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Has anyone installed a camera in the front bumper for "curb parking"? I know that there is the "curb alert" thing but the camera could be a little cooler/effective. I had a Challenger that I traded in towards my new Vette purchase and a guy on the Challenger forum installed a little "backup" camera from ebay in the front bumper for parking. He was able to find the wires for the rear view camera that is installed in the car from the factory and splice into it with a switch. Any interest?
Has anyone installed a camera in the front bumper for "curb parking"? I know that there is the "curb alert" thing but the camera could be a little cooler/effective. I had a Challenger that I traded in towards my new Vette purchase and a guy on the Challenger forum installed a little "backup" camera from ebay in the front bumper for parking. He was able to find the wires for the rear view camera that is installed in the car from the factory and splice into it with a switch. Any interest?
I've thought about it a lot! I'm hoping the Helms manual will be helpful, if it ever becomes available.
Issue I forsee...
Even if switched with rear camera, the camera only comes on the screen in reverse!
They do have electronics that are inserted between radio and original harness to allow lots of options and additional video in, but I haven't seen anything like that for a C7
I was looking at a front parking assist kit made by a company called Crimestopper or something like that. The kit had a couple of radar sensing pucks (paintable) that you mount in your front bumper and a small L.E.D. visual display screen that alerts you when you get close to objects.
I'm seriously considering getting the kit and seeing if I can figure out a clean install. I'm pretty sure that I can.
I'm about to buy the ACS Splitter; I'll see if I can mount the pucks in it; if not, then I may try to mount them in the fangs and then mount the LCD display screen in the cubby hole behing the infotainment screen.
Behind the screen, it wouldn't normally be visable; I can lower the infotainment screen when I'm about to park to have the LED screen available.
I definitely would love to see what ideas folks come up with for this. I still park way the heck back from any curb or parking stop since you can't easily tell where the front of the car stops.
A thought for a direction to go: put a small screen in the space behind the stereo screen and wire it with a switch in that space as well. When you pull up to a parking spot, drop the main screen and turn on the 'secondary' screen for parking confidence.
To setup a front facing camera it would be helpful to have some information on the current camera system and display. Some questions below:
1) Does the current system display the rearview camera image when the car goes into reverse (ie: 12V signal sent to display) or is the rearview camera signal a "dominate" override to anything currently displayed?
2) I would think the rearview camera power is relayed to the reverse lights so when they come on the power to the camera is started as well. That way the camera is not powered all the time but only when needed and when the display detects a signal on this channel then it immediately switches to it? Can anyone confirm?
If the above is true then then to install a new front facing camera we would need to:
1) Setup a few relays to a switch.
2) One relay would simply apply power to front camera when switched.
3) Next relay would have both NO and NC poles. The rear camera signal could be spliced into the the NC leg and the front camera signal spliced to the NO pole. So when engaged the signal input to the display is broken to rearview camera and applied to new front camera.
4) Wiring to rearview camera would be necessary, schematics etc.
5) Obviously there is the warranty question "will this effect my warranty?"........probably if there is an electrical issue that arises and the dealer is picky.
I was looking at a front parking assist kit made by a company called Crimestopper or something like that. The kit had a couple of radar sensing pucks (paintable) that you mount in your front bumper and a small L.E.D. visual display screen that alerts you when you get close to objects.
I'm seriously considering getting the kit and seeing if I can figure out a clean install. I'm pretty sure that I can.
I'm about to buy the ACS Splitter; I'll see if I can mount the pucks in it; if not, then I may try to mount them in the fangs and then mount the LCD display screen in the cubby hole behing the infotainment screen.
Behind the screen, it wouldn't normally be visable; I can lower the infotainment screen when I'm about to park to have the LED screen available.
Check out the mini curb alert from forum vendor Southern Car Parts. Be sure to look at the mini version on the C7 as opposed to the standard version also pictured.
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
the problem with a front mounted camera is that you'd need a screen to see it, I think warning chimes would be a good option too or is there a way to view the camera through the infotainment screen?
See below for possible wiring schematic, let me know if there would be a better way to do this and I can correct.The signal common to two cameras should be able to share same connection. I think you could use a T-Tap and splice new camera signal common into rearview camera signal common?
So basically with the switch off, the rearview camera system would work like normal. With switch on, the front camera would be energized and the signal would be sent thru the relay to the infotainment screen. Thought it be best to run rearview camera signal thru the NC part of the relay to disable it when the front camera signal was active.
Any thoughts?
Would Theta have the wiring diagrams to the rearview camera and infotainment screen?
I bet you could set this up with camera/mounting/wiring/switch/relay for around $50-$60.
How about one if those really tiny dashcam cameras that mount behind the rear view mirror. You could use that by removing the plastic shell and discretely wiring the camera to the bumper
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by TXArtic
See below for possible wiring schematic, let me know if there would be a better way to do this and I can correct.The signal common to two cameras should be able to share same connection. I think you could use a T-Tap and splice new camera signal common into rearview camera signal common?
So basically with the switch off, the rearview camera system would work like normal. With switch on, the front camera would be energized and the signal would be sent thru the relay to the infotainment screen. Thought it be best to run rearview camera signal thru the NC part of the relay to disable it when the front camera signal was active.
Any thoughts?
Would Theta have the wiring diagrams to the rearview camera and infotainment screen?
I bet you could set this up with camera/mounting/wiring/switch/relay for around $50-$60.
I'm sure that work but you definitely would need the proper wiring diagram for the rear camera.
I have been considering buying an aftermarket rearview mirror with the small LCD screen. That would keep everything pretty clean and no need to flip between front and back.
Did the Curb Alert folks ever do a thorough installation video for the C7? I know they were saying it would work,but never was able to show how.
Just watch the C6 video, then Glen E's write-up on wiring etc.. It's a universal part, No mystery, and YES, many of us have them and they work just fine. On sale now BTW.
I'm very concerned about potential curb damage to the front bumper also, however, I'm more than hesitant to have anyone splice into any of the wiring of my new car and perhaps screw up some other system. So I started thinking, what about a wireless camera and receiver? I found this system online:
You only need a 12v power supply for the sending unit, the receiver is wireless and can be placed anywhere inside the car. (behind the infotainment screen) Where inside the engine compartment would you recommend getting the 12v power from?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Frank
Last edited by Red 50th Anniversary; Jul 1, 2014 at 10:38 PM.
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Red 50th Anniversary
I'm very concerned about potential curb damage to the front bumper also, however, I'm more than hesitant to have anyone splice into any of the wiring of my new car and perhaps screw up some other system. So I started thinking, what about a wireless camera and receiver? I found this system online:
You only need a 12v power supply for the sending unit, the receiver is wireless and can be placed anywhere inside the car. (behind the infotainment screen) Where inside the engine compartment would you recommend getting the 12v power from?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Frank
those don't look too bad, I'm going to ask a company that we use to install stereos, DVD's, B/U cameras and whatnot which would be the best route to go. For me I want my front mounted park assist camera to be discrete and accurate, an on/off switch would be nice too.
those don't look too bad, I'm going to ask a company that we use to install stereos, DVD's, B/U cameras and whatnot which would be the best route to go. For me I want my front mounted park assist camera to be discrete and accurate, an on/off switch would be nice too.
I'm with you on the discrete thing. The above system comes with sensors that are put right into your bumper cover or spliter and can be painted to match the car so they would look just like the rear back up sensors.
Camera in front bumper?
