tbird2340

I won this rear view camera off eBay and I plan to do a helpful review for everyone.

First.. There were two sellers I found selling this identical camera. This seller I bought it off was a couple dollars more but said you'd receive it in 2-3 business days and I did.. He shipped from California and I got it in two days.. I was very happy about that..

One thing that sucked and I'm still working on is that it came with NO instructinos. I have been emailing the seller asking questions and he promptly returns them.

Here is some pics:









My question to him was how do I power the thing? Here was his reply:

"Thanks for your mail.
It could be powered directly by mobile power system DC 12V.
Here is the photo for your reference.
http://www.ksoffice.com.tw/ebay/US/C...weradaptor.jpg
So you may cut the power cord of the camera by yourself to connect to the vehicle power system.
There are three rings that you could mount it into the keyhole of your vehicle.
If you have any further question, please do not hesitate to mail me again.
Regards,

David (eBay Seller ID : dvoneb)"

Hesistant to cut something that I wasn't supposed to so I didn't jack it up I emailed him again and asked him if there were two wires (a ground and a hot) and if I was supposed to just snip the red connector off. And his reply was:

"Hi,

There are two wire, the red jack is for power cord, and the yellow one is for video output.
Please see the label of the power adapter in the photo.
http://www.ksoffice.com.tw/ebay/US/C...weradaptor.jpg
The fire wire(positive) is inside, and the ground(negative) is outside.
Thanks, David"

I'm still not sure what he's talking about.. If I cut this red RCA off and strip the wire back is there going to be two wires to tie into??

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Current Vehicle: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab

First Vehicle: 2003 Ford Ranger

jcdillin

Yes. They are just using a RCA plug instead of a barrel connector for power. So if you cut if off you will have 2 wires to use. Did it come with a power adapter?

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肚子笑痛了
S60 Install

tbird2340

No.. No power adapter...What you see is that it came with..

So your saying to snip off the red plug and there should be two wires there?

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Current Vehicle: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab

First Vehicle: 2003 Ford Ranger

jcdillin

yes. But leave a little wire on the RCA plug so you can keep track of the polarity

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肚子笑痛了
S60 Install

R32 JUhl

Tbird,

This is my first post. I've been lurking for a few weeks doing research and multiple searches. And WOW! I'm finally getting caught up enough to read NEW posts! Anyhow, you're in luck. Last week I got some components from an investment property that used the same connectors you have.

What the seller is trying to say is that there are two wires in that red wire. The picture he provided shows the layout of the adapter pin needed to power that camera using a 120V to 12V adapter. Going by the picture, the inside terminal is power the outside is ground. When you cut the wire, you will probably see a shielded ground with a power wire wrapped inside it. That will be your guide as to how to power it.

Depending on your PSU and your available power, you can grab the 12V supply from it... or if you're willing to take the risk, wire it directly to your cars 12V supply. I can't imagine it pulls enough wattage to be concerned with!

jcdillin

R32 is right, but I would power it from the computer to keep from frying it if it gets too much voltage from the car.

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肚子笑痛了
S60 Install

tbird2340

Ok.. Snipped it.. There's a red wire and then a bare wire. I'm assuming the bare wire is the ground correct?

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Current Vehicle: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab

First Vehicle: 2003 Ford Ranger

jcdillin

Yes that sounds right. Bare would be shield and the red is positive.

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肚子笑痛了
S60 Install

tbird2340

Ok.. I have one of those adapters that go from 120 to a variety of volts. I set it to 12V and alligator clipped the wires together.. I got nuttin. Flipped the polarity switch.. Still nuttin...

The ONLY thing that I have a question with is... If the polarity was wrong when hooked up could it have jacked it up and then when I switched it to the correct polarity it not matter because it was jacked up?

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Current Vehicle: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab

First Vehicle: 2003 Ford Ranger

jcdillin

Ouch, yeah if you didnt check to make sure of the polarity coming from the adapter it could have definitly roasted the camera.

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肚子笑痛了
S60 Install

R32 JUhl

I'll second that.

Enforcer

I was going to say a that if you look at the power supply that was supplied, it is showing tip negative (ground) which is the opposite to which it looks like you and jcdillin assumed.

as to whether you have burnt it out, depends on the quality of the camera, a good one would of had polarity protection.

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hd54321

FYI - the adapter might not be pulling the right amount of amps to power the camera.

1.) Figure out the positive and negative wires from the camera
2.) take an extra Molex adapter (splitter) you may have lying around for your computer and cut off one of the Molex ends
3.) Identify the 12 volt and ground wires on the Molex. (I think the yellow wire is 12 volt and the red wire is 5 volt - don't take my word for it, do some verification yourself)
4.) Connect the positive camera wire to the +12v wire of the molex connector and the negative to negative
5.) Connect the other end of the Molex to your computer power supply and power up your computer
6.) Enjoy.

If you've done these steps correctly and still don't see anything from the camera, than it's probably fried. Good luck.

-HD

R32 JUhl

http://www.ksoffice.com.tw/ebay/US/C...weradaptor.jpg
Hmmm... to me that says tip positive, outside negative...

tbird2340

FYI - This powersupply WAS NOT supplied. The only thing that came is the camera.. That is it.. No manual / instructions.. And NO PS...

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Current Vehicle: 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab

First Vehicle: 2003 Ford Ranger