I need help with powering a rear view camera all of the time

Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing searches for pin out and socket location information already and the best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable information in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions were left out except for the license plate light which only works at night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I believe. anyway - thanks!

 

On Saturday, November 2, 2013 6:23:18 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:

On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 17:30:27 -0700, videoman wrote:



Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to

install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I

want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be

able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see

behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of

old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that

is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view

mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view

camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a

power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can

splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing

searches for pin out and socket location information already and the

best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related

information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable

information in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions

were left out except for the license plate light which only works at

night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things

out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let

me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I

believe. anyway - thanks!



Unless the truck has a socket for trailer wiring that includes a charging

wire for the trailer brakes, then you'll have to run a wire.



You want to tap into a circuit that's on whenever the engine is. That

means something like the radio. Often the fuse block will have an

"accessories" circuit; if yours does, that's what you want to use.



If you can get a Hayes manual for the truck, or a shop manual, it'll have

a wiring diagram. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but it should give

you some idea of what circuits are there, when they're on, and where the

wires might go. Then it's up to you to put a tap in and run a wire to

the back of the truck.



--



Tim Wescott

Wescott Design Services

http://www.wescottdesign.com

Thanks guys! I will look for a wiring harness or something in the back of the truck, underneath everything I guess, then run a wire along that to the cab then maybe connect to the cigarette lighter.

 

[Tom Biasi]

On 11/2/2013 8:30 PM, videoman@ccountry.net wrote:

Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing searches for pin out and socket location information already and the best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable information
in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions were left out except for the license plate light which only works at night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I believe. anyway - thanks!

How about the cigarette lighter.

 

[Tim Wescott]

On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 17:30:27 -0700, videoman wrote:

Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to
install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I
want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be
able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see
behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of
old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that
is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view
mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view
camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a
power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can
splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing
searches for pin out and socket location information already and the
best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related
information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable
information in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions
were left out except for the license plate light which only works at
night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things
out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let
me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I
believe. anyway - thanks!

Unless the truck has a socket for trailer wiring that includes a charging
wire for the trailer brakes, then you'll have to run a wire.

You want to tap into a circuit that's on whenever the engine is. That
means something like the radio. Often the fuse block will have an
"accessories" circuit; if yours does, that's what you want to use.

If you can get a Hayes manual for the truck, or a shop manual, it'll have
a wiring diagram. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but it should give
you some idea of what circuits are there, when they're on, and where the
wires might go. Then it's up to you to put a tap in and run a wire to
the back of the truck.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

 

[Tom Biasi]

On 11/2/2013 11:04 PM, videoman@ccountry.net wrote:

On Saturday, November 2, 2013 6:23:18 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 17:30:27 -0700, videoman wrote:



Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to

install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I

want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be

able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see

behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of

old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that

is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view

mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view

camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a

power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can

splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing

searches for pin out and socket location information already and the

best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related

information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable

information in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions

were left out except for the license plate light which only works at

night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things

out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let

me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I

believe. anyway - thanks!



Unless the truck has a socket for trailer wiring that includes a charging

wire for the trailer brakes, then you'll have to run a wire.



You want to tap into a circuit that's on whenever the engine is. That

means something like the radio. Often the fuse block will have an

"accessories" circuit; if yours does, that's what you want to use.



If you can get a Hayes manual for the truck, or a shop manual, it'll have

a wiring diagram. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but it should give

you some idea of what circuits are there, when they're on, and where the

wires might go. Then it's up to you to put a tap in and run a wire to

the back of the truck.



--



Tim Wescott

Wescott Design Services

http://www.wescottdesign.com

Thanks guys! I will look for a wiring harness or something in the back of the truck, underneath everything I guess, then run a wire along that to the cab then maybe connect to the cigarette lighter.

Don't forget to fuse it near the source.

 

[ABLE1]

"Tim Wescott" <tim@seemywebsite.really> wrote in message
news:qomdnZJUX8sbOOjPnZ2dnUVZ5oKdnZ2d@giganews.com...

On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 17:30:27 -0700, videoman wrote:

Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to
install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I
want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be
able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see
behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of
old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that
is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view
mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view
camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a
power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can
splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing
searches for pin out and socket location information already and the
best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related
information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable
information in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions
were left out except for the license plate light which only works at
night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things
out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let
me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I
believe. anyway - thanks!

Unless the truck has a socket for trailer wiring that includes a charging
wire for the trailer brakes, then you'll have to run a wire.

You want to tap into a circuit that's on whenever the engine is. That
means something like the radio. Often the fuse block will have an
"accessories" circuit; if yours does, that's what you want to use.

If you can get a Hayes manual for the truck, or a shop manual, it'll have
a wiring diagram. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but it should give
you some idea of what circuits are there, when they're on, and where the
wires might go. Then it's up to you to put a tap in and run a wire to
the back of the truck.

Why not just T-Tap into the rear tail lights and drive with the lights on.
Everybody does that anyhow so it is always a hot circuit. That way you
won't be draining the battery when the engine is turned off.

BTW some of the wireless type backup cameras are not designed to work very
well long term. Especially with the seal of the electronics and lens And
the wireless signal doesn't necessarily get to the receiver all the time.
As it is always, "you get what you pay for". Not that I actually know this
from experience or anything. Just saying.

 

[defaullt]

On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 23:40:11 -0400, Tom Biasi <tombiasi@optonline.net>
wrote:

On 11/2/2013 11:04 PM, videoman@ccountry.net wrote:
On Saturday, November 2, 2013 6:23:18 PM UTC-7, Tim Wescott wrote:
On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 17:30:27 -0700, videoman wrote:



Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to

install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I

want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be

able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see

behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of

old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that

is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view

mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view

camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a

power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can

splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing

searches for pin out and socket location information already and the

best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related

information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable

information in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions

were left out except for the license plate light which only works at

night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things

out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let

me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I

believe. anyway - thanks!



Unless the truck has a socket for trailer wiring that includes a charging

wire for the trailer brakes, then you'll have to run a wire.



You want to tap into a circuit that's on whenever the engine is. That

means something like the radio. Often the fuse block will have an

"accessories" circuit; if yours does, that's what you want to use.



If you can get a Hayes manual for the truck, or a shop manual, it'll have

a wiring diagram. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but it should give

you some idea of what circuits are there, when they're on, and where the

wires might go. Then it's up to you to put a tap in and run a wire to

the back of the truck.



--



Tim Wescott

Wescott Design Services

http://www.wescottdesign.com

Thanks guys! I will look for a wiring harness or something in the back of the truck, underneath everything I guess, then run a wire along that to the cab then maybe connect to the cigarette lighter.

Don't forget to fuse it near the source.

If it's anything like my truck, there will be a fuse block installed
in the cab with four or five unused, labeled, fuse positions (for
features that my truck doesn't have, like power windows/seats/bed
light etc..)

Then you just need to commandeer the unused posit(s) and run wire from
the terminal block under the floor carpet, cab seats and through a
hole in the body and bed. A temporary pull apart connection if the
camper seldom comes off or a more permanent weather proof bulkhead
connector if it will be off the truck much of the time.

A few LED reading or work lights in the camper shell might not go
amiss either...

 

[Tom Biasi]

On 11/2/2013 8:30 PM, videoman@ccountry.net wrote:

Hi, my name is Dan and I am glad I have found this group. I want to install a rear view camera on my dad's ford ranger truck (2001), But I want it working at all times while the truck is running. He needs to be able to see traffic behind him while driving and of course needs to see behind the truck while driving in reverse. He is getting the effects of old age and he need to drive safely. I have a rear view camera kit that is wireless and he has a camper on his truck that blocks his rear view mirror. Can someone give me some information on connecting the rear view camera to the truck's electrical wiring for this purpose? Is there a power socket or power supply wire in the rear of the truck that I can splice into (not the blinking lights ones of course)? I tried doing searches for pin out and socket location information already and the best I got was a pdf containing wire color descriptions and related information but nothing on where to start doing this. No real usable information
in what I found, the rear power pin outs/wire descriptions were left out except for the license plate light which only works at night. I am great with basic electronics and prefer to find these things out before using an ohm meter / voltmeter on his truck - he won't let me thinking I would damage it so I need to know where to start first I believe. anyway - thanks!

Just a side note:
If your dad is going to be looking into the monitor facing forward, he
most likely will be expecting what he would see in a mirror. The camera
will not show that view but will show a view as if he was looking out
the back. This is addressable with some units.