What is Thinkware’s Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0 feature?

The primary function of a dash cam is to record incidents while driving. However, some dash cams can record while the vehicle is parked, commonly referred to as parking mode.

Parking mode is a top Thinkware priority. In fact, every Thinkware dash cam comes with a built-in voltage monitor, which you can use to set the voltage threshold that will turn off the dash cam to preserve your vehicle’s battery, also present in the Energy Saving Parking Mode features. In this article, we will define what Thinkware’s Energy Saving Parking Mode is, and how it works in different Thinkware models like the Thinkware U1000, Thinkware Q1000, and Thinkware U3000.

First offered by Thinkware, the Energy Saving mode enables the Thinkware dash cam to enter a sleep mode to conserve the vehicle's battery life, and wakes up when an impact is detected to save the footage instantly. When activated, Energy Saving Parking Mode only records footage triggered by impacts, allowing the dash cam to reduce power consumption and stay in Parking Mode for longer periods of time.

Thinkware first introduced the Energy Saving mode 1.0 for the Thinkware U1000, and developed Energy Saving Mode 2.0 for newer dash cam models like the Thinkware Q1000 and the newer Thinkware U3000.

Energy Saving Mode 1.0, which is available in earlier Thinkware models such as the F70, F200, FA200, F800PRO, and Q800PRO, conserves power by entering sleep mode and only recording when an impact is detected. It consumes one-third of the power generally required for Standard Impact/Motion Detection recording, protecting your car for up to 72 hours before shutting down.

Energy Saving 2.0, on the other hand, records footage triggered only by impacts but only pulls 8MA, allowing the dash cam to cut power consumption and stay in Parking mode for a longer period of time.

Now, the Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0 version which is present in the Thinkware Q1000 and Thinkware U3000 allows the dash cam to be left on standby for up to 23.4 days due to significantly reduced electricity consumption. When an impact is detected, the dash cam with Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0 will also wake up within a second and begin recording for the next 20 seconds.

*Based on a 4,500mAH battery (BAB-50).

Older dash cam models with Energy Saving Parking Mode like the Thinkware U1000 and Thinkware Q1000 are compatible with an external Thinkware RADAR module. This accessory allows the dash cam to record before and after the impact, while in Energy Saving Parking Mode.

So, when combined with the Thinkware RADAR Module Accessory, the Energy Saving Mode 2.0 Parking Mode can record from 10 seconds before to 10 seconds after an impact while drawing less power than our standard Motion Detection and Time Lapse Modes. When the RADAR detects a moving object within the range, the dash cam will exit energy-saving mode and prepare to record an impact.

If an impact is detected within 30 seconds, the dash cam will save a 20-second video of the impact and the aftermath. If no impact is detected within the next 30 seconds, the dash cam will return to energy-saving mode.

With this, Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0 is ideal for users who frequently park their vehicle for multiple days, such as at an airport or at home while on a business trip. The RADAR Accessory detects the motion of sedan-sized vehicles within 7M of the vehicle. Do note that it will not pick-up the motion of people walking by the vehicle.

We tested the Energy Saving Mode 2.0 on a Thinkware U1000 dash cam and discovered that it can survive 99.6 hours or 4.1 days, regardless of whether it is single or dual-channel. Meanwhile, the new Thinkware U3000 can last for 535.7 hours or 22.3 days for a single channel and 489.1 hours or 20.4 days for a dual channel dash cam.

While the Thinkware U1000 and Thinkware Q1000 require a separate RADAR accessory, the Thinkware U3000 already includes a built-in RADAR sensor in its unit, so you no longer need to buy an external module. If you wish to extend your parking modes for greater peace of mind, we recommend you to get an external battery pack like the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8.

Only available in the Thinkware U3000 and Q1000, the Smart Parking Mode feature protects the dash cam from heat-related damage by automatically switching to a low-power mode if the temperature inside the vehicle rises too high during Parking Surveillance. In this state, the dash cam only records incidents caused by impacts until its operating temperature returns to normal, allowing it to resume Motion Detection or Timelapse Parking mode.

With Impact and Motion Detection enabled, any potential vandalism attempts and hit-and-run drivers will be detected while the car is parked. Impact detection captures any impact to the vehicle in Parking mode, while Motion detection captures any movement around the vehicle.

In Parking mode, Time Lapse records footage at 2 frames per second, allowing the dash cam to continuously record long periods of parking surveillance without increasing power consumption. Note that you cannot use Motion Detection, Time Lapse, or Energy Saving at the same time.