Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Off-Topic Tech
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-12-2013, 02:05 AM   #1 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
My car DVR setup & results

I started with a $91 unit from Geekbuying.com that clips to your rear view mirror, because California law doesn't allow window -mounted devices outside of the lower left corner of your window. Mirrors are exempted. This is what my unit looked like.


I wanted a unit that has an auxiliary camera mounted on the rear window, and this unit has that. Most units with rear cameras take photos of the occupants.

The geekbuying unit had some issues. The auxiliary camera's lens quality dropped off a cliff one day, like the lens elements delaminated. And the audio recording quality was always poor - like a blatty loud-exhaust Civic riding inside the cab.

So I replaced my mirror-mounted unit with a $55 eBay car DVR that mounts in front of the mirror, where it doesn't block my forward view at all.




Here's what it looks like with the mirror tilted out of the way.


And here's a view of the auxiliary camera (the cylindrical device under the third brake light).


You can see some of the results in my Hall of Shame videos. f you want to read the circumstances with each video, click on the link at the top of the video.












__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg

Last edited by SentraSE-R; 06-12-2013 at 02:22 AM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SentraSE-R For This Useful Post:
Joggernot (06-24-2016), poomanchu (02-06-2014)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-12-2013, 02:28 AM   #2 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
Why you should get a car DVR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...ouCS4Weag&NR=1

The unit I bought on eBay
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg

Last edited by SentraSE-R; 06-12-2013 at 02:33 AM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SentraSE-R For This Useful Post:
Arragonis (02-06-2014), t vago (06-12-2013)
Old 06-12-2013, 10:17 AM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
P-hack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,408

awesomer - '04 Toyota prius
Thanks: 102
Thanked 252 Times in 204 Posts
can you trim the videos down to the interesting parts?

looking at some other vids, it seems like half the time they are self incriminating. I could see them being confiscated at the slightest infraction for review. P&G could get you 10 speeding tickets if they review the tape?

It seems the red light cameras around here are disappearing, which is good IMHO.

Not sure what is worse, snotty kids or angry cops. I'm reasonably sure the video would not garner as much "support" if they included what preceded the officer getting angry.

Last edited by P-hack; 06-12-2013 at 10:22 AM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to P-hack For This Useful Post:
SentraSE-R (06-12-2013)
Old 06-12-2013, 12:15 PM   #4 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
Thanks for the tip/incentive to trim the videos. I used YouTube's handy editor and trimmed them to essentials.

My videos are my property. I can envision situations where they might be subpoenaed, but none where they could be legally confiscated.

I also don't see me ever getting a speeding ticket for P&G. The PSL is my uppermost speed, and I've never gotten a speeding ticket in >50 years of driving.
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2013, 02:25 PM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
P-hack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,408

awesomer - '04 Toyota prius
Thanks: 102
Thanked 252 Times in 204 Posts
Thanks for editing. I actually grabbed one off ebay cuz it was less than $60 and I can use it as a backup camera as well so thanks for the link also.

How many minutes does it go back?

Thing is if they pull you over for something then it can become evidence. Also, I don't pay perfect attention to PSL or my dashboard, I focus on the road.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2013, 02:28 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
P-hack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,408

awesomer - '04 Toyota prius
Thanks: 102
Thanked 252 Times in 204 Posts
note: I may pull out the built in camera and wire in an extension cable so I can put the display anywhere (can't see it behind the mirror)
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2013, 02:46 PM   #7 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
I can imagine it now: little yellow/black decal (like old "Baby on Board") that says: "Event Video Recording In Process" ... for law enforcement "moderation" purposes!
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2013, 05:13 PM   #8 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man View Post
I can imagine it now: little yellow/black decal (like old "Baby on Board") that says: "Event Video Recording In Process" ... for law enforcement "moderation" purposes!
Then they'd try to pull you over for "harrassing" a police officer... or some such nonsense. Citizens recording police is growing to become a big issue.

I might just go out and buy one of these DVRs, now.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2013, 05:53 PM   #9 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
Citizens have every right to film police on public roads and in public places.

P-hack, it depends on the DVR, but the three models of car DVRs I've owned take ~50 MB to record 2 minutes of HD MP4 video, or ~70 MB to record 2 minutes of HD MOV video. They simultaneously record an auxiliary camera VGA file of about half that size. So, at 75 MB for 2 minutes of MP4 video, or 100 MB for 2 minutes of MOV video, a 32 GB SD card will let you go back through 10-14 hours of video before it loops to overwrite older files.
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2013, 06:04 PM   #10 (permalink)
Hydrogen > EV
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NW Ohio, United States
Posts: 2,022

Silver Flea - '05 Honda Insight
90 day: 58.96 mpg (US)
Thanks: 992
Thanked 396 Times in 283 Posts
Please note, some states are two party consent states- EVERYONE being recorded must AGREE(or at least be aware) that they are being recorded. There are quite a few horror stories in Maryland like this, from people trying to tape the Police on the road to phone recordings attempted to be used in court.

That sign thing is a good idea. In Ohio, I know it is fine-but I would explore your laws in your state.

__________________





Best Tanks:
Mustang - 54.83 mpg (US) at the Green Grand Prix
Insight - 82.91966 mpg (US) over 818.5 miles.
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com