[E92mech]

Hi all,

I'm planning on installing a Blackvue DR500GW-HD dash camera in my 2010 E92. This particular camera has an accessory power controller that connects to both switched and non-switched power, and will provide current to the camera from the non-switched source for a set duration of time so that the camera will record while the vehicle is parked.

I have read conflicting information about whether late-model BMWs have a feature where power to the fusebox--including to all switched and non-switched fuses--will be cut after a period of time.

My question:

If I want to provide non-switched power to my accessory indefinitely, can I do this through a non-switched fuse, or do I have to wire straight to the battery?

Thanks-

[gte460z]

There are non switched fuses non sleeping fuses in the fuse box. Look at your fuse box diagram and locate the fuses associated with the "door with a key inside of it" symbol. The central locking system is always live so you can unlock your car door from the remote. This is true for my 2008 e90 so it should be true for you.

[E92mech]

So just to confirm, in this sample fuse layout diagram I could plug into any of fuse #'s 61, 72, 73, 79?

Thanks-

[gte460z]

Yes in fact that diagram is very similar to my year e90 and I used fuse 73. I am going to hunt for more non switched fuses later today. Its a pain to sit and wait for the car to enter sleep mode though...

[E92mech]

Great, thank you- you just saved me a bunch of time. One installer recommended that I tap all the way into the battery in the trunk to avoid interference from "sleep mode". However, having designed in a few permanently non-switching fuses for door locks makes sense.

Now the other wrinkle is the new recall that was announced Feb 2013 re: trunk battery connectors. I don't know if they are replacing just the connector at the battery in the trunk, or if they are rewiring the whole cable run between battery and fuse box under the recall. If it is the latter, I may have to wait to do this install until after I have my recall warranty work done, given that my local dealer is a total stickler PITA on any after market work, and I don't know if I even want them to see that I tapped a fuse.

[gte460z]

I just spent 45 minutes in the car with the doors locked, glove box switched taped closed and a multimeter to hunt down the 12V non switched no sleep fuse locations. See the picture below (this is my fuse box), the red arrows point to the fuse locations (and I found an empty location) that are 12V constant/battery power (non switched, no sleep, blah blah). These fuses correspond to fuses: 2 (empty location), 3, 4, 54, 55, 72, 73, 74, and 75 on the 08 e90 fuse box diagram seen here: http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/t...e_600x1300.jpg

A cool thing to note is that just by measuring voltage I could tell what mode the car was in. Key in the ignition not started the fuse box voltage was 11.98V, car locked pre sleep mode the voltage was 12.32V, and finally while the car was in deep sleep mode the voltage was 12.55V. This makes sense as the more current being pulled from the battery, the lower the battery output voltage (at the fuse box) will be because of internal resistance and wire resistance to the fuse box.

[E92mech]

You are the man. That is fantastic.

From looking at your results and studying an online fuse diagram for an '08 335 it looks like fuses 72 and 73 would be the best to tap into. They seem to be non-switched, non-sleep in your testing, and they are rated at 15A (as opposed to 74 and 75, which are 5A). Additionally, they control "non-critical" systems. The other fuses you identified relate to ABS, etc...

Now the only question is whether my fuse diagram in a '10 E92 is the same. Will check.

You just saved me a TON of time. This should be a sticky.

[djy5005]

Originally Posted by gte460z

I just spent 45 minutes in the car with the doors locked, glove box switched taped closed and a multimeter to hunt down the 12V non switched no sleep fuse locations. See the picture below (this is my fuse box), the red arrows point to the fuse locations (and I found an empty location) that are 12V constant/battery power (non switched, no sleep, blah blah). These fuses correspond to fuses: 2 (empty location), 3, 4, 54, 55, 72, 73, 74, and 75 on the 08 e90 fuse box diagram seen here: http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/t...e_600x1300.jpg

A cool thing to note is that just by measuring voltage I could tell what mode the car was in. Key in the ignition not started the fuse box voltage was 11.98V, car locked pre sleep mode the voltage was 12.32V, and finally while the car was in deep sleep mode the voltage was 12.55V. This makes sense as the more current being pulled from the battery, the lower the battery output voltage (at the fuse box) will be because of internal resistance and wire resistance to the fuse box.

I just want to say, that after searching the forum for a couple of hours, this is still the first, and only, useful thread to point me in the direction of non-switched fuses without needing to do the work on my own again.

I just want to reiterate, that in the 5 years since this was posted, that this was the most useful thread on the subject I could find. Incredible.

Thank you, gte460z. You are a gem.

[joeyiphones]

Originally Posted by djy5005

I just want to say, that after searching the forum for a couple of hours, this is still the first, and only, useful thread to point me in the direction of non-switched fuses without needing to do the work on my own again.

I just want to reiterate, that in the 5 years since this was posted, that this was the most useful thread on the subject I could find. Incredible.

Thank you, gte460z. You are a gem.

I totally agree with that!!!

Best thread about non-switched fuses location

[Yangorang]

Great informative post. I also have a 2008 328xi but for me spot #3 was blank. I used a little mini volt meter to double check things and found that #2 and #3 are good spots to draw always on power for me.

For accessory/utility power it looks like the symbol which looks sort of like a - > + (fuse 8 on my car) indicates that. The ECL section of the Bentley manual is quite good for telling you what is what.

One random thing I'm confused about is if #2 is the OBD fuse how can that be blank?