Fuse info for Hardwiring on a W203 C-Class
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2020
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C180T 2004
Fuse info for Hardwiring on a W203 C-Class
Hi guys,
I am currently trying to hardwire a dashcam into my W203. Since the Hardwire-Kit I have does not provide me with a 10 feet cable, I am unable to hardwire it via a fuse in the trunk. I was looking through the fuses on the driver's side fuse box, but they all seem to be always on and not ignition based. Does anybody here know of a fuse that is ignition based in the front fuse box (fuse numbers between 21 and 42) or a cable I got safely tap into? Maybe I just f*cked up and did not measure my fuses correctly, but from what I found with different models on this forum, Mercedes does not seem to have any ignition based fuses in the front...
I would be thankful for any suggestions, was really looking forward to getting this done easily and now I am kinda stuck... ^^
Cheers,
Mike
I am currently trying to hardwire a dashcam into my W203. Since the Hardwire-Kit I have does not provide me with a 10 feet cable, I am unable to hardwire it via a fuse in the trunk. I was looking through the fuses on the driver's side fuse box, but they all seem to be always on and not ignition based. Does anybody here know of a fuse that is ignition based in the front fuse box (fuse numbers between 21 and 42) or a cable I got safely tap into? Maybe I just f*cked up and did not measure my fuses correctly, but from what I found with different models on this forum, Mercedes does not seem to have any ignition based fuses in the front...
I would be thankful for any suggestions, was really looking forward to getting this done easily and now I am kinda stuck... ^^
Cheers,
Mike
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
C180T 2004
Thank you for your quick response!
I've got a couple of question about tapping into the cigarette lighter wiring:
1) Does that create a fire hazard if I just use the standard cable that came with the hardwire kit or do I need higher rated cables due to the higher flow (I am guessing that the flow of the cigarette lighter is beyond what a fuse-addition would run through)?
2) Should I attach the ground wire to the cigarette lighter's ground wire or can I leave that attached to a bolt, like it was originally intended? I am kinda unclear on that as my system would run off the cigarette lighter when running the car and off the fuse box when in parking mode, so I am unsure whether a ground connection to the cigarette lighter works for the parking connection and vice versa for the running connection...
Here is a link to the hardwire kit I am using, in case that would be helpful to you: https://www.viofo.com/en/accessories...29-a129ir.html
Thanks already for your help, appreciate it!
I've got a couple of question about tapping into the cigarette lighter wiring:
1) Does that create a fire hazard if I just use the standard cable that came with the hardwire kit or do I need higher rated cables due to the higher flow (I am guessing that the flow of the cigarette lighter is beyond what a fuse-addition would run through)?
2) Should I attach the ground wire to the cigarette lighter's ground wire or can I leave that attached to a bolt, like it was originally intended? I am kinda unclear on that as my system would run off the cigarette lighter when running the car and off the fuse box when in parking mode, so I am unsure whether a ground connection to the cigarette lighter works for the parking connection and vice versa for the running connection...
Here is a link to the hardwire kit I am using, in case that would be helpful to you: https://www.viofo.com/en/accessories...29-a129ir.html
Thanks already for your help, appreciate it!
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
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NO LONGER ACTIVE
You can use any ground point you want or just tap into the ground wire on the lighter wiring (which is what I usually do). If you are concerned about a short, then use a separate inline fuse on the adapter's wiring.
Basically, what this wiring harness does is provide two power sources - on that is constant 12v all the time, the other that is switch with the ignition. You connect the red wire to a circuit that is always on, so the cabin fuse panel would be a good place for that. The yellow wire is the switched "accessory" power source, so use the cigarette lighter for that.
Basically, what this wiring harness does is provide two power sources - on that is constant 12v all the time, the other that is switch with the ignition. You connect the red wire to a circuit that is always on, so the cabin fuse panel would be a good place for that. The yellow wire is the switched "accessory" power source, so use the cigarette lighter for that.
