Has anyone else run across this? I ordered a backup camera online, and when you power the camera, it is lighted.

So, the instructions say to power the camera by splicing it into the reverse lights from the tail lights. Again, this is well and good, but what if I want to view the reverse camera when Im driving (to check my trailer, etc)?

Well, I dont want to just power the camera when the ignition is turned on, since this will cause the lights that are part of the camera to be on full time when Im driving around.

I figure hook into the reverse wires, with an override switch on the dash. Anyone got a better idea?

Has anyone else run across this? I ordered a backup camera online, and when you power the camera, it is lighted.

 

So, the instructions say to power the camera by splicing it into the reverse lights from the tail lights. Again, this is well and good, but what if I want to view the reverse camera when Im driving (to check my trailer, etc)?

 

Well, I dont want to just power the camera when the ignition is turned on, since this will cause the lights that are part of the camera to be on full time when Im driving around.

 

I figure hook into the reverse wires, with an override switch on the dash. Anyone got a better idea?

I've never heard of an "illuminated" backup camera...is this a night vision model?

Standard low cost night vision cameras will have a ring or cluster of infrared LEDs which may emit a faint red glow in the dark. There should also be a tiny light sensor as well. Under low light conditions the light sensor trips the LEDs to come on and the camera switches to a black&white mode. The camera then "sees" in the dark by picking up IR light reflections.

Well I wired it 2 ways. I wired with the reverse lights as the primary source of power, with a dash switch wired to a relay in the back. Here's a pic in case anyone is interested in the wiring. (yes, I went into alot of detail to get this done right)