VIOFO HK5 Hardwire Kit User Manual & Setup Guide
VIOFO HK5 Hardwire Kit acting up? Lost the booklet? No stress.
The VIOFO HK5 Hardwire Kit is the kit VIOFO recommends for parking mode on the VIOFO VS1 Mini dash cam, with a right-angled USB-C plug that sits flat against that slim camera. If you're staring at three coloured wires and a fuse box, here's everything you need to get it sorted, plus VIOFO's official HK5 manual at the bottom.
💡 Pro Tip: Don't Forget the Fuse Taps!
Fuse taps are sold separately with the HK5, and jamming bare wires into a fuse box is a bit dodgy. For a clean, safe install, use the correct Add-A-Circuit Fuse Taps for your vehicle.
Quick Specs
- Output connector: Right-angled USB Type-C, DC 5V 2A
- Input voltage: 12-24V
- Total cable length: 4 m
- Wires: Red (Battery / constant power), Yellow (ACC), Black (Ground)
- Cut-off options: 11.8V / 12.0V / 12.2V / 12.4V on 12V vehicles, 23.6V / 24.0V / 24.4V / 24.8V on 24V vehicles
- Protection: Low voltage, over current / surge and reverse polarity protection
- Working temperature: -30°C to 60°C
- Fuse taps: Not included
Compatible camera: VIOFO VS1. Running an A139, A229 or A329? You want the HK3-C or HK4, and for Hybrid Parking Mode on the A329S it's the HK6.
Installation Steps
Make sure the engine and accessory power are off before you start. VIOFO recommends professional installation, and says not to cover the HK5 box with carpet: mount it somewhere with open air around it.
- Locate your fuse box. Check your car's manual for its location and which fuse type it uses, then pick matching fuse taps.
- Find a constant (Battery) fuse. With the ignition off, use a test light to find a fuse that's still live. This is for the Red wire.
- Find a switched (ACC) fuse. Turn the ignition to ACC and find a fuse that's live only when the ignition is on. This is for the Yellow wire.
- Find a ground point. A bolt or screw with direct contact to the metal body of the car. VIOFO suggests checking it with a circuit tester in continuity mode: you want less than 0.1 ohm between the screw and the body. This is for the Black wire.
- Crimp and connect. Crimp fuse taps onto the Red and Yellow wires (a crimp tool or needle nose pliers both work), fit them into their fuse slots, and secure the Black ground spade under the bolt.
- Set your cut-off voltage on the hardwire box (see below), and set the parking mode options and Parking Recording Timer in the VIOFO app.
- Test before tidying. Plug the right-angled USB-C into the VS1, start the car and check it records. Switch off and check it enters parking mode. Then route the cable up the A-pillar and tuck it behind the trim.
Voltage Cut-Off Settings (The Important Bit)
The HK5 keeps the camera running in parking mode until your car battery drops to the level you've selected, or until the Parking Recording Timer set in the app runs out, whichever comes first. That way you've still got enough to start the car.
Note: We generally recommend 12.2V or 12.4V for most Aussie daily drivers to keep your battery healthy.
| Option | 12V Batteries (Cars/Utes) | 24V Batteries (Trucks) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.8V | 23.6V |
| 2 | 12.0V | 24.0V |
| 3 | 12.2V | 24.4V |
| 4 | 12.4V | 24.8V |
VS1 Parking Mode Settings
These live in the VS1's settings (via the VIOFO app). Set them before you tuck the wiring away.
| Setting | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Parking Mode | Auto Event Detection (records when movement is detected), Time Lapse Recording (1/2/3/5/10 fps, no audio) or Low Bitrate Recording (continuous, smaller files). |
| Enter Parking Mode Timer | How long after the engine is off before parking mode starts. "Off" means straight away. Only works with a hardwire kit. |
| Parking Recording Timer | "Off" keeps recording until the HK5 cuts power. A time (e.g. 1 hour) shuts the camera down after that long in parking mode. |
| Parking G-Sensor | Triggers an event recording on a bump or impact. VIOFO suggests High sensitivity for parking. |
| Parking Motion Detection | Sensitivity for motion triggers, so wind or rain doesn't set it off constantly. |
Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Which wire goes where?
Red to a fuse that's always live, Yellow to a fuse that's only live with the ignition on, and Black to bare metal on the body. If Red and Yellow are swapped, parking mode won't work properly, so just swap 'em back.
The VS1 doesn't go into parking mode.
Check the Yellow (ACC) wire is on a fuse that goes dead as soon as the car is off, not one that stays live for a while. Also check the Enter Parking Mode Timer. If it's set to a delay, the camera waits that long before switching.
The camera switches off with the car.
The Red wire isn't getting constant power. Re-test the fuse with the ignition off and check your fuse tap crimps are tight.
The camera won't power on at all.
Check the ground first. A painted or plastic-backed screw won't cut it, so test for less than 0.1 ohm to the body, then re-check the Red wire's fuse is live.
My battery went flat overnight.
Raise the cut-off to 12.2V or 12.4V, or set a Parking Recording Timer so the camera shuts down after a set time.
What parking mode is best in an Aussie summer?
VIOFO recommends Time Lapse Recording if you park outside in the heat, and suggests turning the camera off if the cabin gets above 60°C to avoid recording errors or damage. The HK5 itself is rated to 60°C, which is another reason to keep it out from under the carpet.
Can I use the HK5 on another VIOFO camera?
The HK5 is specified for the VS1. For other USB-C VIOFO models, stick with the kit recommended for that camera.
Official User Manual
Here is the full diagram and instruction sheet straight from VIOFO. For the VS1's parking mode menus, see the VS1 user manual.
Last reviewed: 17 September 2026. We do not install cameras ourselves; the wiring notes here are guidance for whoever does the work. The specifications and cut-off settings follow VIOFO's own HK5 manual, and the parking mode settings follow the VS1 manual. Firmware updates or revisions can change them, so check the current manual if something does not match. If a specification, a feature or a price on this page is wrong or has gone out of date, tell us and we will correct it.