My rear cam is currently powered off the 7-pin hot wire. It's a keyed 12v source. The F-150 cam is powered whenever key is on, so I figured that's good enough for me

The reverse wire in mirror is simply a switching source. It tells the mirror to turn on the LCD.

Using a diode, you can wire the LCD via the reverse trigger and a up fitter to turn on anytime you desire. I plan on #3 being the switch between front/back, and #4 as the LCD trigger

 

What would the function of the diode be?

 

diode is an electrical check valve. only allows current flow in 1 direction.

If you were to just wire a switch in, anytime you turned on the mirror with a switch, the reverse lights would also get power...pretty sure that'd confuse the people behind you

with the diode installed, it keeps current from going back down the reverse line. that way you can toggle the LCD on/off, and it'll still work 100% whenever you have the transmission in reverse.


a nifty little feature IMO

 

Mechanical repairs....plumbing....the secret to life = No prob. Got it down pat.

Anything electrical = Quantum physics

Stewart

 

at some point I'll do a 100% write-up on how I made the parts fit my F-250. The wiring and whatnot would be usefull for general tech purposes in any number of vehicles.

I'll make sure to include wiring diagrams for the "challenged"

Hard to believe it took Ford until 2008 to add this feature to their vehicles. I can't imagine driving my truck without the camera anymore.

 

Tylus, i would call it a steering diode, only works that way in a dc circuit. I would use a center off double pole, double throw switch up for reverse operation, down for on continous on or foward camera...

 

I bought this 7" tinted rear view mirrow a couple of months ago and have to say that it work great. My wife love it......and I dont want to miss it, too, though Im driving a hazmat 18wheeler and the Ex is a kind of quad for me, belongs to it size.
This monitor has two inputs for 2 cameras, but can shows only one input at a time. One input is automatically on, when a signal came from the backup light, the other one is manuel, think about a front view camera or a TV/DVD signal.

7" LCD TFT MONITOR INNENSPIEGEL RüCKSPIEGEL AUTO KFZ | eBay

I try to attache some pics of it.
For me its one of the best mods.

 

If somebody desired a 2x 4" dual monitor inside your rear view mirrow....
here it is.....
Rückspiegel Monitor Auto LCD TFT 2x 10,9cm (2x 4,3") Rückfahrkamera NTSC PAL (4047442002540) | eBay
I couldnt say anything about the quality of this one.

Im not sure if they export it to te US and if its more expensive to buy it in the
ebay.com then in ebay.de, but if anyone would buy it, I would buy it and sent it
to you or wpnaes. There will be a way for sure.

 

Thanks for the link. I had been thinking about the kind that only have a small portion of the mirror turn into the video, but I guess if you're watching the video, you're really not looking at anything else in the mirror anyway. That would mean the bigger the picture the better.

Edit: That looks like this one. http://www.amazon.com/Inch-Widescree.../dp/B005I7UQ4K

 

Yes, seems to be same one.
I have to say, that the first impression is, that it is quite dark tinted, like an automatically tinting in a Mercedes or BMW when youre driving at night and somebody followed with highbeams.
But its mirrows enough to see the traffic behind, so my wife and I
feels quite comfortable with that issue.
The big picture is just great. Especially to watch TV News in a traffic jam, drink a coffee and see on those odd faces in those cars around.