Technical Wiring in a dual-camera (rear) dash cam

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Technical Wiring in a dual-camera (rear) dash cam

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Mrs homeward has kindly bought me a dual-camera dashcam, for my upcoming birthday, to replace my front-facing one (along with some nice, bright yellow and black stickers warning people they're on film...!). After being at the receiving end of three bad road traffic accidents -- two of which were rear-enders at over 70 mph -- and having had to have my neck rebuilt, I can get a little twitchy when someone tailgates me.... :eek:

Having had a quick recce round the back of my Punto (I was replacing the rubber pads that stop the rear shelf banging; as well as the hinge rubbers and springs...), I'm struggling to see where I should place it; and how I could wire it in. :confused:

Ideally -- as it comes with a window mount -- it would be good to take it above the headlining (straight to the front camera): but that seems pretty snug (I was thinking of maybe taking the wiring through one of the tailgate hinge covers). Otherwise, I suppose the 'easy' option is to take it down the C-pillar covers, and along the sill with all the other wiring -- maybe threading the wire down the gap next to the top of the tailgate strut.... :chin:

Finally, the set-up comes with a wire that you can connect to the (positive) reversing light: to turn it into an automatic reversing camera. Very tempted to give this a bash: as reversing causes me a lot of physical neck pain, and this would be a nice feature/aid to have. However -- even though this is just a 'sensing' wire -- just wanted to make sure that I then wouldn't have problems with the Canbus system (which I don't understand very well -- I just know I wouldn't be putting a voltage through it, as you would with an alarm/central-locking installation that flashed the indicators (which mine doesn't....)). :rolleyes:

Any thoughts welcome -- especially from anyone that's already done this...! :worship:
 
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hi
not done it im still building kit for a discreet setup for a number of reasons
anyway
i would put camera in back window and just have a hoop in the cable for tailgate opening, probably threaded through a bit of flexi hose (available wickes other stores are availabubble)
or
run cable into tailgate where rear brake light is pull all cable out of tailgate but obviously attach another cable so it can be threaded back in then run your camera cable through the rubber protector into the roof (its a fair bit of work)
then replace all tailgate wiring
if cabling long enough for camera i would go down nearside sill under the plastic protector and under rear seat squab so no carpets need pulling up

with regards wire for reverse the simplest solution would be to change rear 21 watt rear bulb for an led type 21 watt bulb this way system would only see your camera taking power as bulb would be a negligible drain


a lot of these cameras are not wide angle so be warned before you fit as its amazing how much road they miss
 
Hi mate,

With regards to the cabling, I usually do as SandB said . The roof route is tricky though so if the cable is long enough I would go via the sill trim route. Some of the commercial systems I've fitted have cable as thick as 1.5mm2 3 core flex! But normally the ones fitted in cars have a much thinner cable which is much easier to manipulate and hide!

With regards to the sensing wire. I've never had to swap the reverse bulb for an LED one. It is just a sensing/trigger wire so there is minimal current draw on it. It doesn't actually power the camera. Plus the reverse light isn't monitored by the bulb failure system and isn't part of the CAN network.

Alan
 
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i have the Dual Lens F70 dash camera setup

I've got the cable running in the roof edge to the right hand pillar trim - down past the dash board to the floor - running along the sill, up into boot - around the RHS of the boot upto the 3rd brake light where there is a little bit extra sitting waiting to go :)

Ziggy
 
i have the Dual Lens F70 dash camera setup

I've got the cable running in the roof edge to the right hand pillar trim - down past the dash board to the floor - running along the sill, up into boot - around the RHS of the boot upto the 3rd brake light where there is a little bit extra sitting waiting to go :)

Having had a look around, whilst doing the door seal, earlier, I'm pretty sure this is the way to go. Watch this space...! :)
 
One thing I would NOT do is to put a sign in the window advertising that you've got a videocam.
The sort of jerk that likes to annoy by tailgating or stupid behaviour is the same sort of jerk that'll retaliate with a bit of aggro if he knows he's been recorded.

Sweetsixteen
 
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