Hardware Review: License mount camera

DodgeCummins · 04-25-2007, 10:37 AM

EDIT: New Pictures.

You can see by the pictures it is a Rearview camera that mounts to your license plate holder.

I posted a picture of the packaging, so you can figure out what brand it is...I have no idea, I got it off Ebay for under $80.

Specs:
1/3" CMOS (I know they are supposed to be crap...what are you gonna do)
12V
NTSC
2.0 LUX

You get the camera, and about 30' of RCA cable.

The camera body itself can be tilted (by hand) to about +/- 10deg.

FOV is not listed, but you can look at the pictures...and it is a wider FOV than all my rear view mirrors combined (overhead and door).

It has a pretty good low light capability...and it has 8 IR LEDs to light up nearby stuff...and your reverse lights should light up everything else.

The photo of the screen shows the curb beside the truck, and where the concrete driveway changes to the asphalt street, then the curb and yard across the street.

It tries to auto balance the image, so sometimes light things get washed out so it can show the darker images clearer.

I have it wired to my Reverse lights, with the entire 30' video cable snaking to the front of my truck, into the cab and back to the computer (that is where the monitor video input is).
When I put it into reverse the camera powers on. In addition my monitor has an auto switching feature, so I wired that to the reverse light wiring at the front of the truck, so the monitor auto switches to the reverse camera, and the reverse camera automatically turns on when I put it into reverse.

I have had it for a week now. The video cable is pretty small...the turn signal creates a tiny interference on the screen.

But it works great!

I wish I had had this years ago...I can see so well out the back now...and it will make hooking up trailers a snap.

Ok...this picture didn't come out so good...but I will let the viewer decide.

This is the same view as the other screen photo looking across the street to the neighbors house.

I rolled the black trash can behind the truck...it is being illuminated by the reverse lights...so what looks like glare is actually the trash can itself.

The bottom line is...if there is nothing behind you...then the IR lights or your backup lights won't illuminate anything...and my backup lights suck...I got a better view with the brakes pressed.

maniaxzero · 04-28-2007, 07:59 PM

nice review! but the nightvision seems to be lacking in performance.

btw, whats the model of your lcd screen?

DodgeCummins · 04-29-2007, 09:43 AM

I am not sure about the night performance...I have walked behind the truck with it on, and could see my shirt glowing brightly in the display (through the rear window)...

I will try to go to a more realistic location...but even so it won't be a night vision goggle image.

The monitor is the Dynamix ...revewed a couple of threads down.

Octavio · 06-10-2007, 12:38 PM

Nice Review anyone else have a review? thanks

DodgeCummins · 06-18-2007, 12:01 AM

Some updated pictures.

Octavio · 06-18-2007, 09:33 AM

I just bought a rear camera, I'm having ship to my country and will have install asap

jgdynamics · 08-06-2007, 04:48 PM

i had a question, is it bad to have the camera run 24/7 while im in my car? i dont usually drive too long, i would say up to 3 hours max a day of being on? is that bad?

DodgeCummins · 08-07-2007, 06:40 PM

In my opinion all electronic devices wear out over time...so running it all the time would shorten its life.

However power surges with constantly turning things on and off greatly shortens life span also.

But in my case I just wired it up to the reverse lights...so it is powered when I am in reverse...and the screen switches to the reverse camera at the same time.

In your case, I don't think running a camera 3 hours a day would be a big deal at all.

Octavio · 08-08-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jgdynamics

i had a question, is it bad to have the camera run 24/7 while im in my car? i dont usually drive too long, i would say up to 3 hours max a day of being on? is that bad?

I have the same Issue, I install my rear back camera and is always on, I wish there was a Off and On button or something like it .... can this option be install on it?

anyone

loginfailed · 08-09-2007, 07:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Octavio

I have the same Issue, I install my rear back camera and is always on, I wish there was a Off and On button or something like it .... can this option be install on it?

anyone

Just get a relay and use the reverse lights to trigger the relay. most reverse lights are positive polarity so do it like this

bosch type SPDT (single pole double throw) automotive 30 amp relay

terminal 85 to ground
terminal 86 to your reverse lights
terminal 30 to the power source you are using to power the camera
terminal 87 to the power input on your camera

when you put it in reverse the camera will turn on and it will go off when the car is not in reverse

Relay info in case you need it:
http://www.the12volt.com/relays/relays.asp

Octavio · 08-10-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by loginfailed

Just get a relay and use the reverse lights to trigger the relay. most reverse lights are positive polarity so do it like this

bosch type SPDT (single pole double throw) automotive 30 amp relay

terminal 85 to ground
terminal 86 to your reverse lights
terminal 30 to the power source you are using to power the camera
terminal 87 to the power input on your camera

when you put it in reverse the camera will turn on and it will go off when the car is not in reverse

Relay info in case you need it:
http://www.the12volt.com/relays/relays.asp

actually my unit has a reverse dedicated set up but I connect my rear view without having to put reverse and show the reverse view, I wanted to show rear view any time durring normal drive ..... but my cam seem to be on full time can I do something to turn it off? thanks

theheel · 08-10-2007, 02:21 PM

fusion brain + relays i think would be able to let u control it..but then thats some $$ that u would need to spend

jgdynamics · 08-12-2007, 03:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DodgeCummins

In my opinion all electronic devices wear out over time...so running it all the time would shorten its life.

However power surges with constantly turning things on and off greatly shortens life span also.

But in my case I just wired it up to the reverse lights...so it is powered when I am in reverse...and the screen switches to the reverse camera at the same time.

In your case, I don't think running a camera 3 hours a day would be a big deal at all.

thanks alot, hopefully i can get around to installing it, its been sitting in my room for about a month now... i think im going to just wire it along with my amplifier, so everything turns on with one switch, switch-> carputer/amplifier/rearview camera.

HiJackZX1 · 03-06-2008, 03:09 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Octavio

actually my unit has a reverse dedicated set up but I connect my rear view without having to put reverse and show the reverse view, I wanted to show rear view any time durring normal drive ..... but my cam seem to be on full time can I do something to turn it off? thanks

You can do like I did..... Run a wire from your ACC 12V+ source to the camera. That way when you turn the key the camera turns on, when you turn the key off, the screen goes off. Remeber to put a fuse between the Acc 12v+ and the camera. In my case, I have a 15 inch screen for the rear on the way, so when that is down, I can not see behind me..... So when the car is on, I need my cam to be on....