Help a non-electrician out here!

[doublenot7]

I am about the furthest you can get from an electrician, but I have done minor projects. I just changed out the wiring harness for a new stereo in the TT.

I am installing a wireless back up camera on the back of the TT. The camera is part of my Garmin GPS. Truck has a hard wired rear-view camera already.

Since the TT has no reverse lights to tie into, I thought I would tie in the camera to the parking lights. The Garmin GPS is supposed to be able to switch between camera and GPS if the camera is connected to constant power. Is this the best option or other thoughts?

But my main question is, which darn wires to use? Like I said, not an electrician but some of these color codes don't make sense:


This is one of the parking light mounts. It has two white wires, one with a yellow stripe, running into two black wires. The camera has the standard one red and one black wires.


This wiring runs down the length of the unit.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

[RedRollingRoadb]

The first thing I would do is get a bushing on the flex before it rubs the insulation off the wires and causes more trouble.

[doublenot7]

I ended up using a multimeter to determine the polarity on the lines. I temporarily mounted the camera to the rear license plate and secured the cables and transmitter.

Reception was fine (in the driveway anyway) from the rear of the 31 TT to the GPS up in the F250. camera is constant on when parking lights are on, the GPS switches easily between map and camera view with just one touch on the screen.

Later I will move the camera to the top rear of TT and run the transmitter along the top of TT, I will add an extension if I find it necessary.

[TNRIVERSIDE]

Good post. I'm looking at doing the same thing. Thinking about mounting the camera high and tapping into one of the three clearance lights.
Not sure about the range of the Garman wireless camera.

[westend]

Convention for trailer tail lights is brown, Here are typical Convention for trailers"connectors

[WyoTraveler]

I agree totally with SoundGuy. Do not rely on color codes. Get a DVM. Harbor Freight has them pretty cheap. My new MH had the color codes on the rear connector all wrong. Many MHs manufacturers extend their chasis. The RV manufacturer apparently re-wires with whatever color they have at the time. BTW instead of hooking power to the parking lights I would connect to the positive voltage that feeds to the Trailer connector if possible. If it is a V10 that power would be on anytime your ignition is turned on.

[SoundGuy]

doublenot7 wrote:
But my main question is, which darn wires to use? Like I said, not an electrician but some of these color codes don't make sense:

I wouldn't rely on wire colour code - invest in a DVM and measure, then you'll know for sure where to wire in for +/- 12 vdc. 😉