Front Camera Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 57
From: Kensington MD
Front Camera Question
Kenwood head unit I'm installing has capability for a front camera, in addition to rear. Installing rear camera I notice that the power wire is connected to the reverse lights—presumably so that the camera isn't powered whenever the ignition is on, only when in reverse. However, I don't see a provision to keep the front camera from similarly turning off when not needed. Is the front camera supposed to just stay on whenever the key is on?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 575
Likes: 26
From: Sunny Southern California
You did not mention the model number of your head unit, but I have a 9904S with two cameras. It has a "CAM" button on the front of the unit. In the options I have that set to display the front camera when I push that button and the reverse camera is triggered when the car is put in reverse. I would imagine if you have a different Kenwood that has a camera button on the front it would be the same.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 517
Likes: 163
From: Oxford Maryland
When you shift to go toward the front camera comes on automatically. You can control how long it stays on. Mine stays on 15 sec the goes to the home screen. You can add parking lines to the rear camera but not front. I would recommend getting a front camera with built in parking lines and the ability to reverse the image. The lines really help.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 57
From: Kensington MD
FWIW it's a DDX573BH. Fairly old, I know, but I bought it with the DD Mods bezel I think back in 2016 before Dennis blew up his Vette business. Just never got around to installing due to other things coming up, like it needing a clutch and getting married.
However, my question is regarding the actual power to the camera. The rear camera gets its power from the reverse lights, so clearly it has no power when the car is not in reverse. However, there doesn't appear to be an equivalent wire for the front camera that gives it power only when you're in 1st—it's always on, regardless of whether or not you switch the HU to display the signal. Or am I mistaken?
However, my question is regarding the actual power to the camera. The rear camera gets its power from the reverse lights, so clearly it has no power when the car is not in reverse. However, there doesn't appear to be an equivalent wire for the front camera that gives it power only when you're in 1st—it's always on, regardless of whether or not you switch the HU to display the signal. Or am I mistaken?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,139
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
To answer your original question, yes wire the camera so that it is on when the car or head unit is on. Some people do the same with their rear camera also, so they can go to rear camera anytime even when the car is not in reverse.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '12
This. Both my front and rear cameras are wired to always be on and I can switch to view either from my head unit at any point. The rear still automatically comes up when I go into reverse.
