Does the dash cam keep recording all the time?
2 Answers
Dash cams do not record continuously. They operate using the vehicle's power supply and will stop working when the car is turned off. Generally, dash cams come in two types: those with parking monitoring and those without. Dash cams without parking monitoring typically draw power from the cigarette lighter or USB port. When the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off, removing the key cuts off the power supply inside the car, causing the dash cam to shut down automatically. A dash cam is an instrument that records images, sounds, and other related information during vehicle operation.
It depends on the situation. When I bought my car, I specifically researched dash cam settings. Most dash cams automatically start recording when the car is started and stop when the engine is turned off. However, it's different if the parking monitoring mode is activated – the camera will automatically wake up and record for 1 minute when the car is bumped, then go back to sleep. This feature is quite practical, but you need to be mindful of battery drain. From my experience, it's best to unplug the monitoring cable if the car won't be used for an extended period, otherwise the battery may drain. Some high-end models with time-lapse recording capability can work 24/7 – they capture 1 frame per second to create continuous footage, which saves power and doesn't take up much storage space.
