Would it be possible to hook up my backup camera to one of my upfitter switches?
Also i would want it to still turn on when put into reverse.
There are sometimes that i would like to see what is behind me when I am not backing up... Like who is riding my ass in their little car.
So what do yall guys think?
Good Idea?
Possible?
UPDATE: If you want to see how to do it with an upfitter switch see post # 25 below
Here's how you do it if you don't have upfitter switches:
You can do it without diodes or an upfitter switch. It's best to "isolate" the original signal and the new activation signal with s single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch somewhere. With this configuration when the switch is one way the system would operate normally with reverse signal as normal. When the switch is flipped the other way the monitor would come on independent of the reverse signal. This configuration is the simplest way to keep from sending 12VDC back into the vehicle harness which is not a good idea; I'm sure that's where the diode idea came from (why add a diode & complexity if you don't need to). You could use a Radio Shack SPDT model 275-648:
Here is a view of the connector at the mirror showing the reverse signal wire on pin 2 (blue callout in this pic but wire is GN/BN):
You just have to cut the original reverse signal wire and put the aforementioned or similar SPDT switch inline with the common going to the monitor:
In retrospect, you can actually use an upfitter switch. The upfitter switch output signal can be used to switch a remote relay to turn on the camera anytime. The added relay has to be of the two-signal SPDT type with both 87a and 87 outputs so the normally closed position can be original reverse signal and switched position can be +12VDC source. This two-circuit relay would take the place of the SPDT switch shown above with the relay signal line attached to the upfitter switch.
hey guys, i actually just did this mod on my truck, albeit accidentally! i was hooking up backup lights for plowing. on our other trucks i just use a relay and tap into the reverse lights so they come on when you shift into reverse.
but with this new truck having upfitter switches, i wanted the ability to turn them on at will, AND when i shift into reverse. so i ran the typical relay hookup with the taillight reverse light power wire being the signal wire to the relay, but into this signal wire i also tapped a lead from the upfitter switch into that, so when i flip the switch it provides power to the relay and will turn the lights on. but it also provides power to the taillight reverse lights which in turn activates the rearview camera! so all you guys need to do is tap a wire from the upfitter switch (i used #4 at 15amps) into the power for the backup lights in the taillights.
hey guys, i actually just did this mod on my truck, albeit accidentally! i was hooking up backup lights for plowing. on our other trucks i just use a relay and tap into the reverse lights so they come on when you shift into reverse.
but with this new truck having upfitter switches, i wanted the ability to turn them on at will, AND when i shift into reverse. so i ran the typical relay hookup with the taillight reverse light power wire being the signal wire to the relay, but into this signal wire i also tapped a lead from the upfitter switch into that, so when i flip the switch it provides power to the relay and will turn the lights on. but it also provides power to the taillight reverse lights which in turn activates the rearview camera! so all you guys need to do is tap a wire from the upfitter switch (i used #4 at 15amps) into the power for the backup lights in the taillights.
thats awesome info...you say the typical relay hookup...not being that good with wiring stuff can you provide a little more detail into exactly how we would do what you did?
sure,
parts needed:
30amp automotive style relay, can be bought from radioshack etc... has 4 terminals: 12v in, ground, on/off in, 12v out
some 12v capable wire, and a few crimp on terminals+dielectric grease
procedure: (how i ran my wiring, can be done diff.)
-pulled a 12v lead from my battery to the back of the truck around the rear bumper, anywhere you can safely mount the relay. this wire will go into the 12v in terminal on the relay. this is what also provides power to flow into the taillight backup lights which will light these up when your not in reverse, and im guessing the backup camera feeds off this signal and will turn on when your taillight reverse lights are on, regardless of what gear you are in.
-hooked up a wire from the aux 4 terminal under the dash and brought it to the back of the truck. this wire will be spliced into the wire you pulled from your taillight. this way if you want the aux lights on when you arent in reverse, you flip your aux 4 switch and it sends power to the relay to open it.
-tapped into the green pos. wire in the backup light inside the taillight. this wire will go into the relay terminal marked on/off. this provides the signal to open the relay that allows power to flow from your 12v in wire into your backup lights etc... this way, your not using the power wire from your taillights to power your aux backup lights but just using this as a signal wire, so when you shift into reverse there is power through this line into the relay.
-find a suitable ground location and run that wire into the ground terminal on the relay.
-from the relay's 12v out terminal run your wire to your aux backup light and split from this wire another to go to the other backup light on the other side of the bumper.
proper operation:
if everything got hooked up correctly, when you shift into reverse the aux backup lights should turn on, and turn off when you shift out of reverse. if you are in any other gear other than reverse (so your reverse lights are OFF) flip your factory aux switch (whichever you tapped into, i used #4) and your taillight reverse lights should light up along with your aux backup lights and your backup camera as well.
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09 F350 SRW- H&S Mini Maxx with KEM 7 tune card, AFE 4" dpf/doc delete, AFE PG7 drop in soon to be S&B CAI, and some other exterior/interior work
sure,
proper operation:
if everything got hooked up correctly, when you shift into reverse the aux backup lights should turn on, and turn off when you shift out of reverse. if you are in any other gear other than reverse (so your reverse lights are OFF) flip your factory aux switch (whichever you tapped into, i used #4) and your taillight reverse lights should light up along with your aux backup lights and your backup camera as well.
Nice post. There is a way to do it the same as that but without running voltage back through the vehicle harness. That would be to use a SPDT relay as alluded to earlier. The main difference between a SPDT relay and normal relay is that a standard relay has one output pin 87 and a SPDT relay has two outputs, pins 87 (normally open) and 87A (normally closed). I went ahead and made the following diagram showing how the upfitter switch can be used without sending voltage back down the vehicle harness and effecting the ECU:
Basically the upfitter switch energizes the relay to switch the factory set-up to the 12V override set-up (i.e. anytime camera "on"). Things are completely stock and normal as long as the upfitter switch is "off". As soon as the upfitter switch is turned on it sends 12V to pin 86 of the relay causing pin 30 of the relay to release the original factory connection on pin 87A and change over to the new 12v supplied relay pin 87. This configuration keeps the rest of the vehicle isolated from what's going on.
im not a whiz with electronics, but i guess what you are saying is that you could tap that wire somewhere say in the column (or where ever it runs), insert the relay (wired out of the way say behind the glovebox etc), and then tap the upfitter switch. this would keep all wire runs short and provide the same functionality yea?
do you have a link to this type of relay? Im really really interested now!
Do we all think that the wire runs down that passenger pillar to the floor?
im not a whiz with electronics, but i guess what you are saying is that you could tap that wire somewhere say in the column (or where ever it runs), insert the relay (wired out of the way say behind the glovebox etc), and then tap the upfitter switch. this would keep all wire runs short and provide the same functionality yea?
do you have a link to this type of relay? Im really really interested now!
Do we all think that the wire runs down that passenger pillar to the floor?
Thanks again! I love this site!!
Yes. If you can find the original reverse signal wire going up to the mirror you could put your relay under the dash neatly. The only wire needed is the mirror connector "pin 2" green/brown wire going up the a-pillar column (or wherever). Intercept it somewhere in the wire harness before it goes up the a-pillar column and you don't even have to mess around with the headliner or overhead console. I have not done this on a Ford but have done similar on the new Toyota Tundra and GM 900 series trucks. I plan on doing a Ford soon.
SPDT relays are not that uncommon. They are often used with aftermarket lights like Hellas or KC Highlites. They can switch between high and low beams using the two different outputs (Pin 87 and Pin 87A). The fancier ones have a diode in them for protecting sensitive electronics from voltage spikes. I've not tried that yet and I don't know if that's important for a singal to the monitor, not the actual power load.
I have bought a few from rallylights.com which is Sequehanna Motor Sports. Here is everything you would want to know about relays:
Mine have always had the "B1" pin configuration, which looks like this on the bottom:
I also like to use a "relay holder" because it makes wiring very easy. It also makes changing the relay a snap and foolproof.
I'm no electrical wiz either. Just a poor farm boy from the school of hard knocks.
i actually found my method out accidentally! i was just wiring up some aux backup lights to have more light when im out plowing!
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09 F350 SRW- H&S Mini Maxx with KEM 7 tune card, AFE 4" dpf/doc delete, AFE PG7 drop in soon to be S&B CAI, and some other exterior/interior work
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