Is there a battery inside a dash cam?
2 Answers
Some dash cams have built-in batteries, while others do not. However, even if there is a built-in battery, it can only serve as a backup. During recording, the dash cam still relies on the car's own battery. The functions and purchasing considerations for dash cams are introduced as follows: Functions of a dash cam: A dash cam is a device that records images, sounds, and other related information during vehicle travel. After installing a dash cam, it can record the entire driving process of the car, including video images and sounds, which can provide evidence in case of traffic accidents. Purchasing considerations for dash cams: A dash cam should have good camera clarity and night shooting capabilities. High definition is determined by the main control chip of the dash cam. Car owners need to pay attention to the image processing solution of the dash cam's main control chip. Additionally, the dash cam should have sufficient storage space to enable long-term effective recording.
I've disassembled several dash cams and found that most units do contain small lithium or Ni-MH batteries, primarily used to maintain time/date settings and save recordings during sudden power loss. However, these batteries differ from smartphone power sources since dash cams mainly rely on cigarette lighter power. When removed from the vehicle, the small battery can only sustain recording for about 3-5 minutes at most. The battery in my unit swelled up last summer, causing constant time resets. I later upgraded to a high-temperature resistant supercapacitor version - now it handles parking under scorching sun without issues. When choosing a dash cam, I recommend checking the battery type. For hot climate areas, solid-state capacitor models are much more worry-free.
