Reverse Camera Install - help!

[ian]

Hi all,

I installed a reverse camera to my 2007 Jetta today using the following simple guide.

http://www.hemanavigator.com.au/Portals/0/support/HN5_Docs/Camera%20instal_guide_v_3web.pdf

That is, video cable wired to front of car and camera powered through tapping the reverse light.

It works when i tested it without the engine running (ie. key in ignition one turn). I put it in reverse and the pretty picture shows on screen.

PROBLEM: However the camera does not work when i have the engine running and i put it in reverse. failed..

It is because VW's have some sort of power regulator to the reverse light stopping enough power going to the camera when the engine is running?? I can't think of anything else.

I have wired it this way for many other cars and it works fine.

fyi, i have an ebay GPS rns510 look-a-like head unit. (works fine)

Thats the same reverse camera and monitor type ive used in my golf ,except ive wired it to the rear cigarette lighter plug it stays on all the time ,i tried to connect it to the reverse but it would not work ,i was going to install a relay but just havn't bothered as it doesn't doesnt annoy me being on all the time .

[iamthestig]

Doh! The test light will still work at the light end. If you have a multimeter that is a dead cert way to tell...

That is the problem - my old tech test light does not light up even when plugged in the reverse light terminals !

As the Jetta has both the number plate light (for camera mount) and the reverse light in the boot lid, I want to find a feed there instead of running a feed wire from somewhere else (like the 12v in the boot).

[Idle]

That is the problem - my old tech test light does not light up even when plugged in the reverse light terminals !

As the Jetta has both the number plate light (for camera mount) and the reverse light in the boot lid, I want to find a feed there instead of running a feed wire from somewhere else (like the 12v in the boot).

If you remove the reverse light bulb, connect your test light (make sure it has a good earth) close the boot lid and activate the reverse light (ignition on, engage reverse, step on the brake,) your test light will light up if connected to +12V.

If it doesn't, you have it on the wrong terminal.

Good luck finding permanent +12V in the boot lid — I don't think there is one.

[TommyP]

I installed a camera today and have the same issue where it works when the engine isn't running, a perfect picture is displayed. But when the engine is runnning the picture flickers, changes colors and unwatchable.

I tested with a multimeter and when the engine isn't running but in the accessories position the multimeter is measuring 15.6, when the engine is running the multimeter is measuring close to 17. Seems like the camera doesn't like the extra volt or so. The power specs for the camera is 8-16.

Is there any way I can fix this? Do I need a voltage regulator for the camera?

[TommyP]

So I tried one of these today MC78T12 12V 3A Voltage Regulator - Jaycar Electronics

I hope that this would fix my issue, no luck though. Any ideas?

[psyone]

i didnt install my camera in my caddy but the guys who did had the same problem. when the engine is running reverse lights dont get the full 12v to power up the camera. cant remember what they did exactly but i think they ran an extra active to the back with a relay.

[TommyP]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who has had this problem.

Maybe it's the way I connected up the regulator, I'm definitely not an electrican.
What I did was connect the positive cable from the jetta to pin 1 on the regulator and the negative from the jetta and the camera to pin 2 on the regulator. Then I connected postive from the camera to pin 3 on the regulator.

[TommyP]

For anyone following this thread. I installed a low-voltage adjustable regulator which seems to have helped but not totally solve the issue, I have the regulator running at 12v.



I now get a viewable picture through the camera when the car is running with what looks like slight interference. Is it possible that amperage is the issue and not the voltage?

[timj]

Hey guys,

sorry to pull up an old thread.

I am just wondering if anyone successfully managed to get their camera working with the motor started. I have been reading different forums for a few days and it is giving me quiet the headache.

I have a Pioneer AVIC F20BT in a GTI we purchased 2nd hand a while ago for my wife (was fitted by previous owner) and she is so used to driving a car with reversing camera she has nagged me into installing one. I am no stranger to installing bits to the cars we have owned in the past.

Anyway I am having the same problem as others here have in so far as the camera works fine when the key is turned on and the car put in reverse, but when the motor is running the camera is not powered up.

I have wired the camera to get power from the revers light in the hatch, what a pain in the ass that was but it is done.

Anyone any idea or has it been too hard to solve?

Thanks in advance..

Tim.

[Martin]

I now get a viewable picture through the camera when the car is running with what looks like slight interference. Is it possible that amperage is the issue and not the voltage?

No mate, regulators need a voltage differential between the input and output, depending on what type of regulator this is a 12v output may not give it enough headroom to do a good job

All you need is a filter (and a full wave rectifier often helps)

[snerlo]

I just finished installing a rvc in my R36. I had similar problems but part of the problem was the actual camera itself. I had a new camera sent to me by the seller i got the set from.
Also make sure that the positive wire from the three wired loom is hooked up to fulltime power and also through a fuse. Make doubly sure that it has a really good earth. Try bringing an earth wire back to a good point on the chassis of the body of the car and not the boot/tailgate. Then use the trigger wire to turn on. With regards to the trigger wire, i thought that the voltage fluctuation was causing an issue so i actually ran the trigger wire through a relay system. As my battery is in the boot, this was quite easy, but that way, you take the voltage issues out of the equation. A multimeter is also a good thing to have in these situations. Always test things to make sure you are getting a stable voltage. If you still have problems, try getting a replacement camera. It worked great on the second camera.

[timj]

Forgot to reply here earlier, managed to sort the problem out by running the wiring thru a relay so all good

Pity it took a while to nut it out.

[DV52]

I installed a camera today and have the same issue where it works when the engine isn't running, a perfect picture is displayed. But when the engine is runnning the picture flickers, changes colors and unwatchable.

I tested with a multimeter and when the engine isn't running but in the accessories position the multimeter is measuring 15.6, when the engine is running the multimeter is measuring close to 17. Seems like the camera doesn't like the extra volt or so. The power specs for the camera is 8-16.

Is there any way I can fix this? Do I need a voltage regulator for the camera?

For anyone following this thread. I installed a low-voltage adjustable regulator which seems to have helped but not totally solve the issue, I have the regulator running at 12v.

I now get a viewable picture through the camera when the car is running with what looks like slight interference. Is it possible that amperage is the issue and not the voltage?

TommyP: Regarding your voltage values, I'd suggest that either your multimeter is giving you spurious readings, or you might need to look at the car's voltage regulation system. The values that you should be reading should be in the vicinity of 13.8-14V for a healthy alternator. Your reading of 17Volts is far too high. Given that you haven't reported other problems with the car, I suspect that your meter might be telling you lies!

As for the reported behaviour, rather than concentrating on voltage regulation issues, I would be looking at ignition interference as the culprit. There are really two ways that interference can get into your camera circuitry: through the power supply and into the camera video signal. The former is tackled by installing a car interference suppressor (see Ebay) and the second is normally managed by making sure that the video cable is fully shielded along its entire length. You may even need some additional filtering circuits if the interference is particularly bad here but I would have thought that sufficient filtering would have been provided by the manufacturer already

The fact that things have improved by installing the 12 volt regulator, suggests (to me) that the initial problem was due to interference coming through the 12V supply, but I am concerned that you might not be getting sufficient voltage to the video camera with the Jaycar unit (because, as Martin says, you need a few more extra volts at the input to the Jaycar device to get 12V at the output). Might be worth checking this voltage with a good voltmeter. I suspect that the Jaycar unit has done mothing more than cleaned-up some of the interference on the 12Volt supply to the camera. And no, I don't think that amperage is a problem here. The camera shouldn't draw that much current and the Jaycar unit appears to be a high amperage device. You could try running the 12V feed wire to the camera through a ferrite core (couple of turns around the ferrite core) as a quick fix for starters.

[Snail Style]

Can't remember off the top of my head but aren't caddy reverse lights duty cycled?

[markoart]

Hi, i bay aftermarket rgbs adapter and camera. I installed adapter, and works great, but sometimes it happens that I do not have a picture on rns510
and then I must to disconnect red wire (+12v) and connect again on adapter to have picture.
What's the problem?