How can I prevent my dash camera from switching off everytime my stop/start activates?
I’ve got a 2021 Nextbase dash camera. It keeps either rebooting or switching off when my stop start activates. This happens at most traffic lights. My dashcam was originally hardwired to the fuse box of my Skoda Octavia using ignition live and then
to the 12v cigarette outlet that is permanent live. But it still switches off into standby or reboots no matter how it’s wired.
to the 12v cigarette outlet that is permanent live. But it still switches off into standby or reboots no matter how it’s wired.
Asked on 18 March 2026 by jimboWatson
Answered by
David Ross
This is a frustrating but very common issue with 2020-era Skodas (and other VWG cars) when paired with a Nextbase dash cam.
The rebooting at traffic lights is caused by a voltage sag. When your stop-start system kicks back in, the starter motor pulls a massive amount of current from the battery. This causes the voltage on the 12v rail to briefly dip below the threshold the Nextbase camera (or its hardwire kit) considers safe or active, triggering a shutdown or a restart.
You mentioned you wired it to a permanent live 12v outlet. On most Skodas (20 plate onwards), the 12v cigarette lighter is often unbuffered. Even though it's "permanent," it is still directly connected to the main battery rail. When the engine cranks to restart at a green light, that 12v supply can momentarily drop to 8V or 9V.
The Nextbase Series 2 hardwire kit has a built-in "low voltage cut-off" (usually set at 11.6V). The moment it sees that 9V sag during the engine restart, it cuts power to protect your battery, causing the camera to reboot. Nextbase cameras (322GW, 422GW, 522GW, 622GW) use a very small internal Li-ion battery. If your camera is a few years old (2021 model), that internal battery is likely degraded.
A healthy battery should bridge that 1-second gap during the engine restart. A degraded battery can't hold the charge for even that one second, so the camera dies the instant the external voltage sags.
The first thing to do is to check the parking mode settings. Strangely, having parking mode turned on can sometimes help with stop-start reboots. It tells the camera to expect power fluctuations. However, ensure "Device Auto Power Off" is set to something like 1 or 2 minutes, not immediately, to give it a buffer.
If you want a permanent fix without replacing the camera, you can install a small 12V voltage stabiliser (DC-DC Buck-Boost) between the fuse box and the camera. This device takes any input from 7V to 30V and "cleans" it into a steady 12V, meaning the camera never sees the starter motor's sag.
To test the internal dash cam battery, take the camera out of the car and charge it via a wall plug for 2 hours. Unplug it and turn it on. If it stays on for more than 5-10 minutes: The battery is okay - the issue is your car's voltage drop.
If it dies within seconds, the internal battery is shot. You can actually buy replacement batteries for Nextbase cams online (it requires some fiddling with a screwdriver), or it might be time for a new unit.
In many 2020 Skodas, Fuse 40 or 47 (usually for the rear wiper or cigarette lighter) is the go-to. However, some Skodas have a delayed accessory circuit. Try hardwiring into the Infotainment fuse. This circuit is often better regulated by the car's Power Management System to prevent the screen from flickering when the car restarts, which might provide a cleaner feed for your camera.
The rebooting at traffic lights is caused by a voltage sag. When your stop-start system kicks back in, the starter motor pulls a massive amount of current from the battery. This causes the voltage on the 12v rail to briefly dip below the threshold the Nextbase camera (or its hardwire kit) considers safe or active, triggering a shutdown or a restart.
You mentioned you wired it to a permanent live 12v outlet. On most Skodas (20 plate onwards), the 12v cigarette lighter is often unbuffered. Even though it's "permanent," it is still directly connected to the main battery rail. When the engine cranks to restart at a green light, that 12v supply can momentarily drop to 8V or 9V.
The Nextbase Series 2 hardwire kit has a built-in "low voltage cut-off" (usually set at 11.6V). The moment it sees that 9V sag during the engine restart, it cuts power to protect your battery, causing the camera to reboot. Nextbase cameras (322GW, 422GW, 522GW, 622GW) use a very small internal Li-ion battery. If your camera is a few years old (2021 model), that internal battery is likely degraded.
A healthy battery should bridge that 1-second gap during the engine restart. A degraded battery can't hold the charge for even that one second, so the camera dies the instant the external voltage sags.
The first thing to do is to check the parking mode settings. Strangely, having parking mode turned on can sometimes help with stop-start reboots. It tells the camera to expect power fluctuations. However, ensure "Device Auto Power Off" is set to something like 1 or 2 minutes, not immediately, to give it a buffer.
If you want a permanent fix without replacing the camera, you can install a small 12V voltage stabiliser (DC-DC Buck-Boost) between the fuse box and the camera. This device takes any input from 7V to 30V and "cleans" it into a steady 12V, meaning the camera never sees the starter motor's sag.
To test the internal dash cam battery, take the camera out of the car and charge it via a wall plug for 2 hours. Unplug it and turn it on. If it stays on for more than 5-10 minutes: The battery is okay - the issue is your car's voltage drop.
If it dies within seconds, the internal battery is shot. You can actually buy replacement batteries for Nextbase cams online (it requires some fiddling with a screwdriver), or it might be time for a new unit.
In many 2020 Skodas, Fuse 40 or 47 (usually for the rear wiper or cigarette lighter) is the go-to. However, some Skodas have a delayed accessory circuit. Try hardwiring into the Infotainment fuse. This circuit is often better regulated by the car's Power Management System to prevent the screen from flickering when the car restarts, which might provide a cleaner feed for your camera.
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