Need a hot lead for dash cam

[Shadowranger]

Putting a dash cam in and it has a cig. lighter plug. The 12 outlet on the dash is hot all the time so I need somewhere else to wire the dashcam that is hot only when the engine is running. I can change out the cig. lighter plug and go two wires but would rather not so where should I look?
2001 Ranger XLT 4.0

 

[RonD]

There isn't an "engine running" source for 12v, just RUN on or ACC on

Fuse 19(25amp) in Cab fuse box only has 12v in RUN, not ACC
You could access that 12v in the steering column, it powers the PATS transceiver, red/light green wire on its 4 wire connector

Where ever you access the 12v you will need to add an inline fuse at that connection to protect the Vehicle's circuit from a short in camera or its wiring

Need to look at the Camera's amp/watt draw to determine if 5amp or 10amp will work, I would expect 5amp fuse would be best choice, as even a poorly designed dash cam should used less than 2amps

 

[Shadowranger]

Thanks, Ron.