[HTTP 410]

I was inspired by forza1976's post on mounting the Blackvue Power Magic dashcam batteries to the deck lid of his trunk, but I was hesitant to use screws. My wife does a lot of 3D printing so she helped me design a battery cage that could be affixed to the rear decklid using automotive tape in the same location as forza1976's.

Here's the first prototype. We added two little nubs at the end to hold the battery in place once it's slid into the tray. It's about 3mm too narrow, so she's going to tweak it slightly and give it another go. Only another 19hr wait.

What do you all think? Any suggestions for improvements? Once this is done she'll be making the file available for use by others that have their own printer.

[mzcp]

That's so cool.

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by mzcp

That's so cool.

Thanks. I'm super excited to give it a shot. I'll report back with an update tomorrow.

[bmw noob]

Just curious, why not mount it in the side cubbyhole where most seem to place it? There’s even an outlet right there iirc.

I don’t even have my car yet, so I am just wondering.

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

Just curious, why not mount it in the side cubbyhole where most seem to place it? There's even an outlet right there iirc.

I don't even have my car yet, so I am just wondering.

That's where I have it now. I have two batteries and they'll stack on top of each other and just barely squeeze in the cubby. It's workable. Putting them on the trunk deck lid would allow the batteries to be up and out of the way so that the cubby could be used. I had the idea after seeing Forza's post, I'm bored and thought why not try it. What's great is it'll only require auto tape to install. If doesn't work then I'm out nothing.

[forza1976]

Love it, can't wait to see the final product.

tnd720 can you print some for me once we have the source file?

[HTTP 410]

Here's try number 2.



I had to cut out a couple of the supports in the back because they blocked the plugs. DOH. We've adjusted the supports for the 3rd so there will be just 2 vertical supports in the back maybe an inch inside the corners. This is to allow the primary battery plugs.







I added 3 layers of 3M automotive tape to the left side and 2 layers to the other two sides to compensate for the contours of the deck lid. I don't think I'll need to do this to the other cage that will go on the right side of the trunk.


Here it is attached to the deck lid with and without the battery.




I'm leaving the battery in the cage overnight and will see if it's still attached in the morning. I don't have any reason to believe that it won't be. It's got a lot of contact area. I should have the next run sometime tomorrow and I'm going to try to install it equidistant to the trunk light on the right.

[HTTP 410]

Minor setback. The multiple layers of 3M tape didn't hold overnight. It appears that it is was the tape sticking to itself. The final design print will be done this afternoon. In the meantime I need to find a thicker adhesive to fill in the contours of the deck lid. I just tried high strength magnets, but the battery is just too heavy (3lbs).

[bmw noob]

What about doing the reverse solution…make a cage to create a cover over the batteries where they are so you have a flat surface to make the cubbyhole usable without having to hang the actual batteries?

Or use a bracket to install them in an “L” with one flat, and one vertical against the back wall of the cubby area?

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

What about doing the reverse solution…make a cage to create a cover over the batteries where they are so you have a flat surface to make the cubbyhole usable without having to hang the actual batteries?

Or use a bracket to install them in an "L" with one flat, and one vertical against the back wall of the cubby area?

I'm assuming by "cubby" you mean the recessed part - that's what I'm talking about. Check out the first post here - https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1890781. That's where my batteries are currently located and what I mean by cubby.

There's just not enough room within the cubby itself. I can get both batteries wedged in there without deforming the ring that's on top of the cubby.

The updated design finished last night. I think this cage will provide a lot of flexibility. If you want to attach them together to form a box and zip tie them to the top, you can. If you want to Velcro them to the side of the trunk, like in the other post, you should be able to do that, too. My next attempt is going to be to use high strength neodymium magnets. I have two and trialed it yesterday. I plan to try 4 on each cage and don't think it'll fall down plus it'll clear all of the contours in the deck lid. I won't get them for a few days.

I don't really have a backup plan if that doesn't work. Maybe I'll just leave them where they are. I sure am having fun with it though.

Keep the suggestions coming!

[Professor///M]

Originally Posted by HTTP 410

Minor setback. The multiple layers of 3M tape didn't hold overnight. It appears that it is was the tape sticking to itself. The final design print will be done this afternoon. In the meantime I need to find a thicker adhesive to fill in the contours of the deck lid. I just tried high strength magnets, but the battery is just too heavy (3lbs).

They sell rare earth magnets with a big hole in the middle. What if you were to mount them to the top part of the box? That way you can screw the magnet directly to the box. Those things are super strong, put 1 in each corner, I think it'd hold 3lbs


...and I just saw your last post. Always forget to read last first, then backtrack...

[Professor///M]

What I'm planning on doing is putting some high strength velcro straps through that opening where you can see the padding near the back of the trunk. You may want to consider doing the same thing - just guide it through the boxes.

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by JSTDR1V

They sell rare earth magnets with a big hole in the middle. What if you were to mount them to the top part of the box? That way you can screw the magnet directly to the box. Those things are super strong, put 1 in each corner, I think it'd hold 3lbs


...and I just saw your last post. Always forget to read last first, then backtrack...

I superglued a magnet to each #8, 3/4" machine screw. I only have two magnets, but I'm going to try to put a 3rd in the center back to stabilize it. I'm not sure they'll be able to take the bumped in the road.

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by JSTDR1V

What I'm planning on doing is putting some high strength velcro straps through that opening where you can see the padding near the back of the trunk. You may want to consider doing the same thing - just guide it through the boxes.

lol I had a similar idea except that I could join these two cages together
to stack the batteries and then mount them to that spot with zip ties. I may still try that.

[Professor///M]

Originally Posted by HTTP 410

lol I had a similar idea except that I could join these two cages together
to stack the batteries and then mount them to that spot with zip ties. I may still try that.

This didn't work as I expected which is the other reason why I moved it.

This is what I was thinking for you:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-M...90HD/202526371

One screw through the top into the plastic, one at all 4 corners. Should get you 6lbs of pull

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by HTTP 410

There's just not enough room within the cubby itself. I can get both batteries wedged in there without deforming the ring that's on top of the cubby.

That’s where I fissured they were. Ha. Im trying to think of arrangements where you can still use the cubby area, without having to mount to the top of the trunk (bumps causing it to fall, and items knocking it off.)

What about having one under the cubby liner, and one above the cutout opening, but offset…like a step? ——\____ that could still leave the space on top usable.

If you leave one under the opening you could mount the other battery vertical against the side wall inside of a cage to protect it and the wiring. It would kill a couple inches from the cubby, but leave the top of the trunk free.

Can you put one battery in/on the other side cubby?

[BMWRacer523]

how long does one battery last? Why do you need two?

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

That’s where I fissured they were. Ha. Im trying to think of arrangements where you can still use the cubby area, without having to mount to the top of the trunk (bumps causing it to fall, and items knocking it off.)

What about having one under the cubby liner, and one above the cutout opening, but offset…like a step? ——\____ that could still leave the space on top usable.

If you leave one under the opening you could mount the other battery vertical against the side wall inside of a cage to protect it and the wiring. It would kill a couple inches from the cubby, but leave the top of the trunk free.

Can you put one battery in/on the other side cubby?

You could certainly do that. Putting both in the lower part of the buddy isn't a bad spot for they and both fit on top of each other snuggly so they don't slide around. The downside is that you can't use that area for anything else. I was thinking about taking some measurements and 3D printing a perfectly size tray that would hide the lower part of the cubby with the batteries and that would allow that area to be used for storage. That's probably not a bad idea actually. Let me see what I can do on that. My wife is the one that's doing the 3D design and printing. I wish I had a 3D scanner. lol

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

how long does one battery last? Why do you need two?

I saw forza1976's post with the two batteries so I blame him for me purchasing a second battery and starting me down this entire path.

The Power Magic Ultra Battery is rated at 24hrs, but battery life is going to vary based on what it's powering, temperature, etc. I'm running the front and rear cameras as well as the LTE module. I'll have to travel once a month or so for work and I'll end up parking the car and letting it sit for a couple of days because the hotel is walking distance to the office. The two batteries should get me about 2.5 days of power without recharging so I think it's a great solution. If people didn't suck we wouldn't need to take these measures.

[BMWRacer523]

Originally Posted by HTTP 410

I saw forza1976's post with the two batteries so I blame him for me purchasing a second battery and starting me down this entire path.

The Power Magic Ultra Battery is rated at 24hrs, but battery life is going to vary based on what it's powering, temperature, etc. I'm running the front and rear cameras as well as the LTE module. I'll have to travel once a month or so for work and I'll end up parking the car and letting it sit for a couple of days because the hotel is walking distance to the office. The two batteries should get me about 2.5 days of power without recharging so I think it's a great solution. If people didn't suck we wouldn't need to take these measures.

That makes sense. I would only need 24 hrs max, so I think 1 battery should suffice.
Also, any reason you didn't the the blackvue with the LTE module built in?

[forza1976]

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

That makes sense. I would only need 24 hrs max, so I think 1 battery should suffice.
Also, any reason you didn't the the blackvue with the LTE module built in?

4k

[forza1976]

I will say that I get more duration on both batteries with 1 channel recording. Typically I find a good spot I can back into at the airport garage. I look for a spot to back up to a wall that has no foot traffic behind. Then I can only worry about the front.

I do wish blackvue would allow for geolocation to set certain camera modes. E.g locations for 1 channel versus 2 channel recording.