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Backup camera installation


mikkelstuff

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Messages
774
City
Brighton, CO
Vehicle Year
2002
Engine
3.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
My credo
Friend of Bill W.
I recently purchased a JVC stereo multifunction unit for my 2002 Ranger to include a backup camera capability. The JVC has one wire to connect to the backup lights. So where is the best place to tap in to the circuit? I would look for the backup light switch but have no idea as to where it is located on this truck.
 
Is the wire to tap into the reverse lights on the head unit itself, or the camera? The "backup light switch" on your truck is built into the transmission digital range sensor which is not something you wanna screw with.
 
Should be a Black/pink stripe wire on drivers side frame rail under rear bumper, it splits there and runs to both Backup light bulbs in the lens's

You can tap it there, there is more than enough amps in that circuit to power a camera, usually a 15amp circuit, that might use 7amps now
 
It maybe different on his unit but on mine the wire you tap into the brake lights doesn't actually power anything, it's just a sensor to let the monitor know to automatically switch into viewing the camera when you shift into reverse. The camera itself has its own 12v source (12v key on) because it also functions to record video as a rear dashcam and wouldn't be much use for that purpose if it was only on in reverse.
 
It maybe different on his unit but on mine the wire you tap into the brake lights doesn't actually power anything, it's just a sensor to let the monitor know to automatically switch into viewing the camera when you shift into reverse. The camera itself has its own 12v source (12v key on) because it also functions to record video as a rear dashcam and wouldn't be much use for that purpose if it was only on in reverse.
Could probably do it either way. My Pioneer head unit could do it either way. I ran continuous power to the camera and a reverse signal to the head unit. My thought was that i would have less delay when Shifting to reverse because the camera signal was already available and it’s just a matter of switching the display source.

Otherwise, when you shift to reverse, the display has too switch AND the camera has to turn on and generate the image signal.
 
Could probably do it either way. My Pioneer head unit could do it either way. I ran continuous power to the camera and a reverse signal to the head unit. My thought was that i would have less delay when Shifting to reverse because the camera signal was already available and it’s just a matter of switching the display source.

This too, especially at night when the infared lights need to come on...
 
Yes, it would depend on the unit
Some use the camera signal as the switch, so if camera stays on display stays on
There should be less than 2 second delay for cameras like these to power up even with IR
So almost instant

Yes if you have a camper or canopy that blocked rear view mirror in the cab then full time camera might be the way to go
But I would want it as selectable, so I could call it up on the screen when I wanted it, and if it had backup light sensor to switch automatically that would also be OK, because I probably wouldn't care about tuning radio when backing up, lol
 
JVC head unit wire is only a switch to the backup camera. I'll look for the black/pink stripe wire under the rear bumper.
 

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