The weather is seemingly always getting more and more extreme. Records of high temperatures are being shattered on a daily basis and are forecasted to continue. But technology should be able to combat the effects of hot weather, especially when it comes to dash cams. There are several dash cams on the market that can survive the blistering Arizona heat. We sift through all of your choices and find the one that won’t shut down because of overheating, or melt off of your window. We will also teach you what features and characteristics to look for when deciding to buy a dash cam for high temperatures.
How extreme weather can affect a dash cam
Picture quality
On cheaper dashcams, image quality can suffer in extreme weather conditions. If you’ve ever had to deal with footage from a cheap dash cam, you’ll know it’s pretty much unusable. Often times the heat will cause the camera to unfocus or appear hazy. And what’s the point of a dash cam if it can’t function while you are driving? Usually cheap dash cams have several low quality components that can be affected by the heat including the CMOS sensor, the lens itself, or the firmware that tries to focus on the wrong point.
Overheating Components
If the dash cam is not properly designed to allow ventilation, internal components can overheat. Batteries can expand, buttons can get junked up and a whole slew of issues can follow.
Unreliable mounts
Depending on what mount you decide whether it be double sided tape, suction cup, or brackets, if it’s cheaply made and not designed to withstand the heat, there’s a good chance it will melt. Any dashcam package you purchase must have its temperature rated appropriately.
Top 4 Characteristics to look for in a dash cam in hot weather
Battery Type
The way to separate a dash cam that’s not made for extreme weather versus the best dash cam for high temperatures is whether the dash cam is lithium battery powered, or powered by a supercapacitor.
Each has their pros and cons and although lithium batteries can carry more charge for longer periods of time, they can “swell” in extreme heat. This degrades their quality over time and in extreme heat, will burst, leaving your electronics useless. Supercapacitors do not have this issue. They are more resistant to weather and are more reliable long term. Supercapacitors also work well in extreme cold weather.
Battery Powered dash cams do have the benefit of being able to function while not plugged in. If there’s ever a situation where you need to take your dash cam outside to continue recording an accident, a lithium battery powered dash cam would have that ability. A supercapacitor powered dash cam needs a constant power source. In the end, if extreme weather is a concern, we only recommend supercapacitor dash cams.
Overall Temperature Ratings
This will vary between manufacturer but the standard operating range for a decent dash cam is 14 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or -10 to 60 degrees Celsius.
We are recommending products that go to 167 degrees Fahrenheit, almost a 20% increase in temperature. Don’t settle for anything less!
Mount Type and Position
Plenty of companies have their own mounting system, but the one we see the most success is the suction cup. Of course it depends on if your suction cup is using high quality silicone rubber. They create a tight vacuum seal. Other adhesives are also effective; be sure to clean off the area before you use adhesives to ensure a quality stick. We also recommend avoiding placing the dash cam in direct sunlight. The optimal spot is right behind your rear view mirror.
Venting
All dash cams will generate their own heat from their components so it’s important to ensure the encasing has cooling vents. The heat needs to go somewhere! Luckily, most dash cams have vents near their internal components to allow for proper cooling.
Best dual dash camera set up for high temperatures
AUKEY Dual Dash Cam HD 1080P
The best dual camera set up made for high temperatures is the AUKEY Dual Dash Cam. This is a front and rear camera set up, that features a wide angle lens and high quality night vision.
It is known to withstand the most extreme climates, topping out at 167 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s scorching! It also does not have a lithium battery, only a supercapacitor!
If you feel like you don’t need a rear view camera, you can opt in for their front dash cam only.
Vantrue T2
The Vantrue T2 is not only heat resistant up to 158 degrees, it works well in cold weather too, down to -4 degrees. We dual dash cam is the top of the line with its own 2 LCD screen and a F/1.8 aperture lens which lets tons of light in during low light conditions. One neat aspect of this dash cam is that it includes a OBD connector if your car supports this, which allows you to easily plug into your car’s battery and allow 24/7 security monitoring. When the camera detects motion, it will automatically turn on and start recording. Other setups require hardwiring or other battery solutions. This setup requires a micro sd card and can handle up to 256gb of storage.
Rexing V1 – 4k Ultra HD
Finally is the Rexing V1. First off, wow, this is a top dash cam when it comes to heat. Since we last updated this article we found a dash cam that reaches up to 176 degrees. Even Florida heat won’t get to this thing! And don’t worry about the adhesive, it really sticks onto your car and has a quick attach/detach system. What we like about this, is that it also includes the highest resolution among all of our candidates at 2160p.
Additionally, it features WiFi capabilities allowing you to wirelessly access the dash cam’s footage through your phone. The only thing is that it is only a single camera setup, meaning it doesn’t have rear or cabin support. But while on your dash, the 170 degree wide angle captures so much of your view without distorting the image. If you don’t need the dual dash cam setup, still need something that performs in the heat and is a bit cheaper, then the Rexing V1 is your camera.
Conclusion
No need to fret if you live in hot weather. Whether that be in Arizona or Dubai, there is a perfect dash cam out there for you. Be sure to remember the “supercapacitor” word when looking at potential models. Spend the extra few bucks to get that higher quality power source and save yourself the hassle of trying to cool off your dash cam. If you need your dash cam to function while off, look into hardwiring your camera.