How do you tie in to the reverse light to power the camera on a wireless system. I’m electrically challenged. How do I find the right wire and to splice into it correctly?

 

Tap into the hot hire for the backup light on the driver side. I personally would use the running tail light (not the brake light), because I don't know how many times I needed the backup camera on with the backup light off.

The Scotchlok 314 (make sure it's IDC) has worked very well for me over the years:

 

I tapped into an accessory/ignition on wire in order to use the camera anytime I want. Sitting in neutral (ZF6 truck), driving 65MPH or whatever...

I don't remember for sure, but I think I simply ran the wire to the dash along with the video cable wrapped in some wire loom. Since yours is wireless, maybe tap into the trailer wiring harness?

 

What brand and model wireless camera are you all using and where did you install the transmitter? Inside or outside of truck.

 

As Rich mentioned there’s times you want the camera on when you’re not in reverse. And for that reason, I powered mine through an ignition hot fuse then to a switch on the dash, I can turn the camera on/off when I want to.


REAR VIEW CAMERA - Blue - STARK 5-PIN Laser Etched LED Rocker Switch Dual Light - 20A 12V ON/OFF
Switch bezel

SINGLE:
MicTuning MH001 Rocker Switch Holder Panel Housing Kit (Fireproof ABS Plastic Black)

DOUBLE:
MicTuning MH002 2PCS Rocker Switch Holder Panel Housing Kit Fireproof ABS Plastic Black

 

hey John do you have to flip the switch every time you backup or does it also come on when you put it in reverse? Thought it would be pretty nice to have both options but wasn't sure if there is a way to do that

 

Josh, I have to flip the switch. If you wire the camera to come on with the reverse lights and a switch then you have to prevent feedback of the current to the back up lights. If you don’t then when you turn the camera on your reverse will also come on because current is flowing backwards through all the wires. IMO, it’s just easier to do one or the other, moving the shifter is also basically turning on a switch, I prefer the switch because it keeps the wiring simple and I can use the camera anytime I want it.

 

I definitely agree with that, I rigged a camera on my other truck to the backup wire and I have since wish that I did it differently

 

Easy way to get the best of both worlds is wire up from reverse light like normal but wire a diode inline with it. Then tap into to that line on the way back to your display with a switch fed from an ignition on source. All done. Now it will automatically come on when reverse or you can over ride it with the switch and your reverse light won't come on.

 

Better yet, an on-off-on switch. Reverse light power to one terminal, camera to the middle terminal, and ignition to the third terminal. Up for on, down for auto, middle for off.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Given the short length of factory cable and ease on this particular installation I may go tugly’s initial recommendation. I’m a little challenged on electrical as stated so that simplicity also is appealing to me ☺️.

 

that's a great idea, would you still have to use the diode to prevent the reverse light from coming on?

 

Nope. The power to the camera is exclusively either from the ignition or the backup circuit - the two circuits would never meet. Just make sure the camera power is from the center tap (common) of the switch.

 

with this situation still work if I use my stereo as the monitor? This uses a single trigger wire to go into backup mode. If I ran a "auto reverse" wire , and a "manual on" wire, they would both have to be ran to the single trigger "reverse" wire behind the stereo in order to turn on the back up monitor mode. Would this combine the 2 circuits? Sorry I am electronically challenged as well

 

As a young man, I installed turning signals on a man toy using this type switch, and it only required one blinker as well.