Hooking up backup camera in 1984 Vanguard

ItsyRV wrote:
What troubleshooting have you done already?

Is the camera actually getting power?
Ditto for the transmitter?
Is the monitor powering up?
If multiple video settings on monitor, are you sure its on the right wireless one?

So how far have you gotten?

I did a bench test and it's working well! Booted right up. I tried to hook it up to my reverse light and then just a tail light. Both putting out about 7-10V when engaged and nothing. There's something happening on the camera wiring end. I'll attach some photos of what the set up is back there - hopefully you have some advice. Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/5oHeX25

Flute Man wrote:
If I were you, I would hook it up on a bench first with a good 12 V supply and get it running on your workbench first.
Jerry parr

I did a bench test and it's working well! Booted right up. I tried to hook it up to my reverse light and then just a tail light. Both putting out about 7-10V when engaged and nothing. There's something happening on the camera wiring end. I'll attach some photos of what the set up is back there - hopefully you have some advice. Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/5oHeX25

Just use a bare wire wound on each battery terminal to connect power to camera and monitor.

It isn’t very complicated - just 12 volts to camera and monitor and a coax cable from camera to monitor.

I chose to use power from the motorhome house (propane detector circuit) via a switch on the driver’s seat so I can use it while driving - very handy when pulling a trailer with kayaks and seeing wildlife without scaring it when camping. I mounted the camera at the top of the rear window, aimed at an angle so I can see the hitch and kayaks - very handy when hooking up and the angle provides a lot more distance sense than a camera mounted on the license plate. I can easily back up to half a foot from a post.

The system I’m using supports both coax and wireless connection from camera to monitor. I use the coax in the motorhome but have installed another one in our 1992 van using wireless. Easier to install but I was a bit shocked this week when my friend who also has a DIY backup camera parked near our van. I had left the switch on and he got the view from my camera instead of his when he shifted out of reverse so no power to his camera.

ItsyRV wrote:
Does the camera have IR capability? If so, just cup your hands over the camera and see if the IR lights are lit. You really should be checking the operation on a bench. You can do this by hooking the camera and transmitter to a 12 volt source (your car or a transformer or old battery still charged) and the monitor to the coach. If it works, the issue may be your wiring, how your hooking it up or even weak signal at the monitor. But first you need to make sure the system will work on its own.

Could I do the bench test with my motorhome truck battery? If so - how do I hook the wire up? Thanks!

Does the camera have IR capability? If so, just cup your hands over the camera and see if the IR lights are lit. You really should be checking the operation on a bench. You can do this by hooking the camera and transmitter to a 12 volt source (your car or a transformer or old battery still charged) and the monitor to the coach. If it works, the issue may be your wiring, how your hooking it up or even weak signal at the monitor. But first you need to make sure the system will work on its own.

Make sure you have the positive wired to the correct wire on the camera. Use a 12v tester and test between the power supply for 12v- where your hooking the camera wires power wires. Dose the camera need paired to the monitor.

ItsyRV wrote:
What troubleshooting have you done already?

Is the camera actually getting power?
Ditto for the transmitter?
Is the monitor powering up?
If multiple video settings on monitor, are you sure its on the right wireless one?

So how far have you gotten?

Hard to say if the camera is getting power. There is power in the reverse back up light, I tested it. Transmitter is connected to the camera. Monitor is powering up fine it seems. There aren't multiple settings on the monitor.

My concern is if I've wired it correctly, as I said all the tutorials are for more modern vehicles so it shows people going in through a panel from inside of vehicle to access wires. Mine has just been connected to the screw inside the reverse light case but I'm unsure if that is correct. I don't have access to the wires from inside my RV and don't want to cut the wall if I don't have to.

What troubleshooting have you done already?

Is the camera actually getting power?
Ditto for the transmitter?
Is the monitor powering up?
If multiple video settings on monitor, are you sure its on the right wireless one?

So how far have you gotten?

If I were you, I would hook it up on a bench first with a good 12 V supply and get it running on your workbench first.
Jerry parr