Wanting to put a dash cam by the mirror and it would be nice if someone sells a kit for installing the 5V socket, preferably in the overhead panel cowl by the mirror, and look reasonably tidy.. Then the same (short) cable for dumping files to a PC could be used in the truck to power the camera. I know the headlight photocell is in that area, but would there be a circuit there that's energized full time with the ignition ?
There's a lot of kits for marine and auto use, but all that I've seen are very bulky, since the circuitry is generally housed right behind the sockets. Ever seen one that could have a nicer looking install ?
I suppose another option would be to use a M-F (extender) USB cable with the female end hanging out from the overhead cowl and running the cable around the windshield to under the dash, where a generic/larger USB port could be hidden. In this case, is hiding a cable without damaging interior plastic a difficult prospect ? Would shops that do alarms and audio be a good option ?

 

Why not just get a hard wire kit for your dash camera and run a wire to the passenger side fuse box? Takes about 5 minutes to do. Remove the two bolts in the a pillar cover, tuck wire into headliner, get a add a fuse and tap one that is ignition only.

It isn't that hard to just pull the memory card out of them to transfer the files.

 

I've never run wire around the headliner, so I was hesitant to go that route. I don't see fasteners on the pillar covers. Are they what's holding the grab handles, and would those 2 screws be all that's holding the pillar cover on ? The handles have little covers on each end that are probably hiding the screws.
Also, I think I would still need a USB adapter under the dash, but that's no big deal. Most of these cameras run on 5v, which is standard for USB cables, and is what the device sees when you cable it to a PC. I don't know if 12v would damage the cameras.

 

Yes, under those two covers there are two bolts. Take those off and then there are some clips that just require a good pull to get it off. Quick and easy.

What camera do you have? Mine had a hard wire kit that I bought that takes the 12v and puts out 5v when hard wired in. I found a fuse and used an add a fuse. Then there was a ground bolt right by the fuse box so I used that.

This is the one I used but I have a rexing camera and it was the kit. It outputs 5v and 2amps. There are others that output more or less depending on camera.
https://store.rexingusa.com/product/...d-gen-v1p-pro/

 

I'm using one from Street Guardian, and it's pretty old. At the time it was above average on resolution, etc , but like all electronics . . .
That Rexing kit looks perfect for what I want to do. Gonna get one asap. Thanks for the info. Bill