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Wal Mart sells a fuse tapper. You figure out which fuses are key on only and it replaces one, it then gives you a wire to use for power. Best 5 bucks you will spend on the whole project
If you have a 7 pin trailer connector, one pin should be 12v:
You could in theory add in a relay that would use the reverse light wire as your 'trigger' to turn on/off the relay, then wire the other side of the relay to the charging wire of the trailer adapter.
4 pin relays have 4 connectors labeled 30, 85, 86, and 87. Connect a wire from your reverse bulb (hot side) to connector 85. Run a wire from the chassis to connector 85. Run a wire from the 12v charge on the trailer wiring to connector 30, then run a wire from connector 87 as the power for the transmitter.
It may sound/look intimidating, but it's actually pretty easy.
This way you get 12v only when in reverse (so the transmitter only operates when you are actually backing - saving wear/tear over time).
If I am not mistaken, that center pin labeled aux in the above drawing is the reverse light wire. It should have more than enough juice to run a transmitter without a relay along with standard trailer lights.
If I am not mistaken, that center pin labeled aux in the above drawing is the reverse light wire. It should have more than enough juice to run a transmitter without a relay along with standard trailer lights.
Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I prefer to use the cigarette adapter option so I can just plug it in when I need it when backing up. Hooking up to reverse lights or 7 pin trailer connector necessitates running the power light all the way from the back of the truck to the front. If I could find a spare fuse in the fuse box that only came on with the reverse lights I'd go that route, but I don't think that would be easy.
I did find a fused cigarette adapter that supposedly delivers 12V, so am going to try that and see if it solves my problems.
Thanks again for the suggestions!
Karen
I installed the new 12V power adapter today. As soon as I plugged in the monitor it started blinking, even before I started the car. I thought, "Oh *****, that didn't solve the problem" but then I started it anyway and put the car in reverse and lo and behold, the monitor stopped blinking and cleared and I saw a nice picture of my driveway. Yah!! Now I just have to figure out how to hide this red corded power adapter up to the monitor, the thing is as thick as an extension cord!
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