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

**justintime** · 11-19-2005, 04:09 PM

Strata: I meant the BACKUP light, sorry.

Well, the backup light fuse is not blown. I also noticed the meter (the mileage counter display) was not working. (panicked!).

I checked THAT fuse, and it was blown (go figure?!). Replaced it, and all seems to work normally now, but have not done throorough checking. Might be other blown fuses. I also noticed that HONDA has mistakenly swapped 2 fuses... a 15A and a 10A... so as it turns out, the BACKUP/REVERSE fuse had a 15A instead of a 10A... I would say the proper protection was not offered due to this, and hence other blown fuses. Damn HONDA for this argh!

**SnyperBob** · 11-19-2005, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by justintime

Strata dont worry about it. I have bigger problems thi minute. While testing the voltage of the rear light, I shorted them out, and now by car is acting up. I cannot see any blown fuses. OMFG I am going to kill myslef if I caused any damage LOL

Maybe next time you'lll save yourself a week of wiring/rewiring and just put your car in 1st or 2nd gear when parking

I've never heard of anyone putting their manual in reverse while parking. And to the other guy that had his car roll down the hill - it's pretty much common sense to cock your wheels while parking on a hill. That's even taught in driving school....

M'eh, anyway - good luck with getting your car fixed

I'd give it about a week before the 1st gear thing would become a habit. Beats frying your car or your camera. Plus the amount of time you'd save messing around with it....

creatures of habit

**Vinister** · 11-19-2005, 04:38 PM

ditto thats bad for the transmission imho

**justintime** · 11-19-2005, 06:30 PM

I got lazy, and have scrapped the idea of wiring to the OPUS, and also scrapped the idea of putting a switch on the dash

I checked the voltage of the reverse light, and it fluctuates from 9V to 13.5V depending on the engine conditions (engine on/off, cranking etc). As stated by others, its not suitable for the camera.

I think I might try to wire it to the rear cig lighter socket instead, and use the relay to have the reverse lamps act as a trigger on the relay coil.

My assumption here is that the voltage on the cigarette lighter is more constant than the one on the reverse lamp wiring. I say this because these sockets are in fact MEANT to power devices, and not for cig lighters (the socket reads: "150W maximum, not a cigarette lighter")

**StrataG** · 11-19-2005, 08:05 PM

I would double check on the voltage for that as well though. It is meant to power things for the car. Electronics that have cigarette lighter plugs are typically designed to accept variable ranges.

**sivart321** · 11-19-2005, 10:17 PM

What he said^^. The cig lighter will show the same variation that you see in the reverse lights. There is no regulation in the cig lighter socket, it is most likely just a different wire run from the fuse box, all coming off the battery anyhow.

I should note that the cameras do take a few seconds for a solid picture to show up. If hooked up to the reverse light, it might be a second or two before you have a visible picture. A switched ACC line is a better option, as it will be on whenever the key is in the ignition. The cig lighter in the back would only work if it is switched with the acc position (otherwise the camera will always been draining power)

Another option if you are worried about too much voltage going to the camera is to throw in a LM7812 voltage regulator feeding the camera. Granted, it will only give you 12v output with a 13V+ or higher input, you really only need the camera when the car is on. It also wont help clean the noise in the power. You will most likely have some noise unless you hook it up to a decent regulator (such as your opus, or a standalone regulator like I mentioned before that has the ability to be on when the computer is not.) Just throwing it out there.

**justintime** · 11-19-2005, 11:15 PM

I guess I could run it from the OPUS, but I'm afraid I might hit the 150W limit with that... running pretty close as it is right now. (at least that is what I think -- have no idea how to measure the draw)

**sivart321** · 11-19-2005, 11:31 PM

Those cameras only draw a few mA. It should be fine.
If you don't mind waiting for the opus to turn on, I would go that route.

**justintime** · 11-19-2005, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by sivart321

Those cameras only draw a few mA. It should be fine.
If you don't mind waiting for the opus to turn on, I would go that route.

My Xenarc is powered from the OPUS anyway... so the delay was something that I was going to HAVE to deal with regardless, if you see what I mean.

**sivart321** · 11-20-2005, 01:08 AM

Sounds like your problem is solved. It will be nice and clean and shouldn't give you any problems with noise either.

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