Hooking up backup camera

bakbonz · July 16, 2012, 05:25:23 AM

I am hooking up a camera system for my MCI 1985 102 A3. Does anyone know where to find the reverse wire under the dash to hookup the rear camera ? I know that I can hook it up directly to power to have it on all the time but this deactivates the left and right camera from coming on automatically when I use the turn signal.

PCC · July 16, 2012, 07:09:34 AM

Welcome to the site. You will find a ton of real people to be of assistance as you work on your bus.

However, you do need to tell us the type of vehicle you have, and whether it is automatic or standard transmission, if we are to have a chance to help locate that wire !!

You have a great day, and someday, we will all meet you at a gathering.

blue_goose · July 16, 2012, 08:47:09 AM

I think you will have a 740 transmission. You will have to go to the power wire the turns on the backup lights. That is form a switch on the transmission. You should be able to find a unused wire in the rear elect. box to go to the front electric box.
Jack

thomasinnv · July 16, 2012, 10:56:43 AM

you should have a backup lamp in the instrument panel. Maybe hook into that?

belfert · July 16, 2012, 10:57:01 AM

The backup lights might be 24 volts which would present problems to the backup camera if it is looking for 12 volts.

Jeremy · July 16, 2012, 11:13:50 AM

Perhaps simply fit a switch to turn the back-up camera on? There's lots of reasons to want to use the rear camera when going forwards

Jeremy

gus · July 16, 2012, 04:30:24 PM

Leave it on all the time, it is worth its weight in gold in traffic.

belfert · July 16, 2012, 05:08:33 PM

I agree on just leaving the backup camera on any time the vehicle is running. One problem, at least with my backup camera, is that if it is angled to truly be useful for backing up it isn't useful for seeing traffic. We are usually pulling a trailer on trips so the camera isn't of much use for anything then.

lvmci · July 16, 2012, 06:50:08 PM

Bakbonz, I picked up a RF on/ off switch from Frys electronics store, that had two on/offs on one fob like device, with two corresponding electronic switch units, all 12volts. So I turn on my side and rear cameras from the fob that hangs near my switches in the drivers area, turned my inexpensive rf camera from pepboys into my side view camera, hung from the outside passenger mirror, which clearly allows the view of pedestrians and motorcycles, enhancing the mirrors, lvmci...

Lin · July 16, 2012, 07:28:25 PM

When turning on to Hwy 99 yesterday, I heard a thump and felt a shake. I thought I hit a pot hole, but immediately began to wonder if my toad detaching had been the cause. Of course, I can not see the toad unless turning. I had to wait till the next exit to find the toad still there and happy. A backup camera with a manual switch would certainly have been useful!

Cary and Don · July 16, 2012, 07:36:03 PM

We have ours wired into the house batteries. That way if there are odd sounds in the back while parked we can investigate without going out side.

Don and Cary
1973 05 Eagle
GM 4107
Neolan AN340

PP · July 16, 2012, 07:58:31 PM

I totally understand not wanting to leave it on fulltime if it's going to mess with your side cameras. But rather than be limited to using it only when you're in reverse, i think the suggestion to put it on its only toggle switch is a good one. That way you can use it in the odd situation that you hadn't foreseen. My 2 Lincoln's worth. Good luck, Will

Jeremy · July 17, 2012, 03:21:25 AM

Quote from: belfert on July 16, 2012, 05:08:33 PM
I agree on just leaving the backup camera on any time the vehicle is running. One problem, at least with my backup camera, is that if it is angled to truly be useful for backing up it isn't useful for seeing traffic. We are usually pulling a trailer on trips so the camera isn't of much use for anything then.

I spent some time fiddling with an electric mirror mechanism to build a system that would enable me to point the the rear camera in different directions from the driver's seat. The electric mirror mechanism was a good idea in principle because they are neat little self-contained units which allow you to control movement in two planes (up-and-down and side-to-side) simultaneously. But I found that they don't really have enough travel to take the camera from a 'looking down the road' to a 'looking at the rear bumper' position. Eventually I gave up and just fitted two rear cameras, with a switch to switch between them.

Jeremy

jjrbus · July 17, 2012, 06:18:15 AM

Quote from: Jeremy on July 17, 2012, 03:21:25 AM
Quote from: belfert on July 16, 2012, 05:08:33 PM
I agree on just leaving the backup camera on any time the vehicle is running. One problem, at least with my backup camera, is that if it is angled to truly be useful for backing up it isn't useful for seeing traffic. We are usually pulling a trailer on trips so the camera isn't of much use for anything then.

I spent some time fiddling with an electric mirror mechanism to build a system that would enable me to point the the rear camera in different directions from the driver's seat. The electric mirror mechanism was a good idea in principle because they are neat little self-contained units which allow you to control movement in two planes (up-and-down and side-to-side) simultaneously. But I found that they don't really have enough travel to take the camera from a 'looking down the road' to a 'looking at the rear bumper' position. Eventually I gave up and just fitted two rear cameras, with a switch to switch between them.

Back up camera is the wrong description, it is a keep an eye on the toad camera!!

I tried the same thing Jeremy, after several hours I gave up and threw it all out. 2nd camera is a great idea. JIm

Jeremy

chev49 · July 17, 2012, 07:45:56 AM

mine died last week, and i can't find the sales reciept....

i checked it and it's the circuit board inside...