VIOFO Mini HK3 Hardwire Kit User Manual & Setup Guide
VIOFO Mini HK3 Hardwire Kit acting up? Lost the booklet? No stress.
Running an older Mini-USB VIOFO like the A119 V3 or one of the A129 Duos? The VIOFO Mini HK3 Hardwire Kit is the one that plugs in. If the instructions have gone walkabout, here's the wiring, the cut-off options and the fixes for the usual parking mode headaches.
💡 Pro Tip: Don't Forget the Fuse Taps!
Add-A-Fuse taps are sold separately, 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: Mini USB plug, DC 5V 2A
- Input voltage: 12–24V (cars, utes and light trucks)
- Total cable length: 4 m
- Wires: Red (Battery), Yellow (ACC), Black (Ground)
- Battery protection options: 11.8V / 12V / 12.2V / 12.4V (24V systems: 23.6V / 24V / 24.4V / 24.8V)
- Protection: Low voltage protection, over current/surge protection
- Fuse taps: Not included
Compatible cameras: VIOFO A119 V3, A129 Duo, A129 Duo IR, A129 Pro Duo, A129 Plus Duo and A129 Plus Duo IR.
Check the port, not the name. The Mini HK3 is Mini-USB only. Current VIOFO cameras use USB-C, so they need the HK4 or HK3-C instead.
Installation Steps
Before you start, set up your parking mode options in the camera menu, and make sure the engine and accessory power are off.
- Locate your fuse box. Fuse boxes and fuse types vary by model, year and variant, so check your car's manual for the location and fuse type.
- Find a constant (Battery) fuse. With the ignition locked, use a test light on the fuse's exposed metal contacts. You want one that's live even with the car off.
- Find a switched (ACC) fuse. Turn the ignition to ACC and find a fuse that's live in ACC but dead when the ignition is off.
- Find a ground point. Pick a screw or bolt connected directly to the vehicle body. On a multimeter's continuity mode it should read under 0.1 ohm to the body.
- Crimp on your fuse taps. Crimp an Add-A-Fuse tap onto the Red and Yellow wires with a crimp tool or needle-nose pliers.
- Connect it up. Yellow (ACC) into the switched fuse slot, Red (Battery) into the constant fuse slot (the connection must be made after passing through the fuse), and the Black ground spade under your ground screw, tightened down.
- Test before tidying. Plug the Mini USB into the camera, start the car and check it records, then switch off and check it drops into parking mode. Only then tuck everything behind the trim.
Voltage Cut-Off Settings (The Important Bit)
The Mini HK3 keeps your camera powered in parking mode until the battery drops to your chosen level, or until the parking recording timer runs out (set that in the dash cam menu).
Note: We generally recommend 12.2V or 12.4V for most Aussie daily drivers, and definitely for older batteries.
| 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 |
Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Which wire goes where?
Red to a fuse that's always live (Battery). Yellow to a fuse that's only live with the ignition on (ACC). Black to a bare metal bolt or screw on the body (Ground). Mix up Red and Yellow and parking mode won't behave, so just swap 'em.
The camera never goes into parking mode.
The Yellow (ACC) wire is probably on a fuse that stays live for a while after you switch off. Re-test with the key out and choose a fuse that cuts out straight away. Also check parking mode is enabled in the camera menu.
The camera switches off with the car.
The Red wire isn't getting constant power. Move it to a fuse that's live with the ignition off, and check the fuse tap crimp is tight.
My battery was flat in the morning.
Your cut-off is likely set too low for the battery's age. Move up to 12.2V or 12.4V, or shorten the parking recording timer in the camera menu.
The plug keeps losing connection.
Mini-USB connectors are less robust than USB-C and don't love being unplugged over and over. Push the plug fully home, give the cable a little slack so it isn't pulling on the port, and avoid unplugging it more than you need to.
Should I DIY this?
VIOFO recommends the kit is installed by a professional. If you're not confident testing fuses, an installer or auto electrician will have it done quickly.
Official User Manual
Here is the full diagram and instruction sheet straight from VIOFO.
Last reviewed: 17 September 2026. We do not install cameras ourselves; the wiring notes here are guidance for whoever does the work. The specifications, cut-off voltages and installation steps follow VIOFO's own manual for this kit, and 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.