Reversing camera and sensors

[Sidewinder76]

Hi all.

Has anyone fitted one of these and are there many pros and cons?

Car TFT LCD monitor reverse parking sensor rear view colour camera alarm system | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-TFT-LCD-monitor-reverse-parking-sensor-rear-view-colour-camera-alarm-system-/300639021878?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45ff7b6b36)

This is only a guide but there is a similar one in repco for a reasonable price. I am slightly loathe to cut the holes in the bumber but other than that it could be a valuable asset?

Thanks.

[PaulP38a]

Control unit looks identical to the one I installed in my Rangie. Didn't bother to connect the distance sensors and just use the camera.

I like it, and use it all the time to make sure there is nothing behind me when reversing.

[benji]

Sensors would only be of use if they could measure down to about an inch away. Many sensors can't tell you if your any closer than 40cm which is pretty useless as most people can park 40cm from something. Just go the camera.

[Sidewinder76]

That will save me from drilling holes in the bumper. Thanks for the replies!

[pop058]

I installed one in the back of my RRC for ease of hooking up my work trailer. It covers the towball and about 1500mm behind the car. I connected the "reversing switch" wire AND a 12v feed to a small on-off-on toggle switch so I can manually activate the camera when not in reverse.

Handy for me as I sometimes have to shuffle 1st and reverse to get to where I need to be and I don't lose the camera vision when you take it out of reverse.

[Keithy P38]

Our D-max has one, its a great thing! At night in the bush the reverse and brake lights are enough to negotiate rough ground like using high beams going backwards! I'm planning on fitting one to my range rover with a few extra cameras for 4wding moments!

[FANTOM P38]

I have fitted similar to my P38 except that camera is hooked up to in dash dvd player & reverse park unit on dash just above screen. I find park monitor useful as distance shown in metres is very accurate and beats trying to judge on screen. Each to their own I guess.

Hey Kiethy I have just finished installing outboard cameras in bottom of each rear view mirrors aimed at each front wheel. Tested them yesterday in driveway and great view can't wait to see how it all works offroad. Very discreet mounting and even though they are not fitted with infra red for night time viewing they worked remarkably well when headlights turned on!
I have set up up a dial switch on dash next to speedo, again quite discreet & allows me to select either camera and view on dvd screen. When I get time I will post up some pics of setup.

[PaulP38a]

Oi, Fantom P38! Is that you Martin? When did you change your moniker?

Hope it's you, or someone else has just done the same thing you were telling me about last weekend :p

Looking forward to seeing the pics. I have the extra cameras for the mirrors (wing type or are there better ones?) but haven't figured out the switch and wiring yet.

Cheers, Paul.

[Pete38]

I have fitted similar to my P38 except that camera is hooked up to in dash dvd player & reverse park unit on dash just above screen. I find park monitor useful as distance shown in metres is very accurate and beats trying to judge on screen. Each to their own I guess.

Hey Kiethy I have just finished installing outboard cameras in bottom of each rear view mirrors aimed at each front wheel. Tested them yesterday in driveway and great view can't wait to see how it all works offroad. Very discreet mounting and even though they are not fitted with infra red for night time viewing they worked remarkably well when headlights turned on!
I have set up up a dial switch on dash next to speedo, again quite discreet & allows me to select either camera and view on dvd screen. When I get time I will post up some pics of setup.

Interesting idea. I ordered a camera a few days ago to install for front viewing when off road. I wondered how I'd get it to view the wheel path and thought about mounting it on the diff hoping the viewing angle was wide enough. Then thought it might be too wide for judging anyway. So settled for just viewing the approach heights and for when driving over steep crests where all you see if sky.

Hmmm but I like your idea..... It's got more potential than a diff or bumper install.

[Keithy P38]

Pbrown, the D4's have the surround camera option, very similar to fantom's setup! I had a chance to take one for a bush bash a few years ago and fell in love with the idea! You can see exactly where you have placed wheels, very handy when you really need to pick your line!

[Pete38]

Pbrown, the D4's have the surround camera option, very similar to fantom's setup! I had a chance to take one for a bush bash a few years ago and fell in love with the idea! You can see exactly where you have placed wheels, very handy when you really need to pick your line!

Cheers, I just had a look.

While very impressive and I'm sure you found it useful, but none of the cameras point downwards towards the front tyres. Without driving the D4 with the cameras (so don't trust my judgement completely) I guess the front cameras work similar to a bumper mount camera except there are two of them with less viewing angle and less distortion from the wide angle.

What I'd like is to see part of the body, or ideally wheels, so there is more judgement for heading down or up rocks.

Mind you the reason I originally ordered the front mount camera was for going over blind mounds, and not really knowing what lied ahead other than waiting for the bonnet to come down or get out and have a look. So for this a normal bumper cam would work. Also when approaching rocks shelves and not knowing if the front approach is gonna hit without getting out or touch testing where really the camera needs to be behind the bar for better judgement of height.

Or just wait for guidance which sometimes just aint always there when your impatient :)

Sorry if I have hijacked this thread.

Edit: So the two front cameras would probably work better to judge the lines I guess than a central camera?? Is this what you found Keithy P38?

Edit 2: And I guess the cameras mounted in the mirrors, but pointing down towards the wheels, would help with lines and also distance. But not so good on approach angles and also involves cutting wholes in the mirrors.

[FANTOM P38]

Hey Paul it is me (Martin) changed about a month ago I think!
Anyway view is ideal as you can see along bodyline and also great view of front wheels. I picked up some spare mirrors quite cheap and used outer covers from them rather than potentially butcher originals just in case it didnt work out too well. I routed cabling thru same locations as mirror wiring thru door in behind dash so no wiring visible either, bit fiddly to do but worth the effort.
As I said not had chance yet to test offroad but from view in street looking good.
I just picked up adjustable multipole dial switch from Jaycar to allow me to control power & video feeds from one switch, works a treat & very neat.
Still not had chance to get some good pics, maybe next couple of days.
Cameras are eyeball type with 20mm hole required in bottom of mirror housing. No one would know they were there unless you showed them!

Just remember when ordering cameras to make sure they are for forward viewing, unlike my first attempt ( didnt think to specify & recieved rear viewing). Next addition could be similar setup but fitted to underneath of rear door handles - perfect position to view rear wheels! I have a set of spare handles & now also 2 spare cameras to check if they will fit. If memory serves me correct I think you have similar stereo/dvd player in your P38 Paul so you could easily set up similar system.

[PaulP38a]

Nice work Martin, looking forward to seeing some pics.

So, I am thinking I might need a 6 position multi-pole dial. My cunning plan is to have:


forward facing camera looking down over the winch in the front bar
replace the current reverse camera with a better resolution model
forward facing cameras below the side mirrors
rear facing cameras below the side mirrors (better view than the door handles?)

If I wanted it to switch the Kenwood 7" display automatically, I guess I could wire in an additional switch before the multi-pole to provide power and use the existing reverse camera input on the stereo. Otherwise I would need to select the AV input on the screen manually.
Hmm, what might happen if one of the cameras was operating and then I selected reverse?
ah! the 2-way switch before the multi-pole could be reverse-signal on one pole and battery power on the other? Just need to remember to have the multi-pole dial in reverse cam position most of the time.
Sound do-able?

Next project might be to mix the signals to provide a 3x2 screen layout to show all at once with the ability to touch/zoom the individual feeds... maybe a bit much to ask of a 3yo Kenwood ;)

[Keithy P38]

As far as I can remember the cameras on the D4 are adjustable too... I'm not sure how many cameras there were but it was quite a few (9 maybe)?

[FANTOM P38]

Hi Paul,
I decided to wire the head unit aux video input to dial switch with first position on switch as OFF then to various inputs after that.
This way it does not iterfere with normal use of reverse camera also if you were to be using other cameras off road and selected reverse it would switch back and forth as you would expect automatically. After all if you needed aux for something else this could then be selectable on dial switch anyway, for example I have set aside 2 poles one for a HDTV tuner and another to share my rear rooftop dvd player to indash screen!
So it seems you can have your cake & eat it too!

[FANTOM P38]

Hey Paul,
On the split screen front I did purchase a multichannel video converter box which allows you to connect up to four video inputs and will give a split screen view on any monitor (1/2/3) I think but only reason I didnt use this was another lot of wiring & something else to mount where you need access to buttons to select different views etc! & I am trying to keep interior as clean looking as possible. So far it looks very standard with exception of reverse parking sensor display, Plus a couple of 3mm led's which tell me if eas pump is active & other is on if my eas disconnect switch is active. Both very discreet and directly above eas controls on dash.

[FANTOM P38]

Well I finally got around to taking some pics of my current camera setup.
Although it is not completely finished yet happy with results so far pics of screen images did'nt turn out the best due to some reflections but gives you an idea of view.
Knob on side of instrument cluster allows me to select whichever video feed I want except reverse camera as I still have this setup to work when reverse is selected no matter what is on screen.
Cameras are quite discreet as you can see in pics and quality of video is very good. These are not infrared cameras but at night when headlights are on there is sufficient light for good viewing.
The dial knob is connected to aux video input on dvd player, so to use cameras need to select that function.
Can only upload five pics so will do another post for remainder!

[FANTOM P38]

Rest of pics!

[mtb_gary]

Fantom, that looks like an excellent and uncluttered installation :D. Well done! It will be interesting to see how useful it is once off the bitumen.
Gary

[DT-P38]

Nice work mate! You know that means you go first ALL the time when we are out now?

[FANTOM P38]

Well these things are supposed to be waterproof too!
so deep puddles shouldn't be a problem and the fact that the mirrors are so close if they get any mud on them just have to put window down and give em a quick wipe - bonus.
2 x more cameras on way to setup for rear wheel views also -next instalment of pics when they're done.
If the puddles werent so full of crap around here I may have even considered a below the bullbar underwater mount for a different view (just kidding)

[yannpiat]

Well these things are supposed to be waterproof too!
so deep puddles shouldn't be a problem and the fact that the mirrors are so close if they get any mud on them just have to put window down and give em a quick wipe - bonus.
2 x more cameras on way to setup for rear wheel views also -next instalment of pics when they're done.
If the puddles werent so full of crap around here I may have even considered a below the bullbar underwater mount for a different view (just kidding)

Hoping to do a camera install on my discovery, would you be able to tell me the brand of front facing cameras and where you got them from please? Also can any sort of TFT screen with av input be setup for multiple cameras or must have it multiple inputs? Thanks

[FANTOM P38]

Hi Yann,
Any brand of screen will do as long as it has a video inputs available.
I used 1 x input for reverse camera and second input is sent to dial type switch next to dash above ignition (See photo ) this switch can be set for up to 6x outputs - I am only using 4 at present. Switch purchased from Jaycar for $3.95 (Sealed PCB Rotary Switch ) page 113 of their Cat.
This controls power & Video at same time ( much cheaper than video switchbox and looks much neater - taking up almost no room )
Hope this helps.
Martin.

[TheTree]

Hi

Resurrecting an old thread here, I just purchaded a DVD/GPS/ Camera unit to replace my Alpine head and am now looking for a reversing camera.

Does anyone have any recommendations for where to locate the camera, and the type of camera to get?

HD would be best it seems

Regards
Steve

[TheTree]

Hi

Doing a bit more research, this looks like the spot

Reversing Camera Installation (http://www.rangerovers.net/forum/7-range-rover-mark-ii-p38/13996-reversing-camera-installation.html)

Now to find the right camera:p

Steve