dashcam for flytippers?

[honeyblossomtea]

we have a problem with flytippers in our communal car park - it always happens overnight so i can never see who does it. i have thought of getting a dash cam to record overnight and parking my car facing the place they always dump things

however, our car battery isn't great so i really don't want to leave anything plugged in over night - does anyone know if a rechargable/battery operated dash cam exists?

i've googled but no luck - or does anyone have any better ideas to catch them? my house is away from the car park so cctv not an option unfortnuately

you need a heavy duty power bank. If you have a battery jump pack they sometimes have them. Something like I've linked to below.
If you then buy a small camera like the Neos Smart cam, which is about £20/£25 you can power it from the pack overnight and then recharge the pack in the day.

www.argos.co.uk/product/7508615?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixilqimla&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:804-872-0397%7Ccid:9606242554%7Cagid:98186037759%7Ctid:pla-891370870703%7Ccrid:424799278230%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:6216352340770366286%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9046430&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9606242554&utm_term=7508615&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=98186037759&utm_custom2=804-872-0397&gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZGuTocYBw43fDs_yqOHqJTJtmk_6wbH038RYoggnUgJj8CiiB8ib7RoCzzkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[quote Fuss]you need a heavy duty power bank. If you have a battery jump pack they sometimes have them. Something like I've linked to below.
If you then buy a small camera like the Neos Smart cam, which is about £20/£25 you can power it from the pack overnight and then recharge the pack in the day.

www.argos.co.uk/product/7508615?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixilqimla&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:804-872-0397%7Ccid:9606242554%7Cagid:98186037759%7Ctid:pla-891370870703%7Ccrid:424799278230%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:6216352340770366286%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9046430&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9606242554&utm_term=7508615&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=98186037759&utm_custom2=804-872-0397&gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZGuTocYBw43fDs_yqOHqJTJtmk_6wbH038RYoggnUgJj8CiiB8ib7RoCzzkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds[/quote]
oh amazing! so i would plug that power pack in during the day to charge it, and then i could unplug it and plug the dash cam into it overnight and it would work like a battery pack?

Pretty much yes. If you already have a motion activated camera then it should only draw power when needed and last long enough to catch them. Dash cams usually come with USB as well so plug straight in.

Those banks with a proper plug attachment are a lifesaver anyway, especially when the kids were smaller for charging iPads on the go etc.

Right that one I linked to is no good, it's an inverter so converts, it doesn't hold charge, bear with me whilst I fine one that does:

Apologies for the confusion. I have one similar to the argos one that charges as well so I assumed it was the same.

Anyway, you need essentially a portable USB charger, like the things you get for emergency mobile phone power banks, but a bit more heavy duty to get you through the night.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392831717029?mkevt=1&mkcid=28&chn=ps

The car jump starter ones are good as they hold enough power to start a car so will easily power your camera overnight. Like I say if you have a battery jump pack check it, it might already have a USB feature.

Would a dashcam know to start recording, though? I think they only start up if the vehicle is jolted, it won't pick up movement nearby. Perhaps a wildlife cam would be better.

There are loads of cheap "spy cameras" on Amazon. You would still need a USB battery pack as others have said to enable it to have power to record overnight, but unlike dashcams there are options that are not motion detected. Ideally you want something that continuously records, I have found motion detection unreliable as it often misses things.

Many of the more modern ones are motion activated now. They will start to record any motion seen in front of the vehicle.

I use wildlife cameras and they have a tendency to set off the flash occasionally. Not something you want when trying to be covert.

A trail cam might be better and easier.

thank you all so much! this has definitely given me some better ideas i hadn't thought of - i'm determined to catch them!!

Yeah, those wildlife cams are pretty inexpensive and weatherproof. They would be a much better option.

As I said above, wildlife cameras have a tendency to fire the flash unintentionally. Not sure I'd want to risk that personally.

Often wondered why councils don’t do this more. There are a few lay-bys around here that people use to repeatedly fly rip.

Little signs warning not to do it just don’t work.

@honeyblossomtea

if this helps, it's an Aldi Special Buy tomorrow and seems ideal for you:

www.aldi.co.uk/rugged-20%2C100-mah-powerbank/p/709149431368600

[quote Fuss]@honeyblossomtea

if this helps, it's an Aldi Special Buy tomorrow and seems ideal for you:

www.aldi.co.uk/rugged-20%2C100-mah-powerbank/p/709149431368600[/quote]
Thank you so much for this!! Looks absolutely perfect and even handy just to keep in the car tbh!!