What is an OBD-II Power Cable?

First, let us define what OBD means. OBD is actually short for on-board diagnostics, which is the standardized computer system that all modern vehicles have equipped (models in 1996 and newer). The on-board computer system plays a crucial role in monitoring different electrical sensors throughout your vehicle.

For dash cams, an OBD cable provides a simpler and more convenient method for parking-mode recording over the traditional fuse box hardwiring method.

Instead of using a hardwire kit to connect to the vehicle’s fuse box, which can sometimes be a pain as the location of the fuse box can differ greatly between vehicles, the OBD cable connects to the OBD port which is almost always found on the driver’s side near and around the steering wheel column.

This is all especially true for EVs, where using an OBD cable is ideal to bypass any electrical isues.

Available at BlackboxMyCar, the IROAD OBD-II IM-300 Power Cable is designed to ensure seamless integration for enabling the built-in parking surveillance modes of your dash cam. It has two switches on its side - “S”, which stands for Standard, and “P”, which stands for Parking.

Having this in the S position will mean that power will cut off when the car is off, and setting this to the P position will allow the OBD cable to continue drawing power when the vehicle is off.

Thus, if parking-mode recording is desired, simply leave this to the P position. The voltage and timer cutoff settings can all be adjusted in the IROAD viewer or IROAD smartphone app.

Moreover, the EV and F switches can be used to switch between standard fuel vehicle modes, and one designed specifically for Hybrid and EV Vehicles.

In terms of functionality, the OBD-II cable essentially achieves the same result as hardwiring your dash cam to your vehicle’s fuse panel. It supplies power to the dash cam even when the vehicle is parked, and the BlackVue monitors the power level to shut down if the voltage drops too low (you can adjust the cutoff level using the BlackVue App).

The main advantage of the OBD-II Power Cable is its convenience. Simply plug it in, and you’re all set. It’s likely the easiest solution for enabling Parking Mode.