Has any one Hooked there reverse camera to a aux swith so it will come on or off will? Me and dad were tlakin the other day about doin that. Because sometimes when backing up a trailer the camera in the mirror is in the way. And he was taling about being able to turn it on and off using a switch, plus it would be nice to be ablke to do that for when your drivin down the road and wna check the hook up.

Any one done this?

 

I think you and your dad have a great idea about being able to toggle the reverse cam on/off. Sorry, but all I can do is encourage you, nothing more. Someone will come up with a way I bet.

 

just find the turn-on wire and cut it, then connect it to one of the upfitter switches...don't see why it wouldn't work. I have an aftermarket system connected that way instead of thru the backup lights.

 

I was just thinking to myself about whether or not this was possible also.
Didnt put to much effort into it yet because I dont have my truck yet.
Great idea and I hope we can figure out how to do it. I was also thinking about hardwiring my passport 8500 to another switch.
Heck those switches are too cool- I just have to find a use for them

 

So the camera is wired to the reverse lights?

 

I would definitly say it is wired from reverse signal source like the reverse lights.When My truck comes in during the next couple of months,I would love to do this as well..great idea!!

Ray
soon to own 2008 FX4 SC F250(feb/mar delivery!)

 

Looking at wiring diagram the video camera is shown on page 2 of 2 for 'parking aids' of the elecrical drawings if you have the online subscription for the service manual at motorcraftservice.com. You can purchase a 2 or 3 day subscription for $10 which would probably be worth the expense if you understand electrical diagrams and are planning on trying the suggested manual activation of the video camera.

Looks like camera has 12 VDC anytime in run and start, gnd, and sends video plus and minus via shielded cable directly to the mirror via bunch of connectors.....

Mirror is shown as getting 12 VDC from acc delay relay, gnd, compass -, compass +, reverse, video -, & video +.

Interesting because my compass is still on the dash but I have the camera.

I really figured they would switch the camera power off and on but from the drawing it is hot with run and start. It looks like the reverse signal to the mirror is what turns the mirror video display on.

C911 is the mirror connector. 1, power BU-WH; 10 compass - BU-GY; 9 compass + GY-BU; 2 reverse GN-BN; 8 video + WH-GN; 16 video - BN-VT; 3 gnd BK.

Next connector is C264 in right A-PILLAR
C264; 2, power BU; 5 compass - BU-GY; 6 compass + GY-BU; 10 reverse GN-BN; 7 video + WH-GN; 8 video - BN-VT; 1 video shield; 13 gnd BK.

The reverse circuit is CLS10

Next connector for reverse is C212 pin 37; located behind right A-Pillar kick panel, still GN-BN wire color.

Since this wire ultimately gets its power from the reversing lamp relay in the battery junction box, BJB, and when this wire is hot your backup lamps, backup sensors, etc. all work. You don't just want to make it hot to get the video to work on the mirror or your backup lamps will be on too. The backup warning sensors are connected to a module on the network and it is also possible that if it see's the backup voltage on when not expected it may know same and create some warning on the dash. It is even possible this may happen if you do it the way I am suggesting below if they have an expected load resistor in the mirror, etc; but they probably don't.

You almost need to cut the wire and hook the end going to the mirror to the common of a DPDT relay, the other end of the cut wire (from the BJB) to the NC contact; the NO contact to 12 VDC accessory voltage; and operate the relay with your upfitter switch. Relay off = normal; Relay on = video on. I would personally test applying 12 vdc to this wire first to see if the video come 'on' prior to cutting, etc; you will need the truck running for the rest of the 12 VDC to be right elsewhere...

If there is anyway to get to the NC contact of the upfitter switch you could simply use that relay; however the drawing only shows a pig tail for the NO contact.....

This information will help or maybe confuse the issue.

My truck doesn't have the upfitter switches so I'm not planning to try anything with respect to this venture. I do miss the switches as my 06 had them, they were wired to my imaginary rocket launchers and passengers could judge my frustration with other drivers by the number of rockets I launched!

Bob