Can dash cam overheat? Is it okay if my dash cam is hot on touch? After long research, I found many situations where some people’s dash cams have overheated. Some manufacturers have said it is okay, while others said it should not overheat.
There are multiple “Why” and numerous “Because” that explain the temperature of the dash cam device. You can measure their temp with an infrared thermometer and check the manual’s device temperature limit.
However, ten more or fewer degrees Fahrenheit might be okay because these thermometers do not give 100% accuracy every time. If the dash cam is heated, you should check other factors that might indicate that it is an external force and everything’s okay with the device.
Can Dash Cam Overheat?
Dash cam might overheat if there is a mechanical problem or defect inside the device. In normal conditions, the dash cam should not overheat because the device is not using high power to capture the footage. Contact the seller if your dash cam is overheating and signifies some error.
Initially, your dash cam might heat up because of the sun. As we all know, if our car’s windshield faces toward the sun, it will be pretty hot inside the vehicle because the windshield glass absorbs the shortwave radiation and makes it feel hotter inside.
It is simple, the glass increases the temperature while the dark interior inside the vehicle absorbs that temperature. So, if the outside is 80°F, inside the car might be 90°F.
Nonetheless, if your dash cam overheats and signifies an error, it might mean some internal mechanical defect.
Generally, the dash cam should not overheat. However, some 4k dash cam users have said that they faced overheating issues with this kind. So, can dash cam overheat? The simple answer is – yes!
Read more: Do You Need a Sticker for a Dash Cam?
Dash Cam Overheating Reasons and Solutions
Overheating and shutting down
If you face this issue, it might mean a mechanical problem inside the cam or an issue with the power source. It is normal to overheat in some dash cams because of prolonged use.
It might generally result from the need to make high-quality footage and capture more colors and more apparent shapes.
You may notice that some cams have a warning sticker on the back, saying not to remove or touch the cam until it cools down. Also, these dash cam models have a heat sink that should help the cam’s body temperature reduce.
Some cams have an internal temperature sensor that measures the reached temperature and shuts down the device until it returns to normal. This may happen if the device is used for longer.
In this case, you should reduce the dash cam use by turning off the WiFi, disabling parking mode, lowering the resolution, etc.
Overheating and still working
You do not have to worry if the dash cam is hot on touch but still working. It often happens if you drive towards the sun or park the car in a sunny spot for longer.
The heat, in this case, is caused by an external factor, so you have to keep an eye on and fix this issue. Many solutions might help you reduce the dash cam heat.
Open the window and allow air circulation inside the vehicle. Your car can be a heat box if a small gap lets the air flow inside out. This is the same situation when you leave your dog or kids inside the car. You must open a window, or something terrible may happen.
If you park your car in direct sunlight and there is no shady area nearby, you should put a windshield protector.
I recommend choosing an external windshield reflector because it covers better and leaves your windshield glass cold. Internal sun reflectors reflect the sun rays on the glass and might increase the windshield heat.
Also read: What Is G Sensor in Dash Cam?
Conclusion
So, can dash cam overheat? As I said, it might overheat if there is a mechanical defect. Overheating caused by external factors like direct sunlight is not dangerous.