Is this possible or has anyone done it? I'd also like to be able to turn the bu camera on when driving down the road.
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I’d use a single pole double throw switch. Wire the common to the unit, one of the outputs to the reverse light circuit, and the other to key on 12 volt. That would eliminate the need for a diode, give you an always on option, an always off option, and a reverse option.Almost anything is possible. I'm not sure you'll get the view you need from there. Those things usually have such a wide field of view. It will look like you're zoomed way out. Might not be very helpful for lining up in a parking spot or hooking up to a trailer.
They are usually activated by a signal from the reverse light circuit. You can supply a 12volt signal from a switch and turn it in any time you want. If you do that in parallel. With the backup switch, you'll need a diode to preventvturning on the reverse lights when you don't need them.
I bought a fleabay backup camera kit for the escape, the monitor is just a bigger mirror that shows the camera veiw when camera is on. I do wish I had put a switch on it vs tapping into the reverse light bulb for the power. Sometimes when hooking up a trailer its nice to see the veiw when still in D or N, not just R. The camera is on a bracket mounted to the top license plate screws. I think I paid under $50 for the kit, took a few hours to put in. Was funny the first time I was hooking a trailer up & had the hatch open, forgetting the camera was on the hatch, got a good veiw of the sky!
The mirror in this kit has spring loaded clips & just fastens over the stock mirror. A bigger monitor would be nice, theres kits for otr trucks that have a bigger monitor, probably too big for a ranger though. It uses rf signal from camera to the monitor, it would be neat to have a 4x6 monitor & multiple camera for trail use, see just where each tire is , ect. Maybe something like that is already out there.
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