Furrion rear camera
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Category: Non-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Mods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13332
Printed Date: 26 Apr 2024 at 5:23pm
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Topic: Furrion rear camera
Posted By: David and Danette
Subject: Furrion rear camera
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 4:07pm
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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 |
Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 6:56pm
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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 |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 7:24pm
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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 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2019 at 7:59pm
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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 |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2019 at 7:04am
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 |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2019 at 9:43am
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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 |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2019 at 1:10pm
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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 |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 7:09am
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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 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 8:34am
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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 |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 10:23am
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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 |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2020 at 6:57pm
David, You should recheck that 7-pin connector. I don't know what TV you have but most all newer ones switch power to pin 4 with the key switch. With the ignition off and the trailer disconnected there should be no voltage on pin 4. If there is you can run down the TV battery while camping if you leave the TT plugged in. If you find the line is not switched it may be miswired, especially if the connector was an add on. It's worth a fix if it's wrong. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2020 at 1:21pm
Depends on the tow vehicle. The aftermarket kits for vehicles like my Highlander that come with a flat 4 connector supply 12V continuously from the battery via a 30A breaker. That is not miswiring, you would need to add an additional 12V contactor with a coil connected to the ignition in order to switch that line. It's unnecessary, just disconnecting from the TV while camping solves any discharge risk problem. Most everyone does that anyway. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 8:18pm
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I mounted the new Furrion camera to the back top of the fiberglass cap on our truck. I have not wired it yet but I have a question. I thought of connecting to the reverse lights and also connecting to the interior dome light of the cap and adding a separate switch for the camera. My question is if I turn the switch on for the camera and the reverse lights are turned on when backing up will twelve volts coming from both sources at the same time hurt the camera. As I had said before I am not smart when it comes to electricity. Thank you if you can answer my question.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 8:29pm
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There is not a power source from the ignition switch at the back of our truck. It has the factory tow package and the seven pin connection always has power for trailer when connected. The truck has a safety feature if the head lights are left on or interior dome light is left on after a short time power will be turned off to those lights so they will not drain the battery. But the factory seven pin connection is not included in that safety feature.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2020 at 8:17am
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David, Two simultaneous sources of 12V will not harm the camera. The only problem is possibly draining the battery when you forget to turn off the added switch. The ideal solution would be to run a wire from the accessory side of the ignition switch. This point should be available somewhere under the hood.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2020 at 2:06pm
I finally got around to connecting the rear camera on the back of our truck cap and I have a problem. The camera works connected to the interior dome light of the cap. But when I connect it to the reverse lights the camera will briefly come on and go off again. I checked the polarity and far as I can see the wires are correct. The camera has a blue light showing that it has power but it has no signal to the monitor. But has a continuous signal to the monitor when connected to the dome light. All I can think of is the reverse lights are causing some kind of interference with the signal. I am calling Furrion tomorrow and hopefully will get a answer to why there is no signal when camera is getting power from the reverse lights. Puzzles me!  I just thought of this maybe it is not getting the proper voltage or amperage from the reverse lights.  That was it, I removed the reverse light from the rear tail light now the camera works with a signal to the monitor. So my guess is with the reverse light burning it was taking the power away from the voltage or amperage needed for the camera to send a signal.------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2020 at 3:47pm
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I found some nice switches with connectors on amazon.com they were advertised for use with LED light strips. They work great for my purpose now I have option of rear camera being on all the time or just when I am in reverse. As was mentioned by Charlie I will need to remember not to leave the camera on when truck is not being used so I don't drain the battery. The camera draws less than a half amp so if I did forget to turn it off it would take awhile for the battery to drain and being the truck is used almost every day.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 7:49am
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I have a question for a electrical engineer what does it mean by a electrical current being intermittent? I connected our Furrion camera to the reverse lights and the camera has a blue light that shows the camera is getting electricity but on the receiving monitor the picture goes on and off. I then connected the camera to the tail lights and the same thing the picture goes on and off but when I connect the camera to the interior dome light of the fiberglass cap on back of truck the picture is good no problem. I called Furrion and was told the electricity to the reverse lights is intermittent and that the camera was not designed to work from the reverse lights. And was told it was designed to work from the running lights. What am I not understanding? Is the electrical current transmitted in a different way to the reverse lights and tail lights?
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 8:23am
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By intermittent the Furrion people just mean that the backup lights are normally only on for a short period while you have the shift selector in reverse, while the running lights stay on all the time if you have your running lights on. There isn't anything weird about how current is sent to your backup lights, unless you have a bad backup light switch. If the backup lights on your TV are on steadily when you are in reverse then that isn't the problem. If you still have issues staying connected when powered via the parking lights then I'd suspect a communications problem between the display and the camera. I believe that it is bluetooth which has a limited range so the distance between the camera and display might be the problem. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 9:20am
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offgrid I understand what you are saying but the reverse lights or the tail lights remain on and the little blue light on the camera remains lit but the picture on the monitor turns on and off. But changing the electrical power to the camera from the dome light the picture on the monitor remains constant. The only thing that's changing is the source of electricity, the camera and the monitor both remain in the same location. I will call Furrion tomorrow there is something I am not understanding and when the tech at Furrion told me the other day the power was intermittent he may not of understood. Eventually I will get it figured out may end up doing what CharlieM said and that is to run a wire from ignition accessory switch back to the camera.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 9:38am
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You might want to read this post. After reception/antenna issues the number two issue raised is too low voltage on the light circuit. Its possible that is your problem, while on the dome light circuit the voltage is higher. http://rv-project.com/projects/furrioncamera1.php - http://rv-project.com/projects/furrioncamera1.php ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 11:35am
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Check that the ground is good also. I have had issues with a backup sensor that I thought was a bad device, but it turned out to be a bad ground connection.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 12:37pm
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Thank you, so I am thinking it could be three things by what has been said low voltage or the length of power cord causing interference or improper ground. I will keep at it and hopefully have it working have plenty of time now have been staying home because of the corona virus. I may end up having a wire from front dash directly to camera that will be more difficult but may be my only option. I wish the truck was a couple of years newer then it would of had the factory back up camera or it came with the camera option.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 2:14pm
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One thing that has kept me from going with a camera is just what you are experiencing. I am concerned about a wireless signal from the back of the RPod to the cab of the Frontier. Hard-wired would eliminate signal issues, but you would still need to make sure both power and ground are good. Do you have one of those 12V battery boosters, either lead-acid or Lithium? You could connect the camera to that as a power supply and then see if you get a good signal at the display. If so, then it would likely indicate that the power (either positive or negative/ground) connections are not right. If not, then it would be more indicative of a signal/reception problem. This is with the camera in the location you want, not in the TV's cab. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |