Backup camera install help.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Bel Air MD
Backup camera install help.
Ok I am trying to hook up a backup camera to a small LCD monitor in the cab. It seems fairly straight forward, except the video cable has a red wire coming out of it, I have no idea what this is for? The camera itself has two wires coming out, one (RED) goes to the power, ill probably hook this up to like running lights or something (so i can turn the camera on when I want, not just when im backing up) The other is the Video wire (YELLOW), this is what goes to the LCD and feeds the video, however, I have no idea what the red wire is that comes off each end of the video cable? There is no hookup for this anywhere else, im assuming maybe its to ground the video cable? that doesnt make sense though....
Little help? Also... any advice on the install?
Little help? Also... any advice on the install?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
That would be a chassis ground. This may or may not be useful in reducing/eliminating possible "noise" in the video. The ignition system on a gas vehicle can put out a lot of electromagnetic noise and car electronics are engineered to compensate for this. If you have a diesel, this is not necessary - but it can't hurt.
I notice your power cable is too short for a truck, I spliced mine to the B/U light signal in the tail light housing. I could have used the B/U light signal on the trailer wiring, but I didn't want to splice in a location exposed to the elements. The drawback to this approach is it only works in reverse. If you want to see through the camera any other time, you might consider splicing into the rear running lights. You'd have to have at least the clearance lights on to see behind you, but that's not such a bad thing and it's easy to wire.
I notice your power cable is too short for a truck, I spliced mine to the B/U light signal in the tail light housing. I could have used the B/U light signal on the trailer wiring, but I didn't want to splice in a location exposed to the elements. The drawback to this approach is it only works in reverse. If you want to see through the camera any other time, you might consider splicing into the rear running lights. You'd have to have at least the clearance lights on to see behind you, but that's not such a bad thing and it's easy to wire.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air MD
That would be a chassis ground. This may or may not be useful in reducing/eliminating possible "noise" in the video. The ignition system on a gas vehicle can put out a lot of electromagnetic noise and car electronics are engineered to compensate for this. If you have a diesel, this is not necessary - but it can't hurt.
I notice your power cable is too short for a truck, I spliced mine to the B/U light signal in the tail light housing. I could have used the B/U light signal on the trailer wiring, but I didn't want to splice in a location exposed to the elements. The drawback to this approach is it only works in reverse. If you want to see through the camera any other time, you might consider splicing into the rear running lights. You'd have to have at least the clearance lights on to see behind you, but that's not such a bad thing and it's easy to wire.
I notice your power cable is too short for a truck, I spliced mine to the B/U light signal in the tail light housing. I could have used the B/U light signal on the trailer wiring, but I didn't want to splice in a location exposed to the elements. The drawback to this approach is it only works in reverse. If you want to see through the camera any other time, you might consider splicing into the rear running lights. You'd have to have at least the clearance lights on to see behind you, but that's not such a bad thing and it's easy to wire.
New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7
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I used the red wire is for power. With the camera only using 200ma you can run the power wire close to the video cable. This way you can connect the ground wire to any bolt and run the power wire with the video cable. When i got into the cab, I used the other end or the red wire to power the camera with the same reverse wire for my head unit. The picture looks great with almost no noise. I did have to extend the wire because the wire that came with the camera was not long enough.
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 567
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If you have one of those $5 multimeters Harbor Freight sometimes gives away, you can verify the continuity between those unidentified red wires & the outer metal ring on the yellow RCA connectors. I would guess they are indeed alternate ground wires. Better to verify with a meter than to guess.
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Senior User
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From: Bel Air MD
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Before I wire anything I always do a continuity test. The red wire had continuity between both ends and did not have continuity with either of the contacts from the yellow video cable. I even found that the bolt on the tailgate handle has continuity with the body of the truck and can be used as a ground. I was kinda surprised about this because I know the pins that hold the tailgate in place have a rubber sleeve. But the cables that hold the tailgate in the proper open position do have continuity with the rest of the truck.
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