Powering a Backup Camera - Travel Trailer

[SpeakEasy]

I have a little backup camera that I'd like to install on the back of my travel trailer. It's a "wireless" model, but that doesn't mean it is completely wireless. The camera is connected - by wires - to a transmitter, and the transmitter needs power. The directions that came with the camera assume you're installing it on a car, and they detail connecting to the wiring for the backup lights.

I want my camera to be able to operate whenever I'm underway - not just as a backup camera. So I'm not going to power it from the backup lights.

So here are a couple options I see:
(1) I can get power from the #4 pin (the aux 12v pin) on the 7-pin Bargman connector (and the ground from the #1 pin. This would mean, if I understand things correctly, I'd have power to the transmitter (and camera) whenever the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle. I realize I need to double check to make sure my tow vehicle is powering that #4 pin.

OR

(2) I can get power from the 12V battery system on board the trailer itself. Then, I guess it would be powered 24-7, unless I use the trailer 12V disconnect switch to turn off the 12V system.

There are probably other options, but I'm not really seeing a benefit to them at this point.

I think I like option #1 a lot better than option #2, but I'm looking for opinions here.


- Would it do any harm to have the camera powered 24-7 on the trailer's 12V system? Does it have a phantom draw? Would it shorten the life of the camera?


What have I not thought of?

Thanks in advance.

-Speak

[SpeakEasy]

Tapping a marker light makes a ton of sense.

Thanks, everyone, for steering me right on this one.

-Speak

[sgfrye]

connected to marker lights on 2 different TT's. imo its safer to tow with lights on anyway. more visibility to other drivers (hopefully)

[Bobbo]

My Airstream came from the factory with a backup camera. They wired it into the marker lights. If I want the camera operational, I turn on the marker lights (parking lights or headlights, either one).

[Acampingwewillg]

I can tell you how I did this....I tied it into the running lights so I do have to turn the parking lights on when I want the camera on but that's no big deal cause driving day or night, that's easy enough to do. I generally just switch the lights on and I'm good to go.

Guess others had the same thought and typed much faster than I!!!

[wnjj]

The aux 12v pin will be connected to your trailer battery regardless if your truck powers it. This means your camera will be powered 24/7. I wouldn't call that phantom draw but actual draw since I'm guessing the camera always transmits when powered. The easiest option is to power it from the tail/running lights. Turn them on when underway or whenever you want to use the camera. They're off when you're parked.

I used the same idea years ago when adding a camera to a piece of tow behind farm machinery that already had work lights.

[philandterri]

We connected the power to the running lights on our motorhome. Lights have to be on for the camera to work,