back up camera install questions.

[14hemiexpress]

Quick couple questions. I just received my back up camera today going to install it either later this week or on this weekend. Anyways I'm looking though it all and the male to male video cable has a stubby red wire hanging out of it on either end. The instructions are pretty vague, but for the life of me can't figure out what they are for as the camera it's self has the reverse power and ground wire coming out of the back. Here's a couple of pics. My only thought is if I were to hook power farther up in the vehicle and there was a power cable in with the video cable. That's how I would connect it. Any input would be appreciated. Also what wire are y'all tapping into for reverse power? Thanks.

 

[DannyMK2]

it says to monitor so i would assume it gets hooked to the backup camera input/trigger on the head unit. none of the backup cameras ive done had that wire though. im assuming you have an aftermarket head unit?

 

[Damion]

Power for night vision?

 

[14hemiexpress]

it says to monitor so i would assume it gets hooked to the backup camera input/trigger on the head unit. none of the backup cameras ive done had that wire though. im assuming you have an aftermarket head unit?

I picked up a kenwood double din DVD head unit to go along with the camera. I have installed a camera before and it didn't have that wire strung with it before. I did knowtice my HU had a reverse wire sticking out of the back I need to check my trucks wiring to see if it has a reverse feed into the HU in witch case I'm assuming I should be able to string it all together. But it will probably just be trial and error.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Power for night vision?

Not sure it seems like a open wire just for extension. Of I had a multi meter I could run a resistance test on it and see if it was just a clear wire or tied into the video. Here's another pic. Its just the male to male extension the camera has its own power wires.

 

[603photog]

Okay, so here's what's happening:

The camera has two leads. One will splice to your reverse light power wire, the other will splice to a good ground. This provides current to your camera when the reverse circuit is engaged (basically, the "ON/OFF" switch for the camera).

The red wire at the camera-end of the extension ALSO splices into your reverse power wire while the head-unit end splices into your "Reverse Signal Input" wire that should be hanging from the back of your deck. The specific name and wire are unknown to me at the moment because I don't know what type of deck you're running.

The purpose of that circuit is to carry the power from the reverse lights circuit to the head-unit so that, when the reverse circuit is energized, the head-unit is signaled to switch to monitor mode so that you can view the video signal. This is a separate action from the actual video feed which is carried through the yellow RCA plug on your camera harness. The video feed is NOT a power circuit - all it does is carry the video signal.

So, in a nutshell, there are three routings being utilized, here:
1. The power circuit that turns on the camera;
2. That same circuit running to the back of the head unit to turn on the monitor mode, and;
3. The video signal itself running to the head unit.

I hope this makes sense!

 

[baum]

what module are you using for the radio? most of them have the reverse triggers needed for the input to the radio to switch over.

on top of what 603 added you can get a good ground and reverse wire at the 7pin trailer connector.

personally if it was me i would hook the cam up to a ignition source that way its on all the time you have the truck on. reason being is some of the came take a few long seconds to focus so when you put it in reverse it start to focus when it sees power. if you have it on an ignition then its ready and the radio just needs to be tripped when going in reverse.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Perfect that's for both responses they both make perfect sense. I'm going to try reverse power for the camera and see if it takes time to focus if it doesn't I'll switch it. I personally rather it not be on all the time.(even though the HU won't be on) and the module is the metra XSVI-6522-NAV. If no reverse trigger there I'll tap the 7pin that the back. Thanks for all the input I really appreciate it.l

 

[DannyMK2]

Okay, so here's what's happening:

The camera has two leads. One will splice to your reverse light power wire, the other will splice to a good ground. This provides current to your camera when the reverse circuit is engaged (basically, the "ON/OFF" switch for the camera).

The red wire at the camera-end of the extension ALSO splices into your reverse power wire while the head-unit end splices into your "Reverse Signal Input" wire that should be hanging from the back of your deck. The specific name and wire are unknown to me at the moment because I don't know what type of deck you're running.

The purpose of that circuit is to carry the power from the reverse lights circuit to the head-unit so that, when the reverse circuit is energized, the head-unit is signaled to switch to monitor mode so that you can view the video signal. This is a separate action from the actual video feed which is carried through the yellow RCA plug on your camera harness. The video feed is NOT a power circuit - all it does is carry the video signal.

So, in a nutshell, there are three routings being utilized, here:
1. The power circuit that turns on the camera;
2. That same circuit running to the back of the head unit to turn on the monitor mode, and;
3. The video signal itself running to the head unit.

I hope this makes sense!

i mostly agree with this, just have a few things to add. you shouldnt need to run a reverse signal from the rear of the truck to the head unit. the can bus adapter (assuming your using one) will have a reverse signal wire that will connect to your head unit to tell the radio when the truck is put into reverse. as far as powering the camera goes, you can use the reverse signal (from the tail light or head unit) or you can hook it up to a constant 12v ignition source. this would allow you to view the camera regardless of being in reverse or not. most aftermarket radios support this, just a matter if its something you would use or not.

 

[14hemiexpress]

i mostly agree with this, just have a few things to add. you shouldnt need to run a reverse signal from the rear of the truck to the head unit. the can bus adapter (assuming your using one) will have a reverse signal wire that will connect to your head unit to tell the radio when the truck is put into reverse. as far as powering the camera goes, you can use the reverse signal (from the tail light or head unit) or you can hook it up to a constant 12v ignition source. this would allow you to view the camera regardless of being in reverse or not. most aftermarket radios support this, just a matter if its something you would use or not.

Just pulled the specs on the Metra adapter I got has nav outputs for reverse, mute and parking brake so I can pull power from there.