I'm thinking of adding a rear view camera just for the hell of it.

So, cost won't be very high. I will likely pick up a camera built specifically for my 2007 Mazda 3 (chinese - Ebay).

These are between $30 and $80, depending on CMOS or CCD.

In order to have the ability to A:) trigger the reverse screen while in reverse, and B:) be able to switch to the screen when in other gears,

how many wires need to be present on the camera itself?

I know that red usually goes to the tail-light power, and black is ground, but what gets hooked up to the screen for full-time viewing?

I know that red usually goes to the tail-light power,

Wrong!

Wrong!

is that your best, constructive answer? I don't mind learning from someone who likes to teach.

It needs to be powered from the head unit.

The red lead doesn't go to the tail light, it goes to a ignition switched power source. I don't know what u mean by what gets hooked up to the screen for full-time viewing.

The red lead doesn't go to the tail light, it goes to a ignition switched power source. I don't know what u mean by what gets hooked up to the screen for full-time viewing.

on another thread, a user complained that when in reverse, an image appeared on the Pioneer. But when he "selected" the rear-view camera, in any other gear besides reverse, he got a black screen.

I would like the ability to have both.

Is that reliant on how many wires come from the camera, or are all cameras created equal in this regard?

And, what would be the correct wiring to achieve both situations?

thanks

It needs to be powered from the head unit.

and if the unit is powered solely from the head unit, and not from a tail light, then the Pioneer can display an image in any gear, in addition to automatically switching when in reverse?

on another thread, a user complained that when in reverse, an image appeared on the Pioneer. But when he "selected" the rear-view camera, in any other gear besides reverse, he got a black screen.

I would like the ability to have both.

Is that reliant on how many wires come from the camera, or are all cameras created equal in this regard?

And, what would be the correct wiring to achieve both situations?

thanks

It most likely means that the camera is powered by the reverse light, so when you simply switch the head unit to camera's input, it still is not getting nay power. Hence no picture.

Connect the camera correctly, and it should not be an issue.

It most likely means that the camera is powered by the reverse light, so when you simply switch the head unit to camera's input, it still is not getting nay power. Hence no picture.

 

Connect the camera correctly, and it should not be an issue.

and "correctly" would be to a constant 12v source?

and "correctly" would be to a constant 12v source?

no, if the camera is connected to constant, then the camera would be on all the time and would kill your battery every day.

you need a camera that has two wires(power and ground) and a video out RCA, thats it.

ground the ground wire, hook the power wire up to a ACC source (the easiest one is the red wire at the radio) that way every time the car is turned on the camera will be also, then you can select the camera as a source at any time you would like, then there is a reverse wire from the radio that need to be connected to the car so that the radio knows when the car is in reverse and will switch automaticly.

it really is that simple

no, if the camera is connected to constant, then the camera would be on all the time and would kill your battery every day.

 

 

you need a camera that has two wires(power and ground) and a video out RCA, thats it.

 

ground the ground wire, hook the power wire up to a ACC source (the easiest one is the red wire at the radio) that way every time the car is turned on the camera will be also, then you can select the camera as a source at any time you would like, then there is a reverse wire fromt ehradio that need to be connected to the car so that the radio knows when the car is in reverse and will switch automaticly.

 

it really is that simple

ah, that all sounds simple except for the last bit - do you know where the reverse wire from the radio gets connected to? You said "the car". Where on the car.

thanks

The reverse light.

yea the reverse light itself is the easiest place to get it at since the camera has to go back there anyway, some times you can find the wire somewhere else but its usually a lot harder to find and you will need vehicle wiring diagrams

yea the reverse light itself is the easiest place to get it at since the camera has to go back there anyway, some times you can find the wire somewhere else but its usually a lot harder to find and you will need vehicle wiring diagrams

ah, OK. So the Pioneer actually connects to the reverse light, as opposed to connecting to the camera in any way?

yes

yes

thanks

no problem and good luck

I also bought a cheap back up camera from ebay, 2 actually. The first one didnt make after the first time I power washed my truck! The second is the kind that bolts to the license plate. So I ran the red wire to "hot while key is on" black to ground of course. The reverse wire to reverse and tapped into that so I can toggle it on any time not just in reverse. Very simple to do.

I also bought a cheap back up camera from ebay, 2 actually. The first one didnt make after the first time I power washed my truck! The second is the kind that bolts to the license plate. So I ran the red wire to "hot while key is on" black to ground of course. The reverse wire to reverse and tapped into that so I can toggle it on any time not just in reverse. Very simple to do.

do you remember, or have the info for the one you bought off ebay? That's where I'm looking. Does this brand seem familiar? It's more of a novelty for me, since I haven't backed into anything in many years

But if a car-was would trash it, that would be bad.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MAZDA-3-CCD-NTSC-Car-Rear-View-Backup-Camera-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3f03be851aQQitemZ270645757210QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

it's a CCD, and I wondered if that factor would improve its chance of longevity

 

it's a CCD, and I wondered if that factor would improve its chance of longevity

I doubt it. Its from eBay, is cheap, and ships from China so I would say those are going to be the deciding factors on its longevity, or lack there of actually.

Rather than starting a new topic. My cam has a power (Red) and ground (Black) wire. I know that if I only hook the red wire up to the reverse light, it will only come on when backing up. Is there a way that I could modify the wires somehow ie (add another wire) so that I could use the cam whenever plus when backing up? I haven't found a good explanation on this.

Well its been explained a hundred times on here before. Power the camera from the red wire on the head unit.

If you power the camera from 12v live (with the key on) then it will always have power to it when the keys is on. Going into your nav's AV menu, pick 'Back-up' as the source from the top of the screen. I use this when pulling a trailer sometimes to check the load.

hg

Maybe this might help. My cam does not have a reverse wire on the harness. Guys don't have to be mean since I'm just getting use to all this.

edit: I saw some how to's on youtube. I get the idea now. Just gotta make sure the cam will automatically show up when in reverse. Gotta look in the x920 settings.

The backup wire is on the unit.