Auto electrician or someone who can advise me.

[mart]

I have this pair of wires that I want to connect to a location on the car that will be “live when the ignition is switched on”, and off when the ignition is off of course. (It is actually a hard-wiring kit for a dash cam, so it has the little plug for the cam on the other end).

Someone was telling me that I would be able to solder the live wire to some place on the ignition switch (the earth wire will not be a problem). Is this the appropriate place, and will it be straight forward to do including access to wires and identifying which wire to solder it to?

 

[monkeymark]

This all depends on the make/model and age of car.
Most are easy enough but with everything being digitally controlled in modern cars it's not always that easy.

 

[rich r]

Cigarette lighter socket or radio are common places to connect things like that, as it puts it on an appropriately fused circuit and the wiring's generally easy to get to.

 

[waldershelf]

I think you would be better finding an ignition live connection in the fuse box and tap into that, adding a fuse and even a relay for higher current items, although a relay probably wouldn't be required for a light load like a dashcam.
Another possibly easier option would be to tap into the cigarette lighter/aux socket, assuming like most cars it's only live when the ignition is on. Again fit a fuse into the new supply.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm planning exactly this exercise and have just ordered a couple of these [might put a camera in the back too]. Simplicity itself to find a fuse to spur off in the fusebox(es).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321676837082?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[bigegg]

There's also the possibility of tapping into the trailer circuit.
most modern cars at least the ones i've dealt with, have a plug in the boot for the trailer wiring to plug in.
I believe it's a european standard?

Cables will be longer back to dashboard, but saves cutting and splicing the wiring loom.

<edit> I'm reasonably certain that radio connectors are euro-standard as well. might be possible to obtain a breakout box for that, instead?

 

[AndyStobbs]

There's also the possibility of tapping into the trailer circuit.
most modern cars at least the ones i've dealt with, have a plug in the boot for the trailer wiring to plug in.
I believe it's a european standard?

Thats been a myth in my experience. The high spec ones seem to have it, but not the base models.

 

[steveo3002]

cig lighter /radio would be the most common place

 

[500e]

The break in fuses are great we use them a lot when we cant get through bulkheads, plug into either a spare fuse position or a high current position electric window fuse is one the second fuse should be a lot lower value, the - line can go to any good earth position if chassis make sure you clean paint & Primer for a good connection a smear of Vaseline helps to stop corrosion.
You can get BIF in 3 sizes

 

[wristpin]

Presume that your "hard wiring kit" takes account of any step down retirement from the vehicle's 12 v to the more usual 3.5 or 5v for many accessories such as cameras, satnavs etc. If a device comes with a cigarette lighter plug beware of just snipping it off and connecting to the car's 12 v ! Plenty of dummy lighter sockets on Fleabay to get around the issue.

 

[langy]

Easiest way is to either go straight from the battery including a fuse or off the jump start terminal, most modern cars have one

 

[brightspark]

take one off the radio supply the one that turns off with the ignition

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I fitted one of these under the dash of the van to run my various bits.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=291274023539
It does away with those annoying cigarette lighter socket adaptors.