Parking mode records when someone bumps your parked car. It needs constant power, a hardwire kit and the right cut-off voltage so your battery still starts the car.
Short answer: parking mode keeps a dash cam watching while the engine is off. Most cameras need a hardwire kit wired to the fuse box for it, because a normal 12V socket turns off with the car. The kit's low-voltage cut-off stops the camera before it drains the battery.
The three kinds of parking mode
• Motion or impact detection: the camera sleeps and records when it sees movement or feels a bump.
• Buffered recording: it keeps the seconds before the trigger too, so you see the car coming, not only the hit.
• Time-lapse or low bitrate: it records all the time with fewer frames or smaller files.
Which modes you get depends on the model, so check the camera before you buy a kit.
How a hardwire kit connects
A three-wire kit has an ACC wire on a fuse that is live only with the ignition on, a constant wire on a fuse that stays live with the car off, and a ground on bare metal. The ACC wire tells the camera the car is parked; the constant wire powers it. Wire colors vary between kits, so follow the labels. Use a meter to find the right fuses, and stay away from airbag and engine-control circuits. If you are unsure, an installer does it in under an hour.
Pick the right cut-off voltage
Kits offer cut-offs such as 11.6, 11.8, 12.0, 12.2 or 12.4 volts on a 12V car. A higher number stops sooner and leaves more charge to start the engine. Choose 12.2 or 12.4 V for an older battery or a cold climate; lower values record longer but are not a promise the car will start.
How long will it record?
There is no single answer. One two-channel camera draws about 420 mA in parking mode, close to 10 Ah over a full day, and its maker estimates roughly 4 to 6 hours on a standard battery before cut-off. Battery size and age, the mode and the cut-off all change that number. Cold matters a lot: at about -18 °C (0 °F) a battery delivers around half the capacity it has at room temperature.
Which Vigiroad cameras support it
Our 2K 3-Channel Dash Cam has a parking monitor and needs a hardwire kit, sold separately. The 2K WiFi Dash Cam with Screen records only while plugged in. See what each model supports on our comparison page.
Frequently asked questions
Will parking mode kill my battery?
Not with a working low-voltage cut-off set high enough. In winter, choose 12.2 or 12.4 V or shorten the parking timer.
Can I use the cigarette lighter socket for parking mode?
Only if it stays live with the car off, and then nothing protects the battery. A hardwire kit with a cut-off is safer.
Does my car's warranty allow a hardwire kit?
Fuse taps do not cut wires, but check your dealer's policy. A professional install keeps a record.
Sources
• VIOFO: which cut-off voltage to choose
• VIOFO: parking mode types
• BlackVue: parking mode guide
• Battery University: discharging at low temperatures