R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > Non-pod Discussion Forums > Mods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Furrion rear camera
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedFurrion rear camera

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message
David and Danette View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1214
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Furrion rear camera
    Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 4:07pm
   I am trying to decide how to wire a rear camera mounted to the top back of our fiberglass cap on the back of our truck. Our truck does not have a optional rear camera so I thought I could buy a rear camera to use with the Furrion monitor that we use for the camera mounted to the back of our camper. But not sure how I should wire it I am thinking best would be somehow to a wire that's connected to the ignition switch but I don't know what wire that would be that's located in the back of the truck. Or else I could wire to the reverse lights and just use it for backing up. But I thought It might be useful to have the rear camera when driving down the road. Does the wire that's part of the seven pin trailer connector the one that charges trailer battery does that only work when ignition switch is turned on? Thank you for any help you can offer! I am not much of a electrician!
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 6:56pm
The 12V supply from your tow vehicle to the trailer typically comes directly from your TV battery (via a fuse) so would always be hot regardless of whether the ignition is on or not.  So if you use that then your camera will also always be on drawing current even when your TV is parked. Another alternative would be to connect your camera to the wire to your trailer running lights. Then the camera will be on when you turn on your lights. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
David and Danette View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1214
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 7:24pm
  Thank you but I think I will just hook it up to the reverse lights and forget about driving forward with camera on.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2624
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 7:59pm
Our F-150 only activates the trailer +12V when it senses there is a trailer and the ignition is on. I am willing to bet that different vehicles and vintages handle this differently.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Dec 2019 at 7:04am
Originally posted by GlueGuy

Our F-150 only activates the trailer +12V when it senses there is a trailer and the ignition is on. I am willing to bet that different vehicles and vintages handle this differently.

For sure, that's why I hedged and said "typically". My Highlander came with a flat 4 connector so my 7 pin was an aftermarket installation. It required two taps from the vehicle battery, one for the 12V trailer supply and one for the brake controller. 

If your tow vehicle came factory equipped with a 7 pin connector it might well switch the 12V trailer supply on and off. 

Myself, I always have my lights on when towing so I would connect a camera to that circuit. I like the lights on for additional on the road visibility but also because I will know in a few seconds if my connector ever became undone because my trailer marker lights would be out. 

But connecting to the reverse lights is fine too, its a matter of personal preference. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
CharlieM View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Dec 2019 at 9:43am
Another option is connecting to the TV Accessory terminal. Most newer vehicles, at least those of this decade, switch the accessories on/off with the ignition switch to prevent draining the battery by mistake. That way the rear camera would be powered any time the ignition switch is in the accessory or run positions. You would have to find the accessory line, preferably at the TV main fuse box, and run a wire to the back of the truck. That should be easy and need be only #16 or #18 AWG since the camera draw is light.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
Back to Top
David and Danette View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1214
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Dec 2019 at 1:10pm
   I will test the seven pin connector to see if it is switched. Also not so sure if it is legal to drive with parking lights on I read that is against the law. Thank you all for your help hope to get a camera connected soon. Our rear cap has no side windows and the visibility is not that great when backing up.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 7:09am
It is illegal to drive with just your parking lights on at least in many states. 

I should probably have been more clear, I leave my headlights on when I'm towing, even in the daytime. Belt and suspenders perhaps, but there are many studies that show daytime headlight use reduces collisions by 5-10%.  And headlights are legally required in so many conditions that in many places its simpler not to have to think about it and just to leave them on. There's really no downside to it except for a very slight increase in fuel use that you'll never notice. 


1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2624
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 8:34am
We have DRL, which run the headlights at a somewhat reduced intensity (presumably to reduce wear, but I digress). One thing to note with vehicles equipped with DRL is that they do NOT activate the tail lights by default. At least with the F-150, you can change the DRL to include tail lights with a simple software change. That may not be the case with other vehicles, so do check which yours are, or if equipped.

We often have foggy conditions where we live and where we frequent. So having the tail lights on is an added safety factor. Of course, when we're pulling the pod, the running lights are on anyway.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
David and Danette View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1214
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 10:23am
  I think wiring to the reverse lights will work out OK and did test the seven pin connector for the 12 volts to trailer and it is not switched has power all the time.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz