Backup Camera as Ongoing Rear Traffic Cam?

[continuecrushing]

also, when I first hooked up my camera, I was using the HU 6v output, which was barely enough to power the camera and so I would sometimes get an image with every other line messed up. Once I hooked up the 6v output to a 12v relay(so the camera would get 12v instead of 6v) my image issues were fixed.

[Foobar]

If you guys can perfect this solution, I suspect there are more than a few of us on here that would be willing to pay for a pre-wired kit.

I've been looking for a commercial product that does what this (front ON, back ON, back ON only when in reverse) and haven't found anything.

This looks promising.

[Lokenzi]

Any Updates?

[greencounty]

I'm not sure if anyone has resolved or repeated the problems that Notout86 was having.

It sounds to me like the signal is degraded coming from the camera. My guess is that it is probably due to noise induced by the fact that the shielded wire going to the cameras must exit the shield to go to the PCB board.

It could be noise resulting from the other camera or it could be other electrical noise from something else in the car.

Things to try:
-Step up the voltage to the noisy camera. Normally, higher voltage will improve camera signal strength as long as it is within the rating of the camera.(you can use a relay harness like this to provide 12V vs. 6V: http://www.autoharnesshouse.com/19867.html)
-Double/Triple check anything that you think is grounded(check it to a chassis ground point elsewhere on the car...like a door hinge)
-Try to maintain the video wires inside the shielded cable for as much of the wire run as possible(Run the wire straight to the relay)
-Turn off the unused camera(one less thing to create signal noise). This can be done by adding another relay. Here is an update the the diagram that I previously drew:


Edit: Hey....another thought: Are you seeing the noise on both cameras or only on one of them?

[notout86]

Thanks greencounty, and Happy New Year for 2015. I only just chanced upon this post (I did not get a subscribed thread email for some reason.)
My problem persists and with both cameras and I have put up with it as most of the time it is OK.
One day I will go through your suggestions if I ever get over a medical condition that developed in July 2014.

[ovel86]

Hi notout86, thanks again for this great write-up! Also thanks to greencounty and everyone else who provided really good details in this. This is my DIY at the moment. Fingers crossed i get it as well as notout86 did..

Couple of questions:
1. Did you have to finally leave nothing connected to 4-pin section CN4950 where you originally had your rear camera setup?
2. From the last diagram of greencounty, the DPDT switch shows that if you switch it to the BOTTOM ON (it also powers the topmost harness that is for the reverse signal, which is also powered by switching the TOP ON. I can imagine hooking up a wire connecting the BOTTOM ON and TOP ON power, but with a diode so that only when the BOTTOM is ON the TOP is ON as well, bit not the other way around?

Thanks guys!

[greencounty]

Ovel, I don't understand your second question. The top relay in my diagram switches between the reverse signal coming from the reverse lights on the car and a constant +12V signal. This is fed to the headunit to turn on the reverse display if the car is in reverse or if the switch is not in off. You shouldn't need a diode here. This just turns the camera on when the switch is in one of the back or front camera positions.

[notout86]

Originally Posted by ovel86

Hi notout86, thanks again for this great write-up! Also thanks to greencounty and everyone else who provided really good details in this. This is my DIY at the moment. Fingers crossed i get it as well as notout86 did..

Couple of questions:
1. Did you have to finally leave nothing connected to 4-pin section CN4950 where you originally had your rear camera setup?
2. From the last diagram of greencounty, the DPDT switch shows that if you switch it to the BOTTOM ON (it also powers the topmost harness that is for the reverse signal, which is also powered by switching the TOP ON. I can imagine hooking up a wire connecting the BOTTOM ON and TOP ON power, but with a diode so that only when the BOTTOM is ON the TOP is ON as well, bit not the other way around?

Thanks guys!

Yep... nothing connected at CN4950.

[ovel86]

Hi notout86,

Just got back from my 6 weeks holiday, but I did it before i left! I used 3 normal 5-pin relay harness (not a board as I've never used a board before), and did put a diode in as per my second question, and it works perfectly. Also credits to the last diagram posted by greencounty! Haven't had a black and white signal yet as well. Cheers guys!!

So DiodeDynamics LED-puddle side-mirror folding at fob lock, parking and foglights on with timer at unlock, music RGB footwell and speaker lights, plastidip emblems and fender.. next is the blackvue camera with cloud.

I'm in Melbourne and I will be keen to share ideas and help, let me know.

[notout86]

Good on you and congrats on getting it working so well. I will take another look at changing to greencounty's last diagram too.
Do you mean you used 3 normal 5-pin relay harnesses? What does one look like?

Did you take photos? I do (when I remember) with this sort of thing for later reference.