Memory Card lifespans in car cameras

[7hm]

So I been having intermittent issues with my dash cam over the last year, it finally seemed that the problem was the memory card. Now looking further into it, the issue at hand is that most memory cards aren't suitable for the 24/7 continous writing in surveillance/CCTV mode enabled dash cams. A typical 32GB card will hold maybe 2, maybe 4 to 5, hours worth of content which means that it is probably eating through its entire capacity's worth perhaps 2 or 3 times a day.

 

Most common memory cards are built on a cheaper variety of memory chips called TLC NAND, which have relatively short write endurance of around 3,000~5,000 cycles, which apparently translates to about 150~300 total overwrites. Examples include be SanDisk Ultra cards...

Then there's MLC and SLC NAND, which without going into working detail, get more endurance.

 

Doing some simple math, 150 total overwrites, assuming the card does it twice a day, a cheap memory card could eat through its entire rated write endurance in less than a year! My older dashcam-used memory cards, even with formatting, cuck up the camera every few seconds now.

 

 

Anyway, I notice now there are High Endurance for video surveillance memory cards by SanDisk, Lexar and Transcend, advertised to handle at least 2 years of continuous recording. I'm trying out the SanDisk card, will be interesting to see if it's still problem free after warranty is over.

Anyone else tried those, or other brands of cards?

 

I'd also like to get some more data from other users about how long their memory cards are lasting in cams.

[Kurty]

I yet to encounter a faulty memory card.

I thought memory card comes with lifetime warranty, still do?

Edited June 27, 2017 by Kurty

[Mcf777]

I yet to encounter a faulty memory card.

I thought memory card comes with lifetime warranty, still do?

16gb or 32gb cost less or around s$10 per card (SanDisk)

Where got time to claim warranty?

Use n throw.

[RadX]

perhaps format regularly?  IF yor car is in the sun often, it will surely degrade

[Watwheels]

I think the root of the cause is the power source rather dan the memory card. Whenever there's power interruptions(firing up the engine) or power sag due to heat the recording file on the card will "corrupt" or have some kinda error.

[Blueray]

For my Blackvue, I find the memory card runs very hot.

 

After using the original 16GB card for about 18 months, decided to change to a 32GB card. Keep the 16GB one as backup.

[Vratenza]

my personal experience is that those car cams that have the Sd/MicroSD mounted directly on the camera unit itself gets the brunt of the UV/infra red light energy through the windscreen. The car camera unit is the hottest item on the dash area after a hot day in the sun. Sometimes it gets so hot that the camera's protective mechanism do not allow the camera to start up until the temperature lowers to acceptable level. That greatly reduce the lifespan of the memory cards.

 

Some car cams that actually have a separate box for mounting of the Sd/microSD card for recording elsewhere away from the windscreen have a longer lasting memory card. One location they like to install it is under the front glovebox. The cabin temperature will still be hot from the sun but not as hot as those surfaces that have direct sunlight exposure.

 

This might be one consideration people looking to purchase a car camera have to consider.

 

[AltisOwner]

I have been using SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card 64GB for 1.5 years in my BalckVue Cam.  I reformat the SD card once in every 2 months and so far so good.

[Blackyv]

i bought this recently..

 

https://www.transcend-info.com/Products/No-727

[7hm]

I yet to encounter a faulty memory card.

I thought memory card comes with lifetime warranty, still do?

 

Used to be most of them did, now SanDisk dropped the cheaper tier cards like Ultra to just 5 years, Samsung Evo is 10 years and not warranted for dash cam use.

perhaps format regularly?  IF yor car is in the sun often, it will surely degrade

 

So called temperature proof, etc.! lol.

Regular formatting pek chek but doesn't seem to stop the problem. In fact, if the issue is truly wearing out the write endurance of the card, frequent formatting would kill it faster as a format could be a total overwrite!

16gb or 32gb cost less or around s$10 per card (SanDisk)

Where got time to claim warranty?

Use n throw.

 

Stack up a few dead ones and go all at once... 

SanDisk official distributor office near Bugis...

I think the root of the cause is the power source rather dan the memory card. Whenever there's power interruptions(firing up the engine) or power sag due to heat the recording file on the card will "corrupt" or have some kinda error.

 

This is possible, but the majority of dash cams today have a capacitor or internal battery to provide sufficient time to end the current recording to avoid corruption, or other anti-corruption features to ensure footage is captured. So it is unlikely to be the case.

For my Blackvue, I find the memory card runs very hot.

 

After using the original 16GB card for about 18 months, decided to change to a 32GB card. Keep the 16GB one as backup.

 

Is there a branding on the original memory card? Do you use parking mode recording?

My cam came with a 16GB ADATA which started exhibiting issues after about a year or so, and now a 32GB Transcend card is also throwing up the restart issue nonstop. My current cam doesn't explain what's happening when it restarts while recording, but a fresh memory card solves the problem.

my personal experience is that those car cams that have the Sd/MicroSD mounted directly on the camera unit itself gets the brunt of the UV/infra red light energy through the windscreen. The car camera unit is the hottest item on the dash area after a hot day in the sun. Sometimes it gets so hot that the camera's protective mechanism do not allow the camera to start up until the temperature lowers to acceptable level. That greatly reduce the lifespan of the memory cards.

 

Some car cams that actually have a separate box for mounting of the Sd/microSD card for recording elsewhere away from the windscreen have a longer lasting memory card. One location they like to install it is under the front glovebox. The cabin temperature will still be hot from the sun but not as hot as those surfaces that have direct sunlight exposure.

 

This might be one consideration people looking to purchase a car camera have to consider.

 

Plausible.

I have been using SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card 64GB for 1.5 years in my BalckVue Cam.  I reformat the SD card once in every 2 months and so far so good.

 

Extreme Pro cards should be a MLC or SLC type of memory card, they have higher endurance than the lower grade cards. In addition, you're using a 64GB card which would take longer for a full overwrite.

It will be interesting to see if yours lasts more than 2 years. Please do keep track. 

i bought this recently..

 

https://www.transcend-info.com/Products/No-727

This is one of the cards recommended for dash cams nowadays, it should be similar in principle to the SanDisk High Endurance I am trying. If yours lasts more than 2 years then perhaps the theories aren't total bunkem.

[Blueray]

 

 

Is there a branding on the original memory card? Do you use parking mode recording?

My cam came with a 16GB ADATA which started exhibiting issues after about a year or so, and now a 32GB Transcend card is also throwing up the restart issue nonstop. My current cam doesn't explain what's happening when it restarts while recording, but a fresh memory card solves the problem.

 

I don't recall seeing a brand on the original 16GB card. Mine is drive mode only, but still very hot at the end of a journey. So decided to get a new Class 10 card in case the original one fails.

Edited June 28, 2017 by Blueray

[7hm]

I don't recall seeing a brand on the original 16GB card. Mine is drive mode only, but still very hot at the end of a journey. So decided to get a new Class 10 card in case the original one fails.

 

I would imagine a card would last longer without parking mode, typically a 16GB card should hold maybe 2 hours total, so if you say drive 3 hrs a day, it would be 1.5 total writes a day, which if card can tahan 500 total writes minimum, it would last around 333 days minimum.

 

If the Blackvue provided card is a MLC which maybe 1000+, 600+ days... hard to tell.

 

Guess we need more data and user feedback still. 

[Kb27]

It's probably the heat from constantly writing data, which cause the SD card performance to degrade after a while.

 

My mini cam will once in a while shutdown due to this.

 

After reformatting, it will be back to normal.

[Blueray]

I would imagine a card would last longer without parking mode, typically a 16GB card should hold maybe 2 hours total, so if you say drive 3 hrs a day, it would be 1.5 total writes a day, which if card can tahan 500 total writes minimum, it would last around 333 days minimum.

 

If the Blackvue provided card is a MLC which maybe 1000+, 600+ days... hard to tell.

 

Guess we need more data and user feedback still. 

 

If you take out the SD card and have a look, its like 95% full. So its designed to be fully utilised at any one time. 

 

My previous 16GB card lasted me around 4 days / 9 hours of recording. 

 

Mine did not fail but after 18 months of usage, decided to change to another SD card and also good to have a backup. 

[7hm]

If you take out the SD card and have a look, its like 95% full. So its designed to be fully utilised at any one time. 

 

My previous 16GB card lasted me around 4 days / 9 hours of recording. 

 

Mine did not fail but after 18 months of usage, decided to change to another SD card and also good to have a backup. 

 

I'm aware yours hasn't failed. I'm just trying to think of some math that would see if it is past a theoretical lifespan, which it doesn't appear to have exceeded.

 

According to BlackVue spec a 16GB card is typically 4 hours total for 1080-30p, what resolution are you using?

It's probably the heat from constantly writing data, which cause the SD card performance to degrade after a while.

 

My mini cam will once in a while shutdown due to this.

 

After reformatting, it will be back to normal.

 

In my case, a reformat resolved issues once, but subsequently did not.

Furthermore it is unlikely to be heat when the camera is cool (just started, or at night) or the memory card has been freshly inserted.

[Kb27]

 

In my case, a reformat resolved issues once, but subsequently did not.

Furthermore it is unlikely to be heat when the camera is cool (just started, or at night) or the memory card has been freshly inserted.

 

It might also be due to the quality of the SD card.

I had one Samsung Evo 16GB failed on me. Didn't use it for long.

It simply cannot be read by OS and formatted.

 

I still find Sandisk more trustworthy.

[Blueray]

I'm aware yours hasn't failed. I'm just trying to think of some math that would see if it is past a theoretical lifespan, which it doesn't appear to have exceeded.

 

According to BlackVue spec a 16GB card is typically 4 hours total for 1080-30p, what resolution are you using?

 

Mine is FHD I think. Model DR3500. Not sure about resolution setting but I think the installer would have set the max by default.

 

I felt better not wait for it to fail then have to scramble to find a replacement card and get a copy of the program from somewhere again. Too much inconvenience over a small value item.  

Edited June 28, 2017 by Blueray

[Unfair]

If you read the warranty clause carefully, you will notice that it does not cover continuous usage in surveillance systems.

I copy and pasted here

This warranty does not cover use of the Product in connection with the following uses or devices (as determined by SanDisk): (i) normal wear and tear, (ii) video monitoring, security, and surveillance devices, (iii) internet protocol/network cameras, (iv) in-car recording devices/dashboard cameras/black box cameras, (v) display devices that loop video, (vi) continuous recording set top box devices, (vii) continuous data logging devices like servers, or (viii) other excessive uses that exceed normal use in accordance with published instructions.