool
*13mm Socket w/ long extension and ratchet
*T30, and T27 Driver or Socket
*Wire Cutter
*Splice Crimping Tool
*Electrical Tape
*Metal Wire Coat Hanger
*Isopropyl Alcohol
*Microfiber Towel

Step 1: Remove bi-fold over and bottom trunk mat/cover.

Step 2: Remove rear plastic trunk panel.
Step 2a: Turn these 2 knobs to open the panel.

Step 2b: Remove these 2 T35 bolts.

Step 2c: Remove the 2 pop clips on the panel.

Step 2d: Remove the latch cover.

Step 2e: Pull straight up on the panel to release the 4 panel clips and remove the panel.

Step 3: Use the plastic panel tool to remove the B pillar panel on the passenger side. It has 4 clips on the inside.

Step 4: Remove the Fuse Box door.

Step 5: Remove the Passenger side trunk panel by removing 1 pop clip and 2 T27 screws.

Step 6: When removing the side panel don't forget to unplug the trunk light.

Step 7: Remove the tire inflator and sealant can.

Step 8: Locate the fuse box diagram.

Step 9: For this install I used the cigarette lighter fuse as I do not use it and it powers down approx 5 mins after the car is locked and doors are closed so there will not be any battery drain.

Step 10: Using the fuse puller, remove the fuse from F273.

Step 11: Using the supplied fuse adapter in the Power Magic Battery Kit, insert the 20amp fuse you removed into the holder, and insert the 20amp fuse supplied in the kit into the holder.

Step 12: Place the velcro strips provided in the kit on the back of your battery. Attach the hard wire cable and camera power cable to the battery.

Step 13: Test fit the battery in the trunk hole and remove the velcro backing to mount it in place. Then split the positive and negative power wires by pulling on each one. Leave about 6-8in of the wires connected to each other.

Step 14: Power wire routing. Route the negative wire with the ring terminal behind the battery to the negative side (there will be a lot of extra and we will trim it later if you desire. Route the positive wire as outlined in the photo.

Step 15: Attach the power cable supplied with your BlackVue camera to the battery pack power adapter. Route the wire as pictured below.

Step 16: Finish routing the battery pack power wire along the factory wire loom, cut off any excess wire not needed. Strip the wire end and crimp it using the butt connector on the fuse adapter configured in step 11. Then insert the fuse adapter into the F273 slot.

Step 17: If you have a open spade terminal like I did, cut off any excess on the ground wire, then strip the wire and crimp on the connector. I needed to spread mine apart some to fit around the stud in the next step. This step is optional, you can leave the wire full length and bundle up the excess if you don't want to shorten it.

Step 18: Loosen the 13mm nut for the battery ground on the chassis and place the terminal underneath, then tighten the nut back down while holding the terminal in place so it doesn't spin.

Step 19: At this point the wiring for the Power Magic Battery is complete. Use small zip ties and secure the wires to the factory harness as desired.

 

[jgoad13]

Step 20: Mounting the front camera. I placed mine directly under the mirror so the camera lens was in the center of the car. Be sure to clean the inside of your window with alcohol to ensure good adhesion. Now is a good time to install the SD card into the camera so you don't forget.

Step 21: Camera Power Wire: Take the wire you started to route in step 15 and continue to follow the factory harness forward to the B pillar area on the passenger side. You want it to go under the cross bar. Do not go up to the headliner area yet.

Step 22: Take the lose end of the camera power cable and plug it into the camera. Be sure to straighten out any kinks in the wire before you do this. Then route the wire behind the mirror mount cover, then under the edge of the headliner all the way to the A pillar. There is enough of a gap to get it in there using the plastic pry tool gently.

Step 23: Route the power wire under the edge of the A pillar and headliner, then under the door seal down the edge of the headliner all the way back to the B pillar. This can also be done using the plastic pry tool gently.

Step 24: If you routed the power wire correctly you will now have all your excess by the B pillar and cross bar. I coiled mine up and zip tied it then stuck it where the insulation is at. You cannot cut this wire, if you do it voids the warranty on the BlackVue Camera.

Step 25: Rear Camera Wire: Plug in the supplied rear camera cable into the camera using the 90 deg end. Once again route the wire around the mirror mount cover but this time to the drivers side. Power and signal should not be ran on the same side of the car. If you do there is a high change you will get interference and might have issues with the rear camera.

Step 25: When you get to the B pillar area, you will need to remove the same small panel on the drivers side as you did in step 3 to get the wire through.

Step 26: There is 1 T30 screw on each side of the headliner brackets. Remove these, they were very tight and put in with loctite so be careful not to strip them. Bolts already removed in the photos.

Step 27: Carefully use the plastic pry tool to pop out the 2 clips holding up the back of the headliner. This will drop it down just enough without having to remove it all the way.

Step 28: I routed through the factory hatch harness bundle. If you don't want to do that you don't have to but here is how I did it. Unhook the center clip on the rubber tubing, then remove the rubber boots from the hatch side and roof side.

Step 29: Route your wire under the headliner and out the hole where the roof side boot was removed.

Step 30: Use a coat hanger straightened out, spray it with some kind of lube and work it through the rubber tube from hatch side to roof side. I then used electrical tape to attach the end of the wire to the hanger and pulled the wire back through. Don't forget the lube or its never going to go through. I used white lithium spray. If all went as planed your wire will be here now.

Step 31: Remove this plug (pops right out) and this cover under the third brake light (pry up at the window edge, there is 2 pop clips then slide it out of the hooks on the bottom).

Step 32: Route the wire from the hatch rubber boot hole to the hole where you removed the circle cap. I was able to fish it through without the coat hanger.

Step 33: Back to the coat hanger to make it the last length. Same as before, slide it from the third brake light area till it comes out the hole from step 32. Attach your wire with electrical tape, then slowly pull it through. It was a tight fit for the connector when first going in so i used the plastic pry tool to lift the cover enough to get it through.

Step 34: Figure out where you want to mount your camera. I mounted mine to the bottom of the third brake light. You can also mount it on the window. Be sure to clean the area before mounting. Once mounted in the desired location finish routing the wire to the camera. I used one of the clips the came in the camera kit to secure the line as well.

Step 35: Once your camera is mounted pull any extra wire back through to the headliner area. Here you can wrap it up and zip tie it together. Place it under the headliner and pop the 2 rear clips back into place.

Step 36: Start putting everything back together. Be sure to turn the switch on the Power Magic Battery to Hard Wire setting. Start the car and let it idle while you put the plastics back in the charge up your Power Magic Battery.

Follow the setup guide for the BlackVue App and Battery App. Login instructions for your camera are inside the box.

Hope this helps everyone. If there are any questions please ask and enjoy.

 

[Half Vast]

Nicely done! Thanks for sharing the install.

 

[ec15]

Just make sure to run the wiring behind the curtain airbag. You do not want any possible obstruction in the case of an accident.

 

[Hookah]

I need this mod. Nice!
Do you have a real time monitor or is it data logged only?

 

[jgoad13]

I need this mod. Nice!
Do you have a real time monitor or is it data logged only?

If you are in Wifi range of the camera you can live view. Or you can use the Could and setup 3 Wifi networks it will automatically connect to when in range and view live from you phone.

 

[Riko]

fyi, you can avoid all that wiring to the battery, battery packs etc, by just powering the system via the OBD port, thats it.

they have their own system:


does exactly the same as the battery pack set up, just without all the hastle.

 

[jtsang25]

fyi, you can avoid all that wiring to the battery, battery packs etc, by just powering the system via the OBD port, thats it.

they have their own system:


does exactly the same as the battery pack set up, just without all the hastle.

Doesn't work on a BMW systems. It'll kill the battery. you need a battery pack for bmws so its not constantly using power.

 

[jgoad13]

fyi, you can avoid all that wiring to the battery, battery packs etc, by just powering the system via the OBD port, thats it.

they have their own system:


does exactly the same as the battery pack set up, just without all the hastle.

That’s not the same. The idea of the batter pack is to have zero draw on the cars battery when the car is off and the camera is in parking mode. With the battery pack I can record for almost 24hrs when the car is parked and off.

Update for everyone it’s been about 2 months since the install. I’ve had zero issues.

 

[consultadrone]

That’s not the same. The idea of the batter pack is to have zero draw on the cars battery when the car is off and the camera is in parking mode. With the battery pack I can record for almost 24hrs when the car is parked and off.

Update for everyone it’s been about 2 months since the install. I’ve had zero issues.

I installed a Thinkware camera with their battery module (made by blackvue) using this tutorial as a guide. I have had zero problems. Great write up and super helpful!!!

 

[akasonny]

Various brands (Vantrue, etc.) offer an OBD cable which includes a voltage monitor. When the voltage (car battery) drops below specs, the cable disconnects from the power source.

 

[consultadrone]

Various brands (Vantrue, etc.) offer an OBD cable which includes a voltage monitor. When the voltage (car battery) drops below specs, the cable disconnects from the power source.

I believe on The Supra/BMWs, the car knows when something is connected to the OBDII port and, if left connected, will set off the alarm when you lock it. I know some tuners have had this issue. From what I've garnered, it's generally a bad idea to use the OBDII port on a BMW to power anything.

I could be wrong.

 

[akasonny]

I believe on The Supra/BMWs, the car knows when something is connected to the OBDII port and, if left connected, will set off the alarm when you lock it. I know some tuners have had this issue. From what I've garnered, it's generally a bad idea to use the OBDII port on a BMW to power anything.

I could be wrong.

We'll see as I take delivery today. I've been leaving my OBDII MX+ module plugged into the OBD port 24/7 with no drain or alarm issues. Perhaps it depends on which pins are used in the port connector though. They also manufacture a switch in-line with the OBD connector making it easier to switch the camera-power on/off as needed. If your comment is correct, I may have to look into that.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[consultadrone]

We'll see as I take delivery today. I've been leaving my OBDII MX+ module plugged into the OBD port 24/7 with no drain or alarm issues. Perhaps it depends on which pins are used in the port connector though. They also manufacture a switch in-line with the OBD connector making it easier to switch the camera-power on/off as needed. If your comment is correct, I may have to look into that.

Thanks for the tip!

Yeah if your MX+ is OK, then I can't imagine the camera is going to be doing much more. Please update with results. If it does work without issue, it definitely makes the installation far easier. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

 

[Riko]

wel jgoad3 used the obd ez pack from blackvue and it didnt work in parking mode he said
but i assume it did work for just powering the camera system

maybe he can chime in....