Installing rear camera tips
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
correct. Now I screwed it up when I installed the bypass somehow someway. But yes when I first tested everything out before the bypass was installed. If I put it into reverse the camera came on
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,236
Likes: 36
From: Haymarket VA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Ok just finished everything up.
So so the camera powers up automatically with the backup lights since that’s where I spliced the cameras power.
For it it to automatically open when I put it into reverse there is a second wire that needs to be attached. The camera I bought has that cable attached the the rca video plug so it’s really easy. If the camera doesn’t have that second line I guess you need to run another line somewhere don’t know for sure.
So so the camera powers up automatically with the backup lights since that’s where I spliced the cameras power.
For it it to automatically open when I put it into reverse there is a second wire that needs to be attached. The camera I bought has that cable attached the the rca video plug so it’s really easy. If the camera doesn’t have that second line I guess you need to run another line somewhere don’t know for sure.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 31
From: PA
Mine's a Kenwood but it also had the trigger wire required. I also ran this off of the 12V positive from the reverse lights and ran it all the way to the head unit.
-The first 12V & ground to the camera powers the camera only when in reverse.
-The second 12V+ ran from the reverse light wire to the head unit tells the head unit "I'm in reverse." This automatically changes the screen display to the rear view camera.
I drilled a small hole for this wire and the RCA wire right behind the passenger reverse light and then sealed it with plumber's putty. I had the entire interior out for the install so it was pretty easy to run the wires up to the front from there.
-The first 12V & ground to the camera powers the camera only when in reverse.
-The second 12V+ ran from the reverse light wire to the head unit tells the head unit "I'm in reverse." This automatically changes the screen display to the rear view camera.
I drilled a small hole for this wire and the RCA wire right behind the passenger reverse light and then sealed it with plumber's putty. I had the entire interior out for the install so it was pretty easy to run the wires up to the front from there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Agree with Joe and everyone else who hardwired. It’s just not that difficult. With the console and bezel out, you are already halfway back, and the trunk is the easiest part.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island/NJ NY/NJ
Mine's a Kenwood but it also had the trigger wire required. I also ran this off of the 12V positive from the reverse lights and ran it all the way to the head unit.
-The first 12V & ground to the camera powers the camera only when in reverse.
-The second 12V+ ran from the reverse light wire to the head unit tells the head unit "I'm in reverse." This automatically changes the screen display to the rear view camera.
I drilled a small hole for this wire and the RCA wire right behind the passenger reverse light and then sealed it with plumber's putty. I had the entire interior out for the install so it was pretty easy to run the wires up to the front from there.
-The first 12V & ground to the camera powers the camera only when in reverse.
-The second 12V+ ran from the reverse light wire to the head unit tells the head unit "I'm in reverse." This automatically changes the screen display to the rear view camera.
I drilled a small hole for this wire and the RCA wire right behind the passenger reverse light and then sealed it with plumber's putty. I had the entire interior out for the install so it was pretty easy to run the wires up to the front from there.
i should mention that im color blind and after watching a video of someone with another pioneer HU, i think i put the video jack in the wrong port...
Last edited by 6spdg37s; May 4, 2021 at 07:11 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island/NJ NY/NJ
i forget, im color blind so i had to use a test light and mark them so didnt pay much attention to the colors. sorry, btw that hookup did work, i had pluged the video input in to the wrong one
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Cruising
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I have a C5 corvette and just installed the head unit which works great. But the backup camera changes over when it is in reverse but the camera is not powering on. When i checked the reverse lights, I am only getting 10.67 volts. What did you do differently?
Thanks
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 166
From: Summerton SC
Tech Contributor
My B/U camera requires a 12v power source & ground, and a video RCA-IN to HU, my HU requires a reverse power signal to auto-display the B/U camera on the monitor (this way you can also switch to the B/U camera at any time). The reverse light is triggered by a switch w/gray wire at the trans, that wire runs to a battery bay, then to a fuse. Why run a reverse wire from the taillight when there's one next to the battery 3' away, yet NO ONE will tell us which wire that is on which of 3 or 4 harnesses, of which there are 16 diff gray wires, right there 3-feet away from the HU? Just bizarre and frustrating, if I figure it out I'll let you know
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Moving this over to the Tech side of the house.