Wiring help for Rearview Camera

maxxell · 08-01-2006, 05:21 PM

Hey,

I want to not only be able to have the camera automatically turn on when the reverse lights kick in, but ALSO turn on when I flip a switch in the cabin. So here's a little circuit design I have, and I was wondering whether anyone could help me figure out resistor values, transistor requirements, etc... and just see whether it would work some simpler way.

Since I cant just do the simple 'power the camera from the reverse lights' trick, I have to find a new source of power. I could just tap the power from my distro block that's back there for the amps & carputer. Always having power would mean always having the cam active, so here are the two ways I plan on turning it on and off.

Right now I have 2 switches up in the cabin (see my sig for details, if you're interested). One of which is disposable now. The other interrupts the ACC signal en route to the Opus. I was thinking of splitting that signal immediately upstream of the switch and having both switches be ACC switches. Send the new switch to one of two transistors installed in parallel between the distro block and the camera. The other transistor, of course, comes from the backup lights.

Result, hopefully, would be that the camera would turn on EITHER when the reverse lights come on or when the switch is turned on.

So I probably need a resistor between the reverse lights and the one transistor; and maybe one between the switch and that transistor. How do I know what strength resistors do I need?

Thanks for any help.

albysure · 08-01-2006, 05:29 PM

is there a reason you can't hook into the reverse lights wire?

maxxell · 08-01-2006, 05:34 PM

Because I want to be able to flip the interior switch and turn on the camera even if I'm not in reverse.

kevinlekiller · 08-01-2006, 05:43 PM

Connect the camera to the reverse lights, and put a switch also with power coming from somewhere else ( when you flick the switch the reverse lights + cam go on).

Thats the simplest way to go, in the same time you benefit from the light showing on the ground. You can also add an isolator on the brake light original wire so power doesnt go back to wherever.

maxxell · 08-01-2006, 05:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kevinlekiller

Connect the camera to the reverse lights, and put a switch also with power coming from somewhere else ( when you flick the switch the reverse lights + cam go on).

Thats the simplest way to go, in the same time you benefit from the light showing on the ground. You can also add an isolator on the brake light original wire so power doesnt go back to wherever.

An interesting idea, but I dont want the reverse light going on everytime I turn on the camera. That seems like an unnecessary side effect for a not much simpler solution.

Anyone have any idea whether I need to use those resistors and if so, how powerful?