Wiring backup/Rearview camera -- can engine crank damage?!

**justintime** · 11-11-2005, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jackboot

If you've already run one wire to the camera, just use that wire to pull 4 new wires (or 2 long wires folded in half)...hopefully then you won't have to take off all the interior panels again! Good luck

haha good idea. Problem is, I did a real good job at securing the wires with vinyl ties. Sucks!

**shotgunefx** · 11-11-2005, 08:12 PM

Could probably just use a 12v zener diode as well.

**chuckster** · 11-12-2005, 10:12 AM

Is your display powered through your PSU? If so then the relay is an awesome idea otherwise you may have a slight delay between the point when your PSU powers your camera and when your display powers up.

I have the opus and I believe there is a 5sec delay from ignition position to actual Opus power on to the PC.

Just something to look at.

Chuck

**justintime** · 11-12-2005, 10:23 AM

Yeah, my display (Xenarc) is powered by the OPUS150. There is ~ 5 sec delay as you said. No biggie. Xenarc and Camera would power up simultaneously. This gives me something to look at while the PC resumes from hibernate, and I am backing out of my spot/garage etc.

**justintime** · 11-12-2005, 10:25 AM

I'm goint to buy a fuse and inline fuse holder for the camera. I need the power consumption of the camera (watts) to be able to determine the fuse size, but I have no idea what the wattage is, as the device did not include any specs, instructions, etc. All I know is I=P/V and I know V=12v anyone know what P (watts) would be for a std camera like this (approx?)

**lez** · 11-12-2005, 11:01 AM

most 7-8 inch lcd's will be happy with a 1amp fuse. if that blows in normal use fit a 2 amp.

camera should not need a 2 amp, but if it has led's for night use it may need a 2 amp.

this is a 'guide' figure and not gospal as some models will vary.

But 99.99% accurate as most screens / camera's are in the half to 1 amp range, so a 1 or 2 amp fuse is all it should ever need.

**justintime** · 11-12-2005, 11:10 AM

So, @ 2 amps, this means the camera consumes ~ 24Watts of power? That's a lot, isn't it?

**albysure** · 11-12-2005, 11:52 AM

a lot of cars have 2 ignition lines (Accessory). one stays on during cranking. you can let me know what kind of car you have and i'll give you the wiring for it. the wire that remains on would be used in a car starter circuit. the cameras i've seen have a low voltage cutoff so it shuts off if too low. i would power the relay from the same power source the screen has and use the reverse wire to trigger it. that way they work when you want them to.

**justintime** · 11-12-2005, 12:16 PM

albysure:

2002 Honda CR-V as per my sig.

I'm now thinking that I don't want to power the camera off the Opus, because I cannot afford to draw any more watts out of it. Seriously... an additional 12-24 extra watts is likely above the 150Watt mark.