Reversing Camera Questions

[apole]

Hi there,

Just installed a new DVD stereo and I want now to add a small reversing camera.

There are quite a few on ebay, some cheaper ones and others more expensive.

Does anyone have any experience here on a good type and supplier for one of these?

Also on the back of the player, there is a wire labelled Reverse active high. This is not the video input and doesn't have any voltage output. Could this be a connection you use to supply 12v to when the reversing camera is powered up to get the display to automatically switch over to the reversing camera?

The unit instructions don't say what this is for.

Thanks for any help.

Andy

[dave_aber]

This will be the signal which the unit takes from the bongo to indicate you are in reverse, and thus switches into 'reverse camera' mode. The 'active high' means that it expects a low voltage (i.e. 0v) when going forwards, and a high voltage (either 5v or 12v) when in reverse. If it doesn't say, then I'd expect it will be expecting a feed from the reverse lights, so 12v - usual disclaimers apply.

May be worth doing a wee google on the part number of the unit to see if you can find a manual to confirm the voltage expected.

Good Luck,
Dave

[dvisor]

I got myself one of the cheap ones from eBay, and it was fine for the purpose. Was very useful at night time, 'cos the tailgate mirror is useless unless you fit more serious reversing lights. Whichever one you get, I'd make sure that you can mount it up high, looking down. I can't see that the ones you mount on the numberplate would give a very good idea of distance of the object you're about to reverse into! Mines mounted to one of the screws that fix the lens of the high level brake light to the tailgate spoiler. The only problem with this approach is that when its raining, water collects at the bottom of the camera, which in this case is the camera lens, and gives a weird image.

[daveblueozzie]

Make sure you get a camera with night vision and in colour, i made the mistake of not getting either.