Installing a hard wired reversing camera. How have others approached this?

[austastar]

Hi,
I decided I needed a reversing camera to see behind my D130 tray back. When the slide on camper is on the back, rear vision is quite restricted.

The camera comes with an adequately long wire to reach the dash from the rear of the vehicle, and there are 2 wires sensibly placed to connect into the reverse light circuit to activate the camera for its intended purpose of showing the area behind the vehicle while reversing.

It was easy enough to run the wire in conduit right through the Left chassis rail and exit under the battery box and enter the battery box through the grommet used for the starter motor cable.

At this point I started thinking "Am I going to have to do all this again if the camera fails?"
What happens if I want to upgrade the camera.?

Another approach would be to put my own wiring in place, ending in a J box at the rear of the vehicle, and just plug the camera into this.
If it fails, chuck it and put another on the back, coil the 5m or so of supplied cable so it won't get in the way, and plug it into the J box. No running cables through conduit and chassis rails involved.

So, as the title says, how have others approached doing this installation?

Any ideas, comments etc most welcome.

cheers

[Reads90]

Having two youngs kids and 2 defenders, a disco and a Hyundai ix35 all of which are pretty crap for seeing behind you, I decided I need cameras on all of them

So I bought my rear cameras and screens of eBay

Pretty cheap. But with the ones I got, the cable from the back to the front is separate to the camera and screen so I can change the camera or screen without having to change the cable. Both the screens he cameras have plugs on which plug into the power and video cable.

So with mine I don't have the same problem as you.


Ali




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[sdt463]

I have my camera so that it plugs in as you have sugested.
In my case it has the added advantage that when i hook up my van, I unplug the camera on the back of the defender and plug in a camera on the back of the van. I have also powerd my set up from a switch on the dash rather than the reversing lights so that I can use it full time when towing and it lets me see the cars that tuck into the blind spot behind the van.
Dave

[austastar]

Hi,
thanks for that.
I'll go with what I have at the moment and look at setting it up with replaceable cameras and optional screens at a later date.
Definitely a much more serviceable option than having the one wire from the camera.

cheers

[austastar]

Hi,
well that was disappointing!
I know the camera and gps worked together, as I had tested it when I first got it.
Having added some extra power wire, as I wanted to do as sdt463 did, and have it as a rear view to see in my blind spot for tail gating cars, and pulled the conduit covered pair through the chassis to the cab interior, it doesn't work.
I can see it trying to resolve a picture, it tumbles and tears the image, but some thing is wrong.
I think I will bite the bullet and get some decent gear.

Ok, more questions.

1.Are these things usually compatible, i.e. camera and screen?

2.Do I have to check any thing like frames/second or lines per screen or pal vs ntsc or anything technical like that?

3. Are the connecting cables easy to wire up to the plugs, or are they ridiculously small and you need the eyes and fingers of a 12 yr old to solder them?

4. Any recommended brands/suppliers?

cheers and thanks in advance

[sdt463]

I bought my extra bits and pieces from J car If you have one localy might be worth having a chat with them.
The plugs were a bit fidily but I am sure you will prevail.
Dave