Backup Camera Idea

[ndmtnsledder]

Great directions and idea to all that came up with this. I just got done hooking up the camera with a relay to the upfitter switches and it works great. Took me longer to install the upfitter switches with fords horrible directions then the camera mod did.

[stunya]

DONE! completed today with a spdt relay and harness i got from summit racing. Entire thing took about one hour to install and i tapped in right at the pillar just like suggested. Only thing i havent done is split the signal output for head unit.

does anyone know the color of the wire that is used to output the video signal and do you think it is wise to split that signal? or will there be substantial losses? the gauge of the wire is very thin, probably 14 or 16 gauge.

[mjcloud]

Do you know where this gn/bn wire shows up down at the bottom of the passenger a-pillar. A picture pointing to the general area would be great. I looked but could not find it. Too many bundles... Thanks

[stunya]

i took a couple pics...ill try to get them up tomorrow...it is in the bundle that is not completely wrapped by electrical tape. should be a bundle of about 5-6 wires all approx 16 gauge.

[Svenster]

Originally Posted by jliltd

I've installed two in GM 900 series pickups and have another on the way for a 2008 King Ranch with all the options but Nav and backup monitor.

I have been researching installing the backup camera for my 08 F250 Fx4, CC that did not come with the backup camera. Please take lots of picures and notes for this mod, as I'm sure that I am not the only member that is contemplating this mod.

What camera eye did you settle on?

[mjcloud]

Thanks for the wire bundle discription. I will look for it tonight. If you get a chance post the picture - thank you very much.

Another stupid question. I have been looking for an automotive spdt. Radio shack only has 1A spdt's. Is that correct? Seems like the ampherage is to low.

Which spdt should I use and where can I get one?

Is a 30A one ok or is that too high? Something like this?

12V SPDT 30 AMP AUTOMOTIVE RELAY | AllElectronics.com

thanks so much, Mike

[Harley350]

Here's the one I used and works great!

eBay Motors: OEM Style HD SPDT Relay + Harness 12VDC 40/30 AMP NEW (item 200315754398 end time May-30-09 17:48:14 PDT)

[Dolent]

Did anyone figure out how to splice the factory camera into an aftermarket video unit? Trying to figure this one out if anyone has suggestions / how-to. Thanks!

[jliltd]

Here's an update to the F250 project I did. First let me apologize that I haven't visited the forum since early this year and I did the project back in the Spring. Also let me apologize since this forum only allows 4 images per post, despite the fact the images are not stored on this site but link to an outside site.

For my project I put two cameras on the pickup truck and two in the horse trailer. Then I used the Gentex GENK-352 3.5" mirror monitor. I used a Jensen video switching device with a remote button on the dash to scroll between the cameras in the monitor. I used an upfitter switch to turn the monitor on any time so things could be checked while traveling forward (wonder what's going on back there with the horses etc...).

Here is a schematic I did of the "anytime" switching for the rear-view monitor utilizing an upfitter switch (but you could use any switched 12VDC source if you don't have an upfitter switch):



So here's the first camera on the truck. The typical tailgate location. The tailgate bezel is the only Ford OEM part I used on this install. The camera in the bezel is aftermarket. It's a Kawacam nickle-size camera off eBay:


The second camera on the truck is mounted next to the third brake light up high giving a good look at the bed of the truck, especially the gooseneck hitch during trailer hookup. This camera too was off eBay from More Eyes (eBay id "ihepu"). It's supposed to be the same one BMW uses and it is seems very well made. I've installed 4 of these on diff vehicles and they are great: EDIT: These type of cameras as I used here by the 3rd brake light are no longer available, unfortunately. But on the bright side if you didn't put a hole in your sheet metal for one you won't have an issue with the situation when it comes time to find a replacement. I already have this issue where I can't find a suitable replacement on the hatch of an SUV so I will probably have to plug the hole.






Continued in next post.....

[jliltd]

Continued....

The trailer cameras are both the same model with the one on the rear set up for reverse (mirror) view and the one on the interior looking forward at the horses set up for standard view. Both are nightvision LED and weatherproof. Bought them from Intercept Inc is Las Vegas (very good eBay seller).

Here is the exterior rear camera:



Here is the interior horse camera (non-reverse view):




The trailer cameras are hooked up by a 7 round trailer plug kit designed especially for cameras and sold by the same supplier as the trailer cameras,





Continued in next post ...

[jliltd]

Continued ....

For switching between the different cameras with a single monitor I used a Jensen KSW41 4-source video switcher (a steal at $20). I mounted the switcher under the rear seats and ran a lead to a momentary switch on the dashboard. When the driver taps the switch the display changes to the next camera view, scrolling in the same order each time. Each time the vehicle is started the display defaults to the tailgate camera (video input 1). Here is pic of the selector switch:



Finally, here is a picture of the 3.5" rear-view monitor display built into the Gentex GENK-352 rear-view mirror. It is extremely hard to get a good picture of mirror so trust me when I say it looks 100% better in person.





I haven't had a chance to get more pictures yet since the truck has been out on the horseshow circuit.

Also, it was a few months back I did this so if there are any questions I'll try to answer them.

[dgeesaman]

You rock!

I've been thinking about how to install both backup and trailer cams on our rig and you have nailed it all!

Look for questions in the not-too-distant future as my mechanical background leaves me a poor electrician at best.

[ted520]

I wanna get a replacement front bumper and would like to see whats in front of that massive hood. So my question is can i add an extra camera and have it feed in to the same mirror and if so what do i need? and what wire or pin is it. Thanks for the info.

Ted



08

[jliltd]

Ted,

If by "same mirror" you mean the Gentex I referenced above, by all means you could feed a front camera into it. As mentioned in the thread I used a $20 Jensen KSW41 video switcher so if you did similar you would only have to have the front camera plug into one of the RCA video jacks on the switcher.

Note that for a front-viewing camera you need to make sure it is not "reverse view" like is typical for backup cameras. Some cameras come front view (normal) while others come reverse view (mirror view). Some cameras, like the ones I put on the horse trailer, have a switch either on them or in the harness that allows you to choose normal or mirror view.

I'm going to buy another video switcher right now, as a matter of fact.

Jensen KSW41 Mobile Audio Video Multi-Source Selector Switch

I open up the case and solder two wires to the selector button contacts on the circuit board so I can remote mount the switch as shown in the yellow circle in previous post. Then I put the switcher under the back seats. It's been almost a year since I did the truck in the previous post and I think I'll remember how to do it then I'll post some photos in a few weeks.

Originally Posted by ted520

I wanna get a replacement front bumper and would like to see whats in front of that massive hood. So my question is can i add an extra camera and have it feed in to the same mirror and if so what do i need? and what wire or pin is it. Thanks for the info.

Ted



08

[ted520]

I have the stock backup camera on my truck. So i would need to figure out which wire is the video feed to the mirror and then splice that in to the video selector so i could use the same monitor(mirror) to view the back up camera or the soon to be front one. I would like to leave the reverse function still usable with the uppfitter switch mod. But I am new to modding the truck. I need to know what type of diode i need other than the switch mentioned before from radio shack. Thanks Ted