Front Camera Installation in my car
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Front Camera Installation in my car
I have a 2003 C5 Z06 in which I have installed a Kenwood DNX691HD with a Pyle PLCM24iR backup camera. It's been in for a couple of years now and it works great. I've considered putting in a front camera for a long time so I could prevent hitting things in front of my car since it is very low. I purchased a Pyle PLCM38FRV camera which I am in the process of installing. I have mounted the camera and have partially run the wires. So now I'm at the point where I need assistance. I need to know how to hookup the wiring. I assume the video cable goes to the unused RCA socket in the back of the radio? How do I connect the power cable? Once I have the wiring completed, how do I access the camera while parking? Hoping to complete this right away so I'm hoping someone can provide the info I need.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
There should be a video input (or some have a separate front and rear camera) RCA jack on the back of the radio somewhere. You just need to hook it up to that and then go to that source when you want the front camera on. The only thing you need to decide is where or what to connect into for power to the camera.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 799
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From: Landenberg PA
Life Starts at 120 mph
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,536
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From: Upstate New York
NCM Lifetime Member
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Some time has gone by so I'm assuming you got it all connected??
I too am getting ready to do a complete DMX 7704S upgrade with front and rear cameras.
1. Power to the front camera, much like the rear camera, I'm going to power my front camera with the fog lights power source. So, when the front camera is needed, much like the rear back-up lights it will light up the path of travel. You really don't need the camera on 24/7. Also, if your going to record your subject will be well lighted. Just my thinking.
2. Google your system and watch some You Tubes on your model, you can learn a lot about switching front to rear if not duel screen in camera settings.
Cheers
I too am getting ready to do a complete DMX 7704S upgrade with front and rear cameras.
1. Power to the front camera, much like the rear camera, I'm going to power my front camera with the fog lights power source. So, when the front camera is needed, much like the rear back-up lights it will light up the path of travel. You really don't need the camera on 24/7. Also, if your going to record your subject will be well lighted. Just my thinking.
2. Google your system and watch some You Tubes on your model, you can learn a lot about switching front to rear if not duel screen in camera settings.
Cheers
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 50
From: Bradenton, FL
I have the 9903 and completed my front camera install the other day. I used the
camera flush mounted on the license plate cover. That way if I didn't like it I could swap out the cover... I ran all the wires back to the interior, including power and ground. Could have connected power and ground in the engine compartment somewhere, but brought them back to where my other connections for the HU were made for consistency.
As for access, my HU has a button for camera marked CAM on the face. I had to make a configuration change in the HU to tell the unit to use the front and not the rear when pushing the button. I would suspect that your HU would be similar.
Let us know how the install went...
As for access, my HU has a button for camera marked CAM on the face. I had to make a configuration change in the HU to tell the unit to use the front and not the rear when pushing the button. I would suspect that your HU would be similar.
Let us know how the install went...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I mounted my camera under the front bumper to one of the screws where the radiator shroud attaches to the back edge of the bumper. I ran the wires into the interior by making a hole next to the main harness and using a grommet. Everything is ready to make it work except there is no second camera input for the front camera. My particular Kenwood has one camera input and a video AV output. It's a DNX691HD. According to Dennis I need to use a switching device to plug both cameras into and then be able to manually switch from front to rear. The only ones I see on e-bay or Amazon do more functions than I want. Apparently they switch to front and rear automatically when starting the car then switch to front when shifting out of reverse. I just need a simple way to turn it on when I want to. I haven't been able to find what I want. Any ideas?
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 50
From: Bradenton, FL
I mounted my camera under the front bumper to one of the screws where the radiator shroud attaches to the back edge of the bumper. I ran the wires into the interior by making a hole next to the main harness and using a grommet. Everything is ready to make it work except there is no second camera input for the front camera. My particular Kenwood has one camera input and a video AV output. It's a DNX691HD. According to Dennis I need to use a switching device to plug both cameras into and then be able to manually switch from front to rear. The only ones I see on e-bay or Amazon do more functions than I want. Apparently they switch to front and rear automatically when starting the car then switch to front when shifting out of reverse. I just need a simple way to turn it on when I want to. I haven't been able to find what I want. Any ideas?
Life Starts at 120 mph
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 190
From: Upstate New York
NCM Lifetime Member
NCM Sinkhole Donor
OK, I'm not the smartest person, proceed with caution.
I but a simple Y-Jack (one male end with two female ends), plug your cameras into them.
Next, wire your rear camera to your reverse lights, that way it will turn on and off as you go in and out of reverse. Next, wire your front camera to a power source you can control, like the front fog lights. Then you can turn the camera on to the front when needed.
The caution is don't have both on at the same time. I'm assuming your installing the light for parking assist, so you don't hit curbs or parking blocks.
Logic says it will work, but only testing will tell.
Cheers.
I but a simple Y-Jack (one male end with two female ends), plug your cameras into them.
Next, wire your rear camera to your reverse lights, that way it will turn on and off as you go in and out of reverse. Next, wire your front camera to a power source you can control, like the front fog lights. Then you can turn the camera on to the front when needed.
The caution is don't have both on at the same time. I'm assuming your installing the light for parking assist, so you don't hit curbs or parking blocks.
Logic says it will work, but only testing will tell.
Cheers.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 50
From: Bradenton, FL
OK, I'm not the smartest person, proceed with caution.
I but a simple Y-Jack (one male end with two female ends), plug your cameras into them.
Next, wire your rear camera to your reverse lights, that way it will turn on and off as you go in and out of reverse. Next, wire your front camera to a power source you can control, like the front fog lights. Then you can turn the camera on to the front when needed.
The caution is don't have both on at the same time. I'm assuming your installing the light for parking assist, so you don't hit curbs or parking blocks.
Logic says it will work, but only testing will tell.
Cheers.
I but a simple Y-Jack (one male end with two female ends), plug your cameras into them.
Next, wire your rear camera to your reverse lights, that way it will turn on and off as you go in and out of reverse. Next, wire your front camera to a power source you can control, like the front fog lights. Then you can turn the camera on to the front when needed.
The caution is don't have both on at the same time. I'm assuming your installing the light for parking assist, so you don't hit curbs or parking blocks.
Logic says it will work, but only testing will tell.
Cheers.
Hmmm.. The challenge might be fooling the HU. On my HU (Kenwood DDX9903), when you tell the HU that you want the reverse camera controlled when the car is put into reverse, you lose the ability to see through the camera at any other time. Following the same logic, even if he wires the front camera to a power wire/switch, when the camera button is pressed there won't be a picture as the HU won't be getting the "reverse" signal...
His HU could be different. Also, instead of relying Reverse to turn on the rear camera, one could switch them both and manually press the camera button on the HU...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
To anyone following my dilemna I have still not resolved my issue of activating the front camera. I found a switching device for this purpose on e-bay that was very inexpensive, $15 and free shipping. Two strange points about this, when you start the car it supposedly turns on the front camera for seven seconds and then it goes out, then you can use the switch provided to turn on the front camera as needed. Also the free shipping does not say when you will eventually receive the item. I figured it wasn't very expensive so I ordered it. I only recently received it but I haven't had a chance to install it yet to find out if I like it. It actually did come from China but so did the instructions, so some translating will be in order to figure out how to wire it. I will reply again once I see if it works. If not I'll be installing front curb feelers.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 238
Likes: 140
From: Tennessee
QUOTE=striper;1595230031]To anyone following my dilemna I have still not resolved my issue of activating the front camera.
Try these two threads.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-camera.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-2014-c7.html
Try these two threads.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-camera.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-2014-c7.html