Back-up camera update w/ photos

[G8V8]

Before doing the total installation I wanted to make sure it would work. I solved Friday's power problem by fixing the faulty connector. These photos were taken in my garage. I'm holding the B-U camera in one hand and my Nikon in the other. The image is pretty good.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/PLYYB-DSCN0603_650.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/PQXIE-DSCN0604_651.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/OCSOL-DSCN0605_652.JPG

This next image was with all the lights out to see how the IR leds and image would look. It ia B&W as expected but pretty good too.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/ZWXEG-DSCN0606_653.JPG

Now that I know it will actually work, I need to pick up some splices and odds and ends for the final installation.

This is the number of the auction on Ebay where I got the camera.

250276780734

[-Ray-]

Good work Ed. :worthy:

[GRRRR8]

Great Job Ed! Now you can see me coming as I am about to go by you! LOL

[wreckwriter]

This is excellent. Please keep us updated!

[G8V8]

Great Job Ed! Now you can see me coming as I am about to go by you! LOL

You must be confused. This camera adds 75hp. I thought I would keep tabs on you as you fade back into the distance! :nah:

[Steve]

oh think i'm gonna get one of those.. did you need to get anything else from the guy on ebay or just the cam with the free 32' of cable? you should make a list of all parts required and post here (+ maybe some instructions)

[G8V8]

oh think i'm gonna get one of those.. did you need to get anything else from the guy on ebay or just the cam with the free 32' of cable? you should make a list of all parts required and post here (+ maybe some instructions)

There are tons of people selling back-up cameras on Ebay. I'm taking photos as i go and will do a write up. Part of it will depend upon what camera you buy.

[Steve]

I like THAT particular one though.. not as obtrusive. think i'll finally give in and try ordering something from ebay ;)

[G8V8]

oh think i'm gonna get one of those.. did you need to get anything else from the guy on ebay or just the cam with the free 32' of cable? you should make a list of all parts required and post here (+ maybe some instructions)

What you need and what is hard to come by is the connector that fits the radio to hook up the video signal. No point getting anything until you secure a connector that will fit.

More later....

[GRRRR8]

You must be confused. This camera adds 75hp. I thought I would keep tabs on you as you fade back into the distance! :nah:

If thats the case I want 4 of them! I will mount the department store bubble on the roof and I will see all enemies approaching at any angle! :worthy:

[G8V8]

Charlie, think about trying to get a little more sleep. LOL.

[GRRRR8]

I fell asleep at 8:30 and woke up at 3:30am wide awake! I have a lot of stuff to add to the site so I was looking at options as to how I am going to do all that.

[G8V8]

Here are some photos of information you will need to do this installation. i got these from other boards but the information is accurate;

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/connectors.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio-audio.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio-video.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/conn_PN.JPG

You can get by without the shell. You only need the video connector and 2 pins to do just video. If you want to connect an XM unit to the rear aux you need the audio connector and 3 pins.

more to follow....

[G8V8]

Some photos of the installation so far:

The camera and 2 radio hook up adapters I put together, one for me ans one for Charlie:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0607_654.JPG

Hole drilled in trunk lid:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0608_655.JPG

Camera mounted:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0609_656.JPG

Will file grommet hole with RTV once everything is done:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0610_657.JPG

Another view of camera. The lights beside the camera lense are IR LEDs for use at night:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0611_658.JPG

I ran the cable inside the trunk lid. The long cable that came with the camera had to be cut because the connectors on each end are too big to fit through the rubber conduit. i cut it about 3 feet from one end. Make sure you check the connectors. They are not the same on each end and you want a 3 foot piece that connects to the cable that os part of the camera:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0612_659.JPG

This is the camera cable connected to the 3 foot extension that has been pulled through the rubber conduit. I secured the mated connectors to the trunk lid ribbing with cable ties.

Except for putting the bottom of the conduit back in place, this is the finished install in the trunk lid:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0614_661.JPG

Moving to the front. The lower panel on the side of the console has been pulled straight down and then the side panel of the center stack was pulled down to gain access to the side of the radio. You can see some of the previous wiring to add my XM. There is a 12v cig receptacle in there with the XM power supply plugged in and the audio adapter cable:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0615_662.JPG

Getting the video connector installed is a B*#%H unless you want to remove the glove box door, etc. i didn't.I found that if you bent the 2 wires down with the connector oriented with the red wire at the bottem you can hold the connector by the cables as shown with long tweezers or needlenose pliars. with a flash light you can reach up and work the connector in place. I did not use the connector shells (expensive) so some duct tap or the like to hold it in place will prevent if from working loose. I don't think it is really needed but can't hurt:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0616_663.JPG

console buttoned up and cable waiting for the extension to be run along and inside the lower passenger side molding to reach to the trunk. I have it run and am next addressing camera power.

The easiest thing is to power it all the time but i wanted it powered only when in revearse so I found the back-up light 12v feed wire in the trunk. The cable splice is located rigth there also so I will add a wire at the splice to run over and tap into the 12 volt like. I have not decided where to tap into ground. I am leaning toward doing it in the consol near the radio. It would mean getting back into the consol but it is easy. I'll post more photos as i finish the hook-up.

Here is how the BU camera works. You need to turn on rear Aux in the radio setup menu. Then to get the image you need to press the AUX button and be or move to "Revearse". You get the image. If you leave Rev, image goes away and you have a blank display (it will display settings in you make a change) until you press the Band button, then it will return the screen to where you were before video. I use XM through the rear aux so I'm in AUX to listen to it. Therefore anytime I'm stopped or going under 5 mph, [No video is displayed above 5 mph-period. You need Video in motion (VIM) for that and that is $400+] my sceen blanks (it would show the rear view if i was finished and as soon as I'm going 5mph+ it goes back to the normal Rear aux display screen with all settings displayed.

[hotshot2003]

Looking good. I'm awaiting Adrian's reply now that I've sent pictures of my radio and harnesses. He is supposed to have a VIM that will work on our cars. You mention one being 400$ as if it is already available. If it is, and it truly is 400$ I would still consider it. Do you have info as to where it can be purchased? Also, how much are those plugs and pins and where can they be ordered?

[G8V8]

There was somebody on Ebay selling it. There was a lot of debate on the G8 board and some question about it working on US cars or not. The radio has to be reprogrammed to allow VIM.
The connectors are by Tyco. You have to go through electronics parts dealers. I'm in the industry so I was able to sample a cpouple of each through our engineering department. The problem as i understand it is they are not sold in the US and to order from Germany there is a pretty big minimum order required. Maybe these things will change. The was a post in the G8 board where somebody in Oz had connectors and some wiring.

[hotshot2003]

Yea the guy from Oz is who I will likely buy it from. I just know that these connectors can't possibly cost very much and it would be easy to fab up the video/audio inputs if I had the connectors.

The VIM supposedly works on any software version on the Blaupunkt radio's, Adrian just wanted to confirm something with the wiring harnesses on the unit in my car. I would guess to see if the same plugs were open or not as the 2009 may have one of those used for XM input? Either way as soon as I get this confirmed through him that it will work I will be trying it out.

In USD the VIM and the inputs will run approximately 370 plus shipping if I remember correctly. I'll let you know when I order.

[G8V8]

Because the connector are not sold in this country, you would prbably have to go through a US distributor like Arrow. They could get them but there will be a minimum buy quantity you have to get. On other items i've see the mimimum buy quantity as high as 1000 to 5000 pieces. Even if $1 each, it adds up.

[G8Smitty]

Perhaps this is a silly question, but since the two connections are on top of each other, couldn’t you fab something with a computer jumper? Actually I have an old computer (garbage bound) and I was going to see if one of the case to motherboard connectors would fit (it is already wired where a jumper would require a little solder). It would have to be installed were gravity would make a disconnection over time, but it looks like it should work. Thoughts?

[Steve]

almost looks like a molex plug could be made to work.. perhaps I should rip open my dash and just start trying a few .

[G8Smitty]

http://www.pcguide.com/byop/diagrams/figure10.jpg
I was thinking one of these.

[G8Smitty]

FYI - I just tried it and it fits perfect. I'm going to monkey around with it to see if I can make one that works.

[hotshot2003]

Great idea, I was thinking of trying to solder something directly to the pins lol. I always pick on my coworkers for trying to do everything the hard way and I've just caught myself in the same act. Nice thought with the computer jumpers, I'm pretty sure I have some laying around as well.

[G8V8]

The connectors used on female ribbon cables will work by the look of it. The pins are on .10" centers with .10" between rows. 10 pins are pretty common and even though you only need 2 pins for video, 3 for the audio connector, the extra sockets will help hold it in. Just make sure you get the wires to the pins in the top and bottom center of each row.

[G8V8]

My installation is complete and it works as advertised. What I don't like is the 5 mph limit. Once you reach the cut off speed the screen blanks and you have to come to a stop to get the video back. Looks like they really want to make you creep backwards.

I'll post photos later.
Ed

[G8V8]

Here are the last batch of photos:

Prepping the cables to be spliced back together:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/09478652-DSCN0618_665.JPG

Partially spliced:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/86605115-DSCN0619_666.JPG

Splice complete with added wire to tap into the back-up light feed. It is the bright green wire in the bundle.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/0103110805-DSCN0620_667.JPG

After dressing in and ty-wrapping the cables in place, the trunk isback together:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/746171058-DSCN0621_668.JPG

Shots from the camera with and without flash. The flash washed it out.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/15864362-DSCN0622_669.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/85787599-DSCN0623_670.JPG

This was not hard to do, just a little time comsuming. If the ribbon cable connector fits all you need is a camera kit, some splices and a video RCA jack from Radio Shack and basic soldering skillls and you could have a Back-up camera too.
Ed

[G8Smitty]

It actually worked better than expected. I came home and dug around in my junk electronic drawer and fabbed up a working cable.

I took a computer speaker connector that has four wires and split it in two (because I couldn't find a 2 wire). From there I soldered on a female AV connector and presto, it worked like a charm.

Here are the photos. It took me about 1/2 hour. So easy.

http://cdsmith.org/images/radio01.jpg
http://cdsmith.org/images/radio02.jpg
http://cdsmith.org/images/radio03.jpg

[G8V8]

Nice. Should make it easier to hook up without the hassles of finding connectors.

[g8_795]

Ed,
I am working on an MCU for the Atari Gauges. I think dede had the idea to filter off the MPH and reverse CAN messages that go to the radio. I may have to try using this MCU to do this, but I need to setup the A/V setup like you have it. Should be very simple. In theory, we can play X-Box and drive at 130 MPH, while racing some sorry M5.
-Robert

Correction: I would have to think about this more. Since I don't have two CAN controllers on my MCU, one to receive and one to retransmit on a separate buses, it may take some more engineering work. Still not impossible, just requires some thought.

[g8_795]

Oh, Quick question. What about sound when using this AUX input? Does it exist?
Thanks,
-Robert

[G8V8]

Oh, Quick question. What about sound when using this AUX input? Does it exist?
Thanks,
-Robert

Didn't think to check. I'll check in the morning and let you know.

[hotshot2003]

The connectors used on female ribbon cables will work by the look of it. The pins are on .10" centers with .10" between rows. 10 pins are pretty common and even though you only need 2 pins for video, 3 for the audio connector, the extra sockets will help hold it in. Just make sure you get the wires to the pins in the top and bottom center of each row.

I noticed when tearing apart an IDE female ribbon cable that it looks like there are 3 rows of metal connections on the back of it. The top row I assume is to the top pin openings on the front side of the connector, the bottom row to the bottom pins on front side of connector, and middle pins are there just to make sure the connector adheres to ribbon better? Let me know if this is correct and I will give it a try tomorrow night. Thanks.

[G8V8]

Oh, Quick question. What about sound when using this AUX input? Does it exist?
Thanks,
-Robert

To view video you have to be in the aux mode by pressing the AUX button. That switches the source to Aux. If you press Band, it takes you back to the source you were listening to before you pressed Aux. I have my XM receiver wired into my rear Aux audio connector so I am usually in Aux anyway. In this case, the way I'm wired to the back-up light power feed, anytime those lights are on and I'm stopped or doing less than 5 mph, the video shows AND the XM continues to play. The down side is that anytime I'm stopped or moving less than 5 mph w/o the BU lights on, my screen is blank.

If you adjust a control during this time, it will display that setting or control on the blank screen or superimpose it on top of the BU camera video, as the case may be.


I noticed when tearing apart an IDE female ribbon cable that it looks like there are 3 rows of metal connections on the back of it. The top row I assume is to the top pin openings on the front side of the connector, the bottom row to the bottom pins on front side of connector, and middle pins are there just to make sure the connector adheres to ribbon better? Let me know if this is correct and I will give it a try tomorrow night. Thanks.

Pretty sure that is right. It depends on the brand. There SHOULD be groves for the wire(s) to lay in to keep the, straight and aligned while you press the cover on. As long as the wires are in those grooves you should be OK. The ribbon cables split apart pretty easily so you could separate the wires you need fron the ribbon and cut off the ones you don't. Having a full width of cable in the connector keep the cover aligned and under the right tension.

[G8V8]

Here is some additional information:

A mating jack for the typical video plug is Radio Shack # 274-0337. You would wire one of these to the connector you use to plug into the radio video input.

For the rear audio jack, use R/S number 274-274.

[NoLimit]

Here are some photos of information you will need to do this installation. i got these from other boards but the information is accurate;

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/connectors.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio-audio.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio-video.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/conn_PN.JPG

You can get by without the shell. You only need the video connector and 2 pins to do just video. If you want to connect an XM unit to the rear aux you need the audio connector and 3 pins.

more to follow....

Good to see my photos came in handy for you guys :)

[G8V8]

without a doubt. They were key to cracking this much of the puzzle.
Thanks,
Ed

[JayCo59]

Ed,
How did you drop the Glove Box? It seems to be in the way to get to the Video connector.
Thx,
Jay

[BlueJacket]

Ed,
How did you drop the Glove Box? It seems to be in the way to get to the Video connector.
Thx,
Jay

See steps 1, 9 and 10 in this link. http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=7671