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Constant power source for BU Camera

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Old Aug 25, 2008 | 01:16 PM
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Constant power source for BU Camera

I am just wrapping up a complete AV system for my 05 F250 and was wondering about the backup camera wiring.

Does anyone foresee a problem wiring constant power to the camera from the trailer harness? The camera draws such a small current I can't imagine it being a problem from a consumption standpoint.

If anyone can think of an alternate constant power that is tappable from the rear bumper area, let me know.

Thanks.
 
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Old Aug 25, 2008 | 01:46 PM
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Just curious as to why you would want it powered all the time?
 
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Old Aug 25, 2008 | 04:31 PM
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Knew this was coming, should have included it in the first post.

Because I can is probably a little too smug...

But a better answer is in case I want to see what is going on right behind my car without putting it into (R).

Maybe there will be a Bikini contest right behind my bumper and I will be in a precarious position where if I take it out of (R) my car will phone home to my wife. Rather than risk days or even weeks of crap, I could just switch my AV receiver to camera.

Seriously, I would rather be able to view the camera on my schedule, rather than only when in (R)
 
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Old Aug 25, 2008 | 06:48 PM
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You should be able to tap into the battery charge circuit to run the camera if you want to.

I did it a little different. Up in the cab I tapped into the reverse circuit so it powers up whenever the truck is in reverse, I also tapped into upfitter switch #4 (using a diode). So now whenever I put it in reverse the camera gets power, and whenever I turn on upfitter #4 the camera gets power. My Kenwood unit also has a reverse sensing wire, that I hooked up to these same 2 wires (all 4 are connected to each other). So whenever I shift into reverse, or if I switch on upfitter #4, it makes my Kenwood screen automatically switch to the rear view camera input.
 
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Old Aug 25, 2008 | 08:27 PM
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Any idea how to hook the factory installed camera on an 08 to and upfitter switch so that it will operate much the same way Beerstalker's works. I have found that if I need to pull forward a bit, the camera turns off before I finish. I have also wanted to check on how a load was riding on a trailer, etc... Thanks
 
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Old Aug 25, 2008 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Beerstalker
You should be able to tap into the battery charge circuit to run the camera if you want to.

I did it a little different. Up in the cab I tapped into the reverse circuit so it powers up whenever the truck is in reverse, I also tapped into upfitter switch #4 (using a diode). So now whenever I put it in reverse the camera gets power, and whenever I turn on upfitter #4 the camera gets power. My Kenwood unit also has a reverse sensing wire, that I hooked up to these same 2 wires (all 4 are connected to each other). So whenever I shift into reverse, or if I switch on upfitter #4, it makes my Kenwood screen automatically switch to the rear view camera input.
I was going to suggest something along these lines... that's exactly what I would do. Great minds think alike, right Beerstalker?
 
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Old Aug 26, 2008 | 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Beerstalker
You should be able to tap into the battery charge circuit to run the camera if you want to.

I did it a little different. Up in the cab I tapped into the reverse circuit so it powers up whenever the truck is in reverse, I also tapped into upfitter switch #4 (using a diode). So now whenever I put it in reverse the camera gets power, and whenever I turn on upfitter #4 the camera gets power. My Kenwood unit also has a reverse sensing wire, that I hooked up to these same 2 wires (all 4 are connected to each other). So whenever I shift into reverse, or if I switch on upfitter #4, it makes my Kenwood screen automatically switch to the rear view camera input.
Beerstalker, pretend I was a little slow upstairs and needed a quick walk through on which wires and where you tapped them, etc.

I think your solution is much better than working through the control head to see out back.

Basically, I want to do what you did, but I don't want to think too much to figure it out. I should have used lazyass as a user name.

P.S. Why the diode?

Thanks.
 
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Old Aug 27, 2008 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by consol
Knew this was coming, should have included it in the first post.

Because I can is probably a little too smug...

But a better answer is in case I want to see what is going on right behind my car without putting it into (R).

Maybe there will be a Bikini contest right behind my bumper and I will be in a precarious position where if I take it out of (R) my car will phone home to my wife. Rather than risk days or even weeks of crap, I could just switch my AV receiver to camera.

Seriously, I would rather be able to view the camera on my schedule, rather than only when in (R)
What head unit are you using?

I have a Pioneer AVIC D3 and with a couple touches of the screen I can turn on the backup camera anytime I want to, even while driving. It also comes on automatically when I put it in reverse.
 
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Old Aug 27, 2008 | 03:25 PM
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I have the AVIC D3 also and it is very easy to view the backup camera whenever I want, I leave it on always when I am towing my toyhauler because I added a camera on the back of it.

On the 2005 superduty the hot wire for the trailer charge terminal is only hot with the key on so you won't have to worry about draining your battery if you hook up to that.
 
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Old Aug 27, 2008 | 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by consol
P.S. Why the diode?
It's so you don't turn on the reverse lights with the upfitter switch.
 
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Old Aug 27, 2008 | 08:52 PM
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The reverse wire is the black wire with a pink stripe on the lower passenger side of the fuse panel. Here is a picture of it on my truck after I tapped into it.
 
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