The operational duration of a dashboard camera when disconnected from a vehicle’s power source is a critical specification. This duration is primarily determined by the device’s internal power storage capability. For instance, a device advertised with a 300mAh battery might offer approximately 30 minutes of continuous recording time without external power.
The capacity to function independently from the car’s electrical system provides crucial advantages. It allows for recording incidents even when the vehicle is parked, potentially capturing evidence of vandalism or hit-and-run accidents. Historically, reliance solely on the vehicle’s power limited recording to driving periods, missing crucial events that occurred while unattended.