Winter can be a tough time for vehicle batteries, and many drivers find themselves dealing with unexpected breakdowns when temperatures drop. While some assume that a dashcam hardwired into their vehicle is to blame, the reality is that cold weather itself plays a significant role in battery failures and how the car is used, regardless of whether a dashcam is installed. Understanding how your car battery functions in winter and how driving habits affect battery life dramatically can help prevent unwanted surprises.
The Science Behind Winter Battery Failures
Car batteries rely on a chemical reaction to generate power. In cold weather, this chemical process slows down, meaning your battery has to work much harder to produce the same amount of energy needed to start the engine. At the same time, your vehicle’s electrical demands increase—heaters, heated seats, headlights, and window defrosters all require power, putting additional strain on the battery.
Short Journeys and Battery Drain
A major contributor to battery issues in winter is frequent short trips. Starting a car consumes a significant amount of battery power, and if you only drive for short distances, your alternator doesn’t have enough time to fully recharge the battery. Over time, this leads to a gradual depletion of battery capacity, making it more susceptible to failure, especially in cold weather. This is slightly different with EV's (Electric Vehicles) as there isnt such a high drain when you "start" your EV. However certain EV's may only recharge your 12 volt battery when driving the car or when you have it plugged in at home and this can also affect the longevity of the 12 volt battery.
For example, with a fuelled vehicle, if you regularly use your car for a quick drive to the shops or a short school run, your battery may never fully recover from the energy used to start the engine. Combine this with winter’s natural impact on battery efficiency, and you’re much more likely to find yourself needing a jump start.
Although many car batteries come with a 3-year (or longer) warranty, real-world conditions can shorten their lifespan. If your driving habits mostly involve short trips of say 15 minutes or less, your battery might wear out in just a couple of years.
When auto electricians or car manufacturers test battery failures, they often overlook how frequently the car is driven and the length of each journey. They simply fail to ask these important questions but when customers enquire about vehicle security and dashcams along with parking mode, this is a key question we ask. After all, a manufacturer is unlikely to tell you that your battery will fail quicker or even go flat if you don’t drive longer distances and leave it parked up for a period of time — it wouldn’t exactly help them sell more cars!
Dashcams and Battery Drain – The Truth
Many people worry that having a hardwired dashcam in their vehicle contributes to battery drain, but this is largely a misconception. Dashcams with parking mode are designed to draw minimal power when the car is off, and professionally installed hardwire kits include safety cut-offs that shut down the dashcam if the battery voltage drops too low. This ensures that your vehicle will always start when needed.
Having being in the technology and electronics industry for over 36 years, we know our tech and we know it very well. We supply and install the most energy efficient vehicle dashcams on the market, some only consume a minute 0.06 watts in energy efficient parking mode that have next to no impact on your vehicle battery.
Additionally, most of our dashcams are programmed to enter a low-power surveillance mode when the engine is off, recording only when motion or impact is detected. This further reduces power consumption compared to other vehicle electronics, such as alarm systems or heated seats, which place a far greater strain on the battery.
Depending on Dashcam model, we can also set the camera to only power on and off when you start and stop your vehicle, meaning the dashcam has zero impact to your battery.
How to Prevent Battery Issues in Winter
If you want to reduce the risk of a dead battery in winter, here are some simple yet effective steps you can take:
Take longer drives: Avoid excessive short journeys. A longer drive of at least 30-45 minutes gives your alternator time to recharge the battery properly.
Use a battery trickle charger: If you don’t drive often, consider using a battery maintainer or trickle charger to keep the battery topped up.
Limit electrical use: Turn off unnecessary electrical loads like heated seats and window defrosters once they’ve done their job.
Get your battery tested: If your battery is over two years old, have it tested before winter to ensure it’s in good condition.
Keep terminals clean: Corrosion on battery terminals can reduce efficiency. Cleaning them periodically can help maintain a strong connection.
Invest in a Powerbank Jump pack: These devices can be invaluable and we highly recommend them. Should you ever have a flat battery, simply connect this portable power pack to your battery and start your car. Once started remove the device and place it back into your glove box. These can easily be recharged using your cigarette socket.
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Final Thoughts
Car batteries are more prone to failure in winter due to the cold slowing down the chemical reactions needed for power generation. Short journeys further stress your battery by not allowing it enough time to recharge. While a hardwired dashcam does draw some power, it is minimal and includes safety features to prevent excessive drain. To keep your car running smoothly this winter, focus on maintaining good driving habits, monitoring your battery’s health, and ensuring it gets enough charge through longer journeys or a trickle charger when needed.
At Dashcams.co.uk, we provide expert dashcam installations with careful consideration for your vehicle’s battery health, ensuring peace of mind whether you're on the road or parked. If you have any concerns about dashcam installation or battery maintenance, get in touch—we’re here to help!