This installation photo blog will show how we hardwire-installed a Thinkware U1000 4K 2-Channel dash cam into a 2023 Mazda CX-50. If you're considering installing a dash cam, we recommend the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Kit. The BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Kit comes with a circuit tester, trim remover tool, and other handy tools to make the project more manageable.
Like many other Mazda vehicles, there are no switched/ignition-based interior fuses in the CX-50. You will need to use the fuse panel in the engine compartment to properly hardwire the dash cam.
We installed a Thinkware U1000 2-Channel dash cam into a 2023 Mazda CX-50.
The U1000 2-CH is Thinkware’s flagship dash cam that delivers 4K UHD front and 2K QHD rear video quality and boasts a comprehensive driver assistance warning system and advanced parking surveillance system.
Use the fuse panel in the engine compartment.
The owner of this Mazda CX-50 requested an installation with parking surveillance. There are three ways to install a dash cam for parking mode recording, and for this Mazda, we went with a hardwire installation. The first step is to locate the fuse panel.
You will find an interior fuse panel in the driver's footwell. However, because there are no switched internal fuses in the CX-50, you will need to use the fuse panel in the engine compartment. Some forums recommend using the wiring in the upper console where the lights and roof controls are located (following the accessory installation instructions for the OEM auto-dimming Homelink mirror) - this option is more suitable for dash cams with a 2-wire hardwiring kit.
If you want parking mode recording but do not want to tinker with the car’s fuse panel, you can use the car’s OBDII port as a power source. We strongly recommend getting a dedicated dash cam battery pack if you often park your car for extended periods. The BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Battery is slim enough to be stowed under the driver seat in the Mazda.
The ideal place for the front camera is behind the rearview mirror.
The ideal place to mount a dash cam is behind the rearview mirror because it hides the dash cam from the driver's view to avoid any obstruction while driving.
Check how far the wiper goes because if you mount the front-facing camera above the wiper's reach, it will not have a clear vision. You don't want to have your dash cams installed in an area outside of the range of your windshield wiper coverage, or on a rainy or snowy day, the camera lens will not be able to capture video. Clean the windshield from the inside of the car to ensure the camera sticks properly and to clean off any marks or smears that might affect the video quality of your footage.
Always refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your vehicle.
Before you start the hardwire installation process, make sure you have all the necessary cables and tools: Thinkware hardwiring kit (which is included in the box if you have purchased a dual-channel Thinkware system), the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Package, which comes with a circuit tester, trim remover tool, and add-a-fuse taps to make the hardwiring and installation process more manageable.
Thinkware's hardwire kit is a 3-wire cable. Connect the red wire (the ACC wire) to a constant fuse (12V power) and the yellow wire (the Battery wire) to an ignition switch (12V source). The black wire with the C-shaped connector is the ground wire, which should be grounded to an unpainted metal bolt or stud in the vehicle.
Use the circuit testing in the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Package to help you find a suitable continuous power fuse for the red/ACC wire and an ignition fuse for the yellow. You can look for the empty fuse slots or ones you can piggyback off using the add-a-fuse kit included in the Essential Install Package - you will need to use the Low-Profile add-a-fuse taps for the Mazda CX-50.
Always refer to the Fuses section in the vehicle's owner's manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your car.
Use the trim removal tool to gently pull back the headliner trim to tuck in the cables.
Before you start the hardwire installation process, make sure you have all the necessary cables and tools: Thinkware hardwiring kit (which is included in the box if you have purchased a dual-channel Thinkware system), the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Package, which comes with a circuit tester, trim remover tool, and add-a-fuse taps to make the hardwiring and installation process more manageable.
Thinkware's hardwire kit is a 3-wire cable. Connect the red wire (the ACC wire) to a constant fuse (12V power) and the yellow wire (the Battery wire) to an ignition switch (12V source). The black wire with the C-shaped connector is the ground wire, which should be grounded to an unpainted metal bolt or stud in the vehicle.
Use the circuit testing in the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Package to help you find a suitable continuous power fuse for the red/ACC wire and an ignition fuse for the yellow. You can look for the empty fuse slots or ones you can piggyback off using the add-a-fuse kit included in the Essential Install Package - you will need to use the Low-Profile add-a-fuse taps for the Mazda CX-50.
Always refer to the Fuses section in the vehicle's owner's manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your car.
Don't just run the cable under the rubber seal. Take the time to remove the B pillar cover or use a pry tool to carefully guide the cables under the trim.
Plug the rear camera connecting cable into the front unit, run the cable along the headliner, and straight down the length of the car to the A, B, and C pillars.
Carefully remove the side weatherstrip from the front and rear doors. Use the trim removal tool to lift the pillar trim slightly, and remove any mounting clips under the pillar by gently pulling the panel cover.
Remember, don’t just stuff the cable under the rubber seal because it will create a little gap that might prevent the door from sealing properly - you will get wind noise, or worse, water can seep into the car.
Look for the hoses that connect the chassis to the liftgate. Use a long zip tie to run the rear connecting cable through it for a clean installation.
Mounting the rear camera in a vehicle with a rear liftgate does require a few extra steps. You have a couple of options for running the rear camera connecting cable to the rear windshield, depending on what tools you have available. Some people just have their cables coming out of the C-pillar and right onto the rear windshield. While that works, you have to be careful when you open and close the trunk as the cable can get tangled up, get loose, or be exposed to water damage, etc
We recommend taking the time to do it properly, through the rubber grommet between the chassis and the liftgate, so the cables are all nice and tidy - the cable will then run through the grommet and onto the rear windshield. Typically, 1 or 2 hoses connect to the liftgate, and it's best to give them a squeeze to check which one has more wiggle room before attempting to run the wire.
Plug the connecting cable into the rear camera and power your car to turn on the Thinkware U1000. You will hear a Thinkware greeting prompt. Suppose you haven't done so, download and install the Thinkware Cloud app on your smartphone.
Once your Thinkware U1000 is powered on, press the WiFi button on the front unit to switch it to Wi-Fi mode and then connect to the dash cam using the app to check the angle of the front and rear cameras and adjust as needed.
Use the Live View feature to check the viewing angle of the front and rear cameras and adjust if needed.
Carefully remove the side weatherstrip from the front and rear doors. Use the trim removal tool to lift the pillar trim slightly, and remove any mounting clips under the pillar by gently pulling the panel cover.
Remember, don’t just stuff the cable under the rubber seal because it will create a little gap that might prevent the door from sealing properly - you will get wind noise, or worse, water can seep into the car.
Look for the hoses that connect the chassis to the liftgate. Use a long zip tie to run the rear connecting cable through it for a clean installation.
And there you have it, a Thinkware U1000 2-Channel installed in a 2023 Mazda CX-50. The installation took 2 hours, including routing the cables, hardwiring, and checking the front and back cameras using the mobile app viewer.
From the outside, looking in from the front of the vehicle, the U1000 front-facing and rear-facing cameras blend in well with the car.
Planning on installing a dash cam in your car? Check out our Step-by-Step Dash Cam Installation Guide and our selection of handy installation accessories. And if you ever need a hand during the installation process, just call us; our dash cam specialists are available to help!
Looking to have your dash cam professionally installed, we do offer installation services at our Richmond BC location.
Please see some of our other dash cam installations in the BlackboxMyCar Dash Cam Installation Gallery.
