OBD cables are an alternative to hardwiring for powering dash cams, providing the same functionality as a hardwired installation without the relatively difficult installation process. They plug into the OBD-II diagnostic port found in all OBD-II vehi

<h2 id="what-is-an-obd-cable">What is an OBD cable?</h2><p><strong>OBD cables&#xA0;</strong>are an alternative to hardwiring for powering dash cams, providing the same functionality as a hardwired installation without the relatively difficult installation process. They plug into the OBD-II diagnostic port found in all OBD-II vehicles, and can provide continuous power when the vehicle is off to keep dash cams running in parking mode.</p><h2 id="what-is-obd-can-i-use-an-obd-cable-with-my-vehicle">What is OBD? Can I use an OBD cable with my vehicle?</h2><p>On-board diagnostics (OBD) is a term referring to a vehicle&apos;s self-diagnostic and reporting capability. Starting in 1981, vehicle manufacturers have incorporated data link ports (commonly referred to as OBD ports) to provide vehicle repair technicians and more technically-inclined owners access to the status of the various vehicle subsystems.</p><p id="isPasted">OBD ports are divided into two main categories.</p><ol><li>OBD-I (1981-1996)</li><li>OBD-II (1994-current)<ul><li>Some vehicles from the mid-1990s (~1993-1996) have an OBD-II DLC (diagnostic link connector) aka &#x201C;OBD port&#x201D;. They are physically identical to a true OBD-II port. However, they are not fully OBD-II compliant, lack full OBD-II functionality, and are thus sometimes referred to as &quot;OBD-1.5&quot;.</li><li>Starting in the early 2000s, CANBUS (which has been used in automotive applications since 1991) was added to OBD-II, further enhancing but also complicating the protocol. You can think of CANBUS as &#x201C;OBD-2.5&#x201D;.</li></ul></li></ol><p>Within these two main categories there are sub categories for vehicle type;</p><ol><li>Passenger Cars &amp; Light Trucks (up to 14,000lbs/6,400kg GVWR) &#x2014; think Ford F-350 / Chevy 3500, and smaller.</li><li>Medium Duty &amp; Heavy Duty Trucks &amp; Commercial Vehicles, (over 14,000lbs/6,400kg GVWR).</li></ol><p>The second category of Medium Duty &amp; Heavy Duty Trucks &amp; Commercial Vehicles are not bound to the same OBD-II port specifications (different pins do different things). Some vehicles in this category sold in North America between the 2007 and 2012 model years may use an &quot;OBD-1.5&quot; standard known as EMD/EMD+ instead.</p><p>EVs and some other zero-emissions vehicles have been granted exemption from full OBD-II compliance for Passenger Cars &amp; Light Trucks.</p><p>Within these two categories, there are more sub categories for different countries/regions of the world, such as EOBD for the version of OBD-II used in Europe, and JOBD for the version of OBD-II used in Japan.</p><p>OBD-II is mandatory in the following countries/regions:</p><ul><li>Australia &amp; New Zealand<ul><li>All vehicles since January 1, 2006</li></ul></li><li>California<ul><li>All gasoline passenger cars &amp; light trucks since model year 1996 (calendar year 1995)</li><li>All diesel passenger cars &amp; light trucks since 1997</li><li>All medium duty &amp; heavy duty trucks &amp; commercial vehicles since 2007 (as an option to EMD/EMD+)</li></ul></li><li>China<ul><li>Certain light vehicles have been required to incorporate OBD-II by July 1, 2008. Some regional exemptions may apply.</li></ul></li><li>European Union<ul><li>All gasoline vehicles since model year 2001 (calendar year 2000)</li><li>All diesel vehicles since 2004</li></ul></li><li>United States<ul><li>All gasoline passenger cars &amp; light trucks since 2004</li><li>All passenger cars &amp; light trucks since 2006</li><li>All OBD-II passenger cars &amp; light trucks have been required to use the ISO 15765-4 variant of CANBUS since 2008</li><li>All medium duty &amp; heavy duty trucks &amp; commercial vehicles since model year 2013 (calendar year 2012)</li></ul></li></ul><h2 id="how-does-an-obd-cable-work">How does an OBD cable work?</h2><p>In the simplest terms, OBD cables utilize OBD-II ports to provide continuous power when the vehicle is off to keep dash cams running in parking mode.</p><p>However, due to the vast number of variances between OBD-II protocols, the logic used by the OBD cable is also unique to each different cable, most often being a combination of vehicle voltage monitoring, built-in G-sensors, and timers.</p><p>Some OBD cables only provide continuous power, thus only being suitable for dash cams that can enter and exit parking mode based on perceived vehicle motion. Others may be able to switch compatible dash cams in and out of parking mode using a built-in simulated ignition, though they do not directly interface with the vehicle&apos;s ignition like a 3-wire hardwiring kit or battery pack would.</p><p>Many OBD cables have a built-in low-voltage cutoff, allowing them to cut power to the dash cam if the vehicle voltage drops to a certain threshold. Some may also offer additional customization, typically via on-board switches, to enhance their compatibility with different vehicles.</p><p><br></p><h5 id="isPasted"><strong>Thanks for stopping by!</strong></h5><p>We love hearing from our customers, and we&apos;d love to get your feedback to further improve your experience with us. Let us know how we&apos;re doing, or&#xA0;<a href="https://www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/contact-us" target="_blank" style=" text-decoration: none !important;"><strong>contact our support team</strong></a> (<a href="mailto:info@blackboxmycar.com" target="_blank" style=" text-decoration: none !important;">info@blackboxmycar.com</a>) if you need further assistance from us.</p>

What is an OBD cable? Can I use an OBD cable with my vehicle?

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FAQs For All OBD Cables

Accessories

OBD Cables

Can you use a rear dash cam as a backup cam?

What is an LCD screen dash camera?

Does window tint affect dash cams?

Should you use a GoPro as a dash cam?

Are there any wireless dash cams? I hate all the wires.

What is a WiFi dash camera?

Which dash cam is best for rideshare drivers?

Should I get a dash cam if I drive a Tesla or an electric vehicle?

Can I use a Cloud dash cam to manage my fleet?

Which of your dash cams have Sony STARVIS 2 technology?

Are reflective windshield sunshades bad for my dash cam?

General FAQs

Do 4K dash cams give you significantly better quality than 2K and 1080p?

4K or 60FPS, which is more important?

Why are there light streaks in my dash cam video?

Why does my new dash cam have poor video quality?

Video Quality

How do dash cams store recordings? What kind of storage media do they use?

How long does an SD card last in a dash cam?

What is the recording capacity of my storage media? How much can I record on my storage media?

Do your dash cams allow continuous recording and overwrite the older videos by itself when the storage is full?

Why do dash cams record in clips, and not one long continuous file?

Can I use the rear camera to record inside the cabin?

If IR cameras are better at capturing in total darkness, can I use them instead of standard rear cameras?

Is the footage in black & white when recording with an IR camera?

Recording

Does the rear camera have any motion detection capabilities?

Will a dash camera drain my vehicle battery?

Which dash cam do you recommend for extended parking mode recording?

Is it possible to turn off parking mode?

Is it possible to turn off the parking mode when hardwired with the hardwire cable?

My car isn't driven much, but I still want parking mode recording

I park in a secure garage at home and/or work. Can I set up my dash cam so parking mode only activates when I'm out and about?

Why am I getting a battery drain warning message?

My dash cam doesn't know when to switch to parking mode when using a battery pack!

Parking Mode

FAQs For All Dash Cams

How do I connect my smartphone to my BlackVue via WiFi?

What is the default password for my BlackVue dash cam?

How can I watch / download / export the recorded videos?

Do I have to be connected to the BlackVue Wi-Fi every time that I want my dash cam to record?

How do I access / configure the dash cam's settings / firmware settings?

How do I turn off the LEDs on the dash cam?

How do I adjust the point of view of my BlackVue camera without a screen?

What does Manual Recording mean?

How does the dash cam record in parking mode?

How does the voltage monitor work in my BlackVue dash cam?

Are my existing BlackVue cables compatible with new BlackVue models?

What is the length of the rear cable for the 2CH systems?

Does BlackVue have an OBD cable?

Can I use the Power Magic Pro (PMP) with X series cameras that have built-in battery protection?

Can I use my iPhone / Android smartphone as a mobile hotspot?

FAQs for All BlackVue models

How do I update the firmware on my BlackVue dash cam?

My BlackVue dash cam is not powering on. How do I fix it?

My BlackVue dash cam's rear camera is not working. How do I troubleshoot it?

My BlackVue dash cam is restarting randomly. How do I fix it?

My BlackVue camera keeps repeating "Dash Cam Model Error"

My BlackVue dash cam is continuously triggering beep sounds. How do I fix it?

My smartphone doesn't connect to my BlackVue dash cam's wi-fi. How do I fix it?

My BlackVue dash cam's Wi-Fi disconnects from the smartphone. How do I fix it?

How do I change / reset my BlackVue dash cam's Wi-Fi SSID/password?

My BlackVue dash cam's GPS is not working. How do I fix it?

The date/time stamp on the recordings on my BlackVue dash cam is incorrect. How do I fix it?

The date and time of my BlackVue camera keeps resetting

Speed is not showing up on the recordings on my BlackVue dash cam. How do I fix it?

Why does my BlackVue dash cam say "Check SD Card" or "No SD Card, Restarting" when using a 3rd party card?

How do I resolve a "Check SD Card" or "SD Card Error" alert?

Troubleshooting with BlackVue

What is BlackVue Cloud and how do I use it?

How do I register for a BlackVue Cloud account?

What's included in my BlackVue Cloud account?

What is Live Event Upload and how do I set it up?

Will there be a notification to my phone when someone hits my car while it is parked?

I'm not receiving any push notifications from my BlackVue Cloud. What should I do?

Is the BlackVue Cloud’s Voice Call feature different from Two-Way Voice Communication?

What does "Exceeded Video Play & Download Limit" or "Live View Limit" mean on my BlackVue Cloud?

Does using the Event Map or Live Event Upload consume my allotted My Drive storage?

What happens to the Event Map video if I accidentally delete my footage?

Privacy: Are videos automatically shared on the BlackVue Event Map?

My BlackVue Cloud feature isn't working. How do I fix it?

BlackVue Cloud

Which hardwiring kit should I select for my BlackVue Elite dash cam?

Can I use my old BlackVue dash cam’s cables for the BlackVue Elite series?

Can I use the same front and rear mounts for my old BlackVue dash cam with the new BlackVue Elite series?

Why is my BlackVue Elite dash cam not entering parking mode when connected to a battery pack via the CLA/socket output?

Where is the Scheduled Reboot setting on the BlackVue Elite Series dash cams?

BlackVue Elite Series

DR970X/DR770X Series II

DR970X/DR770X Series

DR Box Series

DR590 Series

DR900 Series

DR750 Series

BlackVue DR Series

Which 4G telecommunication providers are these dash cams and modules compatible with?

What type of SIM card should I use with my BlackVue LTE dash cam/module?

Would the LTE dash cams and modules work on a 5G network?

How do I activate the dash cam's LTE connection with my SIM card?

How do I insert the SIM card?

How do I activate the BlackVue SIM card?

How much data do I need?

Where do I find my dash cam's connectivity details?

Are the non-LTE rear cameras and cables compatible with the Built-in LTE cameras?

Are there manuals for the BlackVue Built-in LTE Series or LTE modules?

What is the difference between the Built-in LTE Series and the standard series?

Can the DR750X-2CH LTE/LTE Plus use the BlackVue X series hardwire kit?

Can I add a BlackVue CPL filter to my Built-in LTE Series dash cam?

BlackVue DR Built-in LTE Series & LTE Modules

BlackVue

What is the default Wi-Fi password for my Thinkware dash cam?

Which Thinkware dash cameras have built-in Bluetooth?

How do I update the firmware on my Thinkware dash cam?

How do I reset my Thinkware dash cam?

What mobile app should I use for my Thinkware dash cam?

What are the versions of Thinkware’s Super Night Vision?

Can you turn off all the audio notifications on a Thinkware dash cam?

Why can't I disable some notifications on my Thinkware dash cam?

How do I disable audio recording on my Thinkware dash cam?

What are the different ways to power your Thinkware Dash Cam?

How do I achieve Parking Mode with the cigarette lighter adapter for my Thinkware camera?

How does Parking Mode work?

What are the different recording modes on Thinkware Dash Cams?

What is Parking Mode Waiting Time in my Thinkware?

Would I get more run time if parking mode is set to Time Lapse mode, and does Time Lapse mode in Thinkware have "buffered parking" like Blackvue?

How should I partition the memory card in my Thinkware dash cam?

Can I format the memory card inside my Thinkware Dashcam?

What are the max SD card capacities of the different Thinkware dash cams?

I accidentally installed my rear dash cam the wrong way and now my rear footage is recording upside down. Is there a setting to rotate the image through the Thinkware mobile app?

How do I rotate the rear camera footage on my Thinkware dash cam?

How do I share my dash cam footage from my Thinkware dash cam?

Do I have to be in my car if I want to use my Thinkware dash cam's wi-fi?

FAQs for All Thinkware Models

What should I do when I'm experiencing wi-fi connection issues on my Thinkware dash cam?

What should I do if my Thinkware dash cam keeps rebooting or overheating while I'm driving?

What should I do if my front Thinkware dash cam keeps rebooting with the rear camera?

I'm getting a "Format SD Regularly for Data Integrity" or "Memory Card Format Required" error. What's happening?

I'm having some Speed and Red Light Camera Issues on my Thinkware dash cam. What should I do?

My Thinkware dash cam is displaying the wrong date/time in the video files. What should I do?

The date/time stamp on my Thinkware dash cam doesn't seem to work. What do I do?

My Thinkware GPS is not Connecting. What should I do?

My Thinkware dash cam won't power on / turn on. What should I do?

My Thinkware dash cam is warm to the touch, is this normal?

Troubleshooting with Thinkware

Can more than one person concurrently connect to the camera via the Thinkware phone app at once? I share a car.

I'm getting a "This dash cam is not supported" message when connecting camera to the Thinkware app. What should I do?

I'm getting a "Dash Cam Not Responding" error message. What do I do?

What is Thinkware Cloud and how does it work?

How do I monitor my vehicle with Thinkware Cloud?

Is there a monthly fee to using Thinkware Cloud?

Do I need to register my Thinkware dash cam? (Thinkware Cloud)

How do I register my Thinkware Cloud dash cam? (Older models)

How do I connect to my Thinkware dash cam via mobile hotspot? (Older models)

I never received the Thinkware Cloud Confirmation email. How do I proceed?

What should I do if I'm experiencing errors when exporting my footage to my smartphone from the Thinkware Cloud app?

I can't download the Thinkware Cloud app on my Android phone. What should I do?

Can I access Thinkware CONNECTED on a web browser?

How do I register my Thinkware Camera for the Thinkware Connected app (Q1000 and U3000 series)?

How can I set up the Emergency Text Feature on the Thinkware Connected app?

How many dash cams can I register in my Thinkware Connected account?

Can I add multiple internet connections to the same Thinkware CONNECTED app?

I cannot download the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App on an Android phone. What should I do?

What should I do if I'm experiencing errors when exporting my footage to my smartphone from the Thinkware Dash Cam Link app?

Thinkware Application/Cloud

What is ADAS?

How do I initialize ADAS in my app settings?

Does ADAS only work in North America or does it work overseas?

What is Front Vehicle Departure Warning (FVDW)?

What is Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)?

What is Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS)?

What is Low-Speed Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS)?

What is the Rear Collision Warning (RCW) Feature?

What is the Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) Speed Setting?

How can I turn off the Lane Departure and other ADAS warnings?

How do I activate the Road Safety/Mobile Zone Settings on my Thinkware Cloud app settings?