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Cable VCBL-D-HW3W 3‑wire Hardwired Power Cable: AI Dashcam Plus Installation Guide

Updated

The VCBL-D-HW3W 3‑wire Hardwired Power Cable supports a direct hardwired power connection to Motive’s AI Dashcam Plus. This cable is designed for vehicles and equipment that do not have a supported diagnostic port (OBD‑II/J1708/J1939), such as construction equipment, yellow iron, golf carts, small utility vehicles, and some specialty EVs.

This is a power‑only installation. It is not recommended for vehicles that require ELD mandate compliance or engine diagnostics data.

Note: 

  • When using this hardwired cable, Zero Telematics Mode must be enabled via Motive Support. This ensures the device can correctly detect motion and engine status.
  • Firmware support for the ignition pin is not available currently. Once firmware support is introduced in the future, ignition data will become available.
  • Risk: The third‑wire ignition wake‑up is not available yet. If any installations are currently using an active-low configuration, and we default to active-high after software release, this will lead to significant field issues post-release.

What comes in the box?

  • 1x VCBL-D-HW3W 3‑wire Hardwired Power Cable (with inline 5 A fuse on the power lead)

Tools 

  • Multimeter
  • Wire stripper/crimper/snips
  • Wire brush for cleaning ground contact points
  • Electrical tape or heat‑shrink as appropriate
  • Add‑a‑circuit fuse tap or OEM‑approved method for tapping ignition power (if using fuse box)
  • Zip ties and cable clips for strain relief and securing the harness

Installing VCBL-D-HW3W 3‑wire Hardwired Power Cable

Connect the AI Dashcam Plus

  1. Mount and connect the AI Dashcam Plus following the installation guides.
  2. Ensure AI Dashcam Plus is connected to the Vehicle Adapter using the appropriate 24‑pin connector

Understand the VCBL-D-HW3W cable connectors 

The VCBL-D-HW3W cable provides a 3‑wire power‑only harness:

  1. Red (Power/Battery): 8–32 V constant battery power (with an inline 5 A fuse in series)
  2. Yellow (Ignition): 10–32 V switched ignition sense
  3. Black (Ground): Vehicle chassis or battery negative

Identify a switched ignition OR constant power source that provides 12-24V.

  1. Turn the vehicle ignition Off.
  2. Using the multimeter, locate a point (fuse box slot or OEM‑approved takeoff) that reads 12 V or 24 V at all times (ignition Off and On).
  3. If the red wire is connected to a constant power source, confirm that this source remains powered when the ignition is turned On and Off.
  4. Connect the red wire (with the inline 5 A fuse on the cable) to this constant power source or switched ignition source using an appropriate connector or fuse tap, following OEM and fleet standards.
  5. Do not remove or bypass the inline fuse on the red lead. It protects both the vehicle and the telematics hardware.
Note: Connecting the red wire to a constant power source will allow the connected Motive device to use vehicle battery power when the engine is off. Connecting to a switched or ignition power source is recommended if battery drain is a concern.

Identify and prepare the ground (Black wire)

  1. Identify a clean, solid grounding point on the vehicle chassis or connect directly to the negative battery terminal.
  2. Using the multimeter, verify the ground point reads 0 V relative to the battery positive.
  3. Clean the contact surface using a wire brush to remove paint, rust, or debris.
  4. Connect the black wire securely to this ground point using an appropriate ring terminal or OEM‑approved fastener.
Note: A direct battery negative ground is preferred over chassis ground where feasible.

Identify a switched ignition source (Yellow wire)

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the On position.
  2. Using the multimeter, identify a wire or fuse box slot that reads 12 V or 24 V when the ignition is On, and 0 V when the ignition is Off.
  3. Turn the ignition Off and verify that voltage drops to 0 V to confirm it is truly ignition‑switched. The yellow wire must be connected to a switched ignition source so that AI Dashcam Plus can correctly detect when the vehicle is on and avoid unnecessary battery drain when the vehicle is off. 
Note: Firmware support for the ignition pin is not available currently. Once firmware support is introduced in the future, ignition data will become available.

Route and secure the cable

  1. Route the VCBL-D-HW3W cable from the power/ground/ignition connection points back to the Vehicle Adapter and AI Dashcam Plus, following existing harness paths where possible.
  2. Avoid sharp edges, moving components, high‑heat areas, and airbag or safety‑critical harnesses.
  3. Use zip ties and cable clips to secure the harness and provide strain relief at both the power connection and the Vehicle Adapter connector.
  4. For any portion of the cable routed outside the cab or exposed to the elements, include a drip loop so water cannot run directly into connectors or splices.

Connect the VCBL-D-HW3W cable to the Vehicle Adapter

  1. Plug the 24‑pin connector from the VCBL-D-HW3W cable firmly into the Vehicle Adapter.
  2. Ensure the connector is fully seated and locked so it can tolerate vibration and movement within the cab.

Power-on verification

  1. Verify that AI Dashcam Plus powers up and that LEDs indicate normal operation per the installation guide.
  2. From the Motive Fleet Dashboard and/or Motive’s Fleet App, confirm that the vehicle shows a live GPS location and that AI Dashcam Plus connects and begins recording when the vehicle is driven.
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