Can't find this in the manual (Actually I can't find the manual online)

How does the battery get charged:

1) USB connection
2) OBDII connection (from MXL2)

Both?

 

If you plug the SC HD GP and the dash into a data hub, yes the SC will get power from the dash.

 

Both. If you plug it into a computer or wall wart with the USB, it charges. It also charges anytime it has a connection to another AiM device (dash or data hub) through the 5 pin CAN connection.

 

USB: it is recommended to use a power brick or a 2.1A (tablet) charger as opposed to a 1.1A phone charger or from a laptop.

This is best for an initial charge or for a camera that has not been in use for a few weeks.

Afterwards, the AIM CAN cable from a connected logged will keep it charged. The AiM CAN cable sends data, on/off, GPS info and power to charge one camera from the logger or the Data Hub plugged into the logger.

I have a few installations that use two cameras, and learned this past weekend that the current requirements for two cameras cannot be supplied from one logger or one Data Hub. You will need to add a 5-pin 712 power cable with diodes to prevent feedback and connect the ends to switched power and plug it into an open port on the Data Hub. This is ONLY required for multiple cameras off the same logger.

 

I haven't had any trouble (knock on wood) with cameras that sit and not being charged. I have seen problems attributed to that that were card formatting problems.

 

I've had more than half a dozen SC HD GP's (out of more than two hundred sold) which, if the initial state of charge (after several weeks of inactivity) is not at least 15%-20%, have had the camera not record a session until charged to more than that initial battery percentage.

This is primarily for the SC HD GP, which has a smaller battery reserve capacity due to the smaller case and larger preview screen requirements.

It's on the edge of the AiM CAN current capability when the battery is low.

If the folks charge with the power brick before use after a long layoff, no issues. Tyler and Josh have confirmed this and I had this happen on my own car.

 

Thanks for the excellent info (as usual).

Does anyone have a link to an online manual? The AIM website links to the manual for the Smarycam HD Rev 2 (not sure if they're aware of that snafu)

Thanks,

Jeff

 

The GP just has a little supplement that goes with the manual. The menus and instructions are the same. http://www.aim-sportline.com/downloa...manual_101.pdf