Dash Cam Installation

A dash cam only helps if it is recording when something happens. At Sound Electronics we install dash cams in Woodstock the way they are meant to run: hardwired to the vehicle, with the cables hidden behind the trim, a rear camera where you want one, and parking mode set up so the camera keeps watch while you are away from the vehicle.

We install the dash cams we sell. Bought one elsewhere? Call ahead and we will tell you whether we can fit it.

Why have a dash cam hardwired

Plugging a camera into the 12-volt socket works, but it leaves a cable across the dash, ties up the socket, and — on most vehicles — the camera shuts off with the ignition. A hardwired installation connects the camera to the vehicle’s fuse box instead. That gives you:

  • Parking mode. With constant power, the camera can record impacts and motion while the vehicle is parked and switched off — the situation where a lot of damage happens and nobody leaves a note.
  • Battery protection. Hardwire kits include a low-voltage cut-off that switches the camera off before the battery gets too low to start the vehicle.
  • A clean install. No dangling wire, no adapter in the socket, and nothing to knock loose.
  • Automatic start-up. The camera is recording as soon as the vehicle is running, every time, without anyone having to remember to plug it in.

Front and rear dash cam installation

Most of the dash cams we sell are two-channel systems: a front camera behind the rear-view mirror and a second camera on the back glass. The front camera is placed so it sees the road clearly without sitting in your line of sight. The rear camera’s cable is run through the headliner and down the pillar trim, and on SUVs, vans and hatchbacks through the tailgate so it survives the hatch opening and closing.

Routing cables along the pillars means working around the curtain airbags. We route and secure the wiring so it cannot interfere with an airbag deploying — one of the main reasons to have the job done by an installer rather than tucking the wire in yourself.

What happens during the installation

  1. Placement. We agree on where the front and rear cameras go, checking the view on the screen or app before anything is fixed in place.
  2. Power. The hardwire kit is connected at the fuse box to a switched circuit and a constant circuit, so the camera knows when the vehicle is running and can still run parking mode when it is not.
  3. Cable routing. Front and rear cables are run behind the headliner and trim panels and secured so they do not rattle or pinch.
  4. Set-up. We format the memory card, set the date and time, set the parking-mode sensitivity and battery cut-off, and connect the app on your phone if the camera has Wi-Fi.
  5. Walk-through. Before you leave we show you how to save a clip, pull footage to your phone, and what the status lights and alerts mean.

Dash cams we install

We carry front-and-rear dash cams from Thinkware and GNET, including:

Not sure which one suits you? Tell us how you use the vehicle — daily commute, parked on the street overnight, a work truck — and we will recommend a camera and set-up to match. See the full dash cam range.

Dash cams as part of vehicle security

A dash cam records what happened; it does not stop a theft. If you are thinking about a camera because of break-ins or theft in your area, it works best alongside an immobilizer, alarm or GPS tracker. Our vehicle security installation page explains how the layers fit together, and we install GPS vehicle tracking and car alarms as well. For company vehicles, see fleet and commercial vehicle security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dash cams need to be professionally installed?

No — most dash cams can be plugged into a 12-volt socket. Professional installation is worth it when you want parking mode, a rear camera with the cable hidden, or no wires hanging across the dash. Hardwiring and routing a rear cable through the headliner and trim takes the right tools and knowledge of where the airbags are.

Will a hardwired dash cam drain my battery?

A properly hardwired dash cam uses a kit with a low-voltage cut-off, which switches the camera off before the battery drops too far to start the vehicle. We set the cut-off to suit the vehicle and how long it usually sits parked.

What is parking mode?

Parking mode keeps the camera watching while the vehicle is parked and switched off, recording when it detects an impact or motion. It needs constant power, which is why it normally requires a hardwired installation rather than the cigarette-lighter plug.

Can you install a rear dash cam?

Yes. Most of the dash cams we sell are front-and-rear systems. The rear camera mounts on the back glass and its cable is routed through the headliner and trim so it stays out of sight. On SUVs, vans and hatchbacks we route the cable through the tailgate or hatch as well.

Can you install a dash cam I bought somewhere else?

Call ahead with the make and model of the camera and your vehicle, and we will confirm whether we can fit it and have the right hardwire kit.

Which dash cams do you carry?

We stock Thinkware and GNET front-and-rear dash cams — see our dash cam range for current models.

Book an installation

Sound Electronics has been fitting vehicle electronics in Woodstock for over 40 years, and our technicians are MECP-certified. Every installation comes with a one-year parts and labour warranty. Call 519-539-0244, send us a message, or drop by the shop at 68 Main St in Woodstock.