Connection of dash cam on Lancer X

Recently I have got a message from a channel's subscriber about problem of battery fast discharge on Mitsubishi Lancer X, after dash cam installation. And I knew exactly what was the reason, as I faced with given problem a few years ago, when installed the dash cam on my golden Lancer X.

Let us discuss in detail what was the reason and how to install the dash cam correct on Mitsubishi Lancer X.

For easy reference, this instruction is represented in 2 versions: text and video at the end.

On many cars the dash cam and another similar equipment are connected from the nearest power supply source, from ceiling lamp, jumper etc.,

But on Lancer X the dash cam cannot be connected from the ceiling lamp, as its management performs via ETACS unit and when such connection, at the best, car just won't go into sleep mode, and in the worse you will burn the line for ceiling lamp management or the ETACS unit itself.

After that you closed a car, in a given time the car go into sleep mode, disabling all energy consumers. In this mode Lancer X consumes about 40-50 mA, half of which is consumed by installed signaling.

And if you connect the dash cam on Mitsubishi Lancer X to the ceiling lamp, the car won't go into sleep mode. And if the car does not go into sleep mode, it will the maximum energy consumption. That is the same leakage, that discharges the battery in just a couple of days.

Just for that case on Mitsubishi cars on ETACS unit the special C-310 connector is designed, on which there are all necessary power sources.

C-310 connector always has a pin with constant +12 volts, a +12 volt pin that appears when the key is switched to ACC mode and a pin with +12 volts appears when the dimensions are turned on.

Before connecting, it is better to test given pins with multimeter, as on different ETACS units, modes (+12 volts) could be on other pins of C-310 connector, not as I have.

There are 3 basic wires on many dash cam are designed for connection to the car: constant plus, plus when transferring key in ACC mode and minus. Lay these wires along the standard wiring, under the ceiling facing, next along the left rack to the ETACS unit.

Important point, as there is 12 volt on connector, then if your dash cam operates from 5 V, it is necessary to connect all via reducing stabilizer. For example, you can buy such LM2596s DC-DC on Aliexpress.

I connected my JOOYFACT A7H dash cam without stabilizer, as it operates from 12 V. I bought the dash cam a long time ago. Now similar models film in 2k, for example here on Aliexpress.

And connect according to the following scheme:

You can take minus on any junction of minuses on the car's body, for example near the ceiling lamp or near the ETACS unit.

Wire of constant plus connect in the pin of constant plus of C-310 connector on ETACS unit. And wire of plus, which manifests when the key is transferred to ACC mode, in the corresponding pin of C-310 connector on ETACS unit.

You can use female pins for the connection, which are the perfect size. Or buy the standard connector for C-310 connector of ETACS unit (MZ605181) on Aliexpress.

With such connection my dash cam operates for several years without any problems.

You can connect to this connector not only the dash cam, but another additional equipment of similar type. For example I connected to this connector the lighting of sun visors mirrors from given article.