I just finished installing new dvd navigation unit in my 98 club wagon.
I did not want to hard wire the rear view camera so I bought a "wireless" transmitter/receiver kit for the rear view camera. the receiver is installed on the head unit and the transmitter on the camera and powered by taping the reverse light wires which I did. the problem is I get no signal. the unit says no signal when I put the van in reverse. the indicator light on the transmitter has power in reverse like the instructions said.
I'm thinking there is not enough voltage from the reverse light power wire. the transmitter power req says "12-14v +or- 1.2%.
Any Ideas? (I really dont want to run a video cable the length of the van).

 

You're simply encountering typical problems with cheap wireless automotive products----they tend to be at best sketchy in their performance.

If the issue really is insufficient voltage via the wire you spliced into then use a relay to supply the full battery power to the transmitter.

This is also a problem perhaps best addressed by the component manufacturer as they'll have knowledge how these can be made to work better together.

 

Why would you think that? Don't your backup lights work properly?

 

Thanks for the reply. you are probably right with the fact that it is a cheap china product. I read online that voltage drop to the rev light might be enough to not activate the transmitter. Also some have said that adding a relay might help. I don't know much about adding a relay, and I would only do that if it could be done from the wire harness in the tail light area.

 

Because the transmitter seems to be so voltage-dependent for proper operation (aka "transmit") then its highly likely the tapped circuit is delivering battery or alternator voltage however its not capable of supplying current, aka "amps". For this reason its not able to send a strong enough signal to the receiver.

A relay installed to engage when reverse lights are triggered would be used to supply dedicated 12 volts nominal to the transmitter however this would require another single wire being run to the transmitter's location or electrical connection point.

Because the Club Wagon interior tends to make this a bit more difficult I'm not sure how to best advise you.

 

If your backup lights operate at full brightness, there's nothing wrong with the power being delivered to the rear of the truck and there is no need for the addition of a relay.

 

I'm now thinking it's best to run a video cable from back to front of van. So the the question is, which is easier, to run underneath or inside through the headliner somehow.

 

After doing a bit more error checking, here is what I found; The problem is in the Front and not the rear transmitter, the "wireless" receiver needs activation from the reverse as well. ( with eng off in rev and power on) I disconnected and reconnected power wire.

To my surprise wireless transmitter worked and rear of van was displayed on screen. Here is the problem. receiver power wire for camera needs a "trigger" from the Reverse also. But it cannot be direct power which I tried. both receiver and transmitter have to be off and powered up about the same time (from rev) nowhere in the instructions is that mentioned or shown on diagram.

Is there any location up front, reverse light fuse, under the dash or in the engine bay that I can draw power from? and if so how I would I do it? Vehicle electrics and audio is not one of my strong points

 

Amp draw is important to know in order to suggest which close-by circuit could be tapped into without taxing that circuit and potentially blowing that fuse. If your dash has a lighter or power point plug those typically are fused at 10 or 15 amps which would be sufficient to power something consuming an amp or two.

The trigger could still be a relay activated by the reverse light switch, power for its holding coil also obtained from the ligher/power point tap.

 

Specs say it is less than 250mA.

 

The light finally came on to stop over engineering this "wireless transmitter" problem. I ran a "trigger wire from the rev light to the front. problem solved. I have a rubber floor liner, just ran it underneath. Back up camera now works good. (I thought wireless meant no wires)
So my refresh(aka mild custom) project is now complete. Added dvd navigation head unit, 14" flip down dvd player/monitor first row and 9" flip down monitor 2nd row.
various suspension parts were added over the summer.
thanks for the comments.

 

Some solutions are elegantly simple right?

on your fix---if it works that's all that's necessary.