I purchased a backup camera (license plate frame) and have a few questions.

1.  The camera came with 3 wires, RCA, ground and one to connect to the reverse lights.  Is there any need to hook anything to the back of the deck besides the video input (yellow RCA cord)?  Will the deck automatically switch to the camera in reverse with just having the RCA attached to it?

2.  What settings should I adjust to make this work the best?

Thanks for any input you guys can give!

1. All wires need to be connected to the back of the deck. Read the install manual for the deck.

The manual was pretty generic so I thought I'd post up what I did and maybe it will help someone in the future.  

Connect the camera wire from the back of the deck (should be labeled) to the reverse light in your car, I just ran a wire down the runners on the passenger side.  I tested the wires in my tail light harness (moving the car from neutral to reverse) to make sure I had the right wire.  Hook the wire from the actual camera into the same spot, then the other camera wire to a ground.  Run the RCA to the back of the deck and it's done.  I did have to switch the setting to "battery" in settings after connecting everything.  Works like a charm.  The hardest part was finding somewhere to run the wires from the camera to the inside of the trunk, but that varies by make/model of the car.  

Overall it was pretty easy to do, just took a little time

Does it work for rear view as well?

Does it work for rear view as well?

Not sure what you mean by this, it comes on anytime I put the car in reverse

Rear view is viewing while moving forward.

I wired it so the camera only gets power when in reverse, I'm sure there's another way but I didn't need that feature

I hooked up my reverse camera to my AR2 this weekend. Is there anyway to wire it so it's available to view at anytime, but also auto switches to the camera when i put my truck in reverse?

Yeah, dont wire it like the guy above did. Connect the cameras power wire to the head units red power wire. That is the proper way to wire a reverse camera.

Yeah, dont wire it like the guy above did. Connect the cameras power wire to the head units red power wire. That is the proper way to wire a reverse camera.

So you're suggesting the camera is permanently live, therefore you would have to touch the camera on the screen for the rear view rather than it automatically starting when you engage reverse?

It will do both.

Yeah, dont wire it like the guy above did. Connect the cameras power wire to the head units red power wire. That is the proper way to wire a reverse camera.

Excuse me if I bring this thread back fro the dead, but are you referring to AppRadio  units specifically or is this "proper" for any reverse camera install ? 

The wiring for a reverse camera should be

RCA from camera to AR

12v with reverse to the reverse wire on the AR

permanent 12v from anywhere to the camera

That combination will allow you view the reverse camera whenever you want, but it will automatically switch to the camera when you engage reverse.

You can get the 12v with reverse from either nicking in from the reverse light wire, or using the fuse for the reverse light if that's easier.

Excuse me if I bring this thread back fro the dead, but are you referring to AppRadio  units specifically or is this "proper" for any reverse camera install ? 

Any reverse camera and what he said from above.

Any electronics store should have surveillance camera cable in various lengths.  It consists of male/female rca plugs and male/female 12v plug and makes for a super easy and clean install of your camera, while allowing you to hook up your power to the HU's red switched wire.  I think I bought a 25 foot cable for under $20.

Since I'm trying to debug my new AR3, I'm reviving a zombie thread.  

First, I wired my back-up camera to get 12v from the back-up lights so the camera view works in Reverse only but Rear View Mode must also be selected. When I shift out of R, the screen goes blank but stays in the RVM.  When I try to go back to another screen, it reverts to the camera screen after 7 seconds unless I turn RVM off.  This is unsat.

Then I tried it with the cam power from an ignition-switched 12V circuit and I get the RVM only; no automatic back-up cam when I shift to reverse.

I am perplexed.  The only thing I can think of it that there's a fault in the Metra wiring harness and I'll have to rip the dash apart again!!  Any suggestions?

There's a menu in settings that shows you the test signals. First verify that you are getting the high and low signals correct as you shift in and out of reverse.

Also, if you are doing 12v with reverse, make sure you don't have to option set to to Ground in the Camera Polarity setting. Sounds like you might have it the wrong way round.

There's a menu in settings that shows you the test signals. First verify that you are getting the high and low signals correct as you shift in and out of reverse.

 

Also, if you are doing 12v with reverse, make sure you don't have to option set to to Ground in the Camera Polarity setting. Sounds like you might have it the wrong way round.

Thanks, I'll look for the menu with the high/low signal. Found it under "Connection Status" and called "Back Signal". I guess it never dawned on anyone at Pioneer to mention it in the camera section. Or in the Troubleshooting Section.  It says "Low" and there's no change when I shift, so I guess I need to pull the unit and check the harness connection on the reverse wire.  Ugh.

I left the camera wired to an ignition-switched 12v, and have the polarity set for "battery" (though there was no difference when I tried it on "ground).  That should be correct once I find the Reverse problem.

First of all your installation is wrong for the camera. Connect the red power wire from the camera to the red power wire of the unit and you will get rear view. Next what color is the camera icon on the screen? If it's blue touch it again till it's white and your other problem will be solved as well.

First of all your installation is wrong for the camera. Connect the red power wire from the camera to the red power wire of the unit and you will get rear view. Next what color is the camera icon on the screen? If it's blue touch it again till it's white and your other problem will be solved as well.

The red power wire on the head unit's harness connects to the truck's ignition-switched 12V.  Why would that be different from any switched 12V power tap anywhere in the truck?

I've tried both "on" and "off" with the camera icon and get an image only when its on.  

Why would that be different from any switched 12V power tap anywhere in the truck.

Think about it.

Think about it.

I have. That's why I asked.  Its not like the cam power goes through the head unit and is controlled.  I wish Pioneer would explain the operating logic.  It seems to me  that the camera's on full time, and the display is switched to it when there's 12V on the Reverse connection or when the RVM is selected.  I don't see the how camera power source matters, as long as its got power when the head does.

Well, in the case of rear view, how is the camera suppose to get power when not in reverse mode if it's wired as you say? So........the answer I gave you is the correct one. Understand you're only about the 1000th person that's asked this question and the answer is always the same.

I'll be back into it tomorrow and will let you know what I find, but electrically, once the key is on, the 12V powering the head unit is the same 12V on any circuit energized through the ignition switch. 

I understand that but clearly you're not understanding. The issue here isn't the 12v and where you get it.