Which dash cam do you recommend for extended parking mode recording?Updated 20 days ago

At BlackboxMyCar, we offer several dash cams that offer energy-saving parking modes with extremely low power consumption, allowing for extended parking mode recording. While all of these dash cams will last significantly longer in these modes than the usual 6-8 hours in the standard motion/impact detection parking mode when hardwired, we recommend getting a battery pack to take full advantage of these capabilities.

Here are the models we currently offer with energy-saving parking modes:

BlackVue Elite 8 1CH | 2CH (Power Saving Parking Mode)
Thinkware U3000 1CH | 2CH (Energy Saving Parking Mode)
VIOFO A329S 1CH | 2CH | 3CH (Low Power Impact Detection)
VIOFO A329T 2CH | 3CH (Low Power Impact Detection)

It's worth noting that the majority of these models cannot be triggered via motion when operating in their energy-saving parking modes. Thus, they can only be triggered via impact and will not provide buffered recording as a result. The only exception is the Thinkware U3000, which can utilize its radar sensors to detect motion and provide buffered recording.

However, the VIOFO systems can detect motion to record longer clips (up to 3 minutes) following the initial impact trigger, while the BlackVue Elite 8 draws less than 0.5 mA on standby and wakes up to start recording in under one second once triggered.

Parking Mode Runtime Capabilities

Actual use time may vary depending on your settings and activity levels surrounding your vehicle.

All of these models are capable of lasting upwards of at least one week on a fully-charged 96Wh battery pack like the PowerCell 8 or BlackVue B-130A.

BlackVue estimates that the Elite 8 can remain in standby for upwards of 10 months in Power Saving Mode:

Based on testing, our friends at RetroCarGuy530 have found that the Thinkware U3000-2CH can last up to 20 days on standby in Radar mode, and up to 36 days in Energy Saving mode:

Meanwhile, our friends at Vortex Radar have found that the VIOFO A329S 3CH can last up to just under 9 days on standby in Low Power Impact Detection mode, which is quite impressive for a high-resolution, high-framerate 3-channel system:

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