Adding camera(s) to factory screen.
 

Now that camping season is coming up, I thought I would try to add another camera that will be on my camper but I wanted to use my sync 3 screen. I have thought about this for sometime but never got around to it until today.

So I came up with the following. I created a harness and just split the camera line using an on on switch can't remember exactly what its called but its the same switch you would use if you modify a obd2 device to use with forscan. I think I have maybe $50 into this experiment. But as you can see it works.

I have seen boxes online that will switch multiple video sources by I trigger wire. So in theory you could use like up-fitter switches to switch between cams


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...cfa5299580.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...5c11fe77e6.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...d2204ba22b.jpg

That's fantastic. Where do I place my order? I've wanted to add front cam that works like factory. Congrats! Does the truck have to be in reverse then you can flip to other cam?

no doesn't matter what camera your on when you put it in reverse.

But it only works when in reverse?

Not if you have the delay on. But to start it yes. Figuring out the CAN messages we be needed to run it any time

In for more details.

I've been thinking of adding another screen in the cab (removable) so I can use a backup camera on the rear of my travel trailer, but this looks pretty slick.....:)

I just wanted to test this out to see how the image would be running through a switch. I just cut up a rca wire since it's shielded.

The cam I have was just a cheap one for testing. I ordered a 2011 fusion backup cam since it's metal and has mounting holes. Once I get that camera I will try it.

The thing I'm trying to figure out is how to go from the truck to trailer. I have seen kits for about $80. But I'm leaning towards making my own since I have extra weatherpack connectors.

Great idea! More!

Say, what kind of camera did you get to put on your camper? I've been doing this for years for viewing behind my boat. I started with one of the $60 proprietary reverse camera setups intended for a license plate mount. This worked marginally until the "waterproof" camera filled with rain water. Later, I upgraded to an open-standard NTSC wireless arrangement, so I could use cheap off-the-shelf components. Other than a bit of WiFi interference in the city, (they share the same RF spectrum) it has been a great system.

On the subject at hand though, I was under the impression that all of the Ford vehicle cameras are NOT standard NTSC video, but some kind of LVDS (Low-Voltage-Differential Signal) arrangement. Apparently Ford, and other automakers, have gone this route so that the video information can be run on a pair of inexpensive unshielded, twisted wires instead of a more expensive coaxial cable. The conspiracy theorist in me also wants me to believe that this was done to make things less simple for the aftermarket, in terms of adding the missing but desired hardware to a vehicle with a lower trim level (XLT vs Lariat and above). Ford has not made much of the necessary information freely available. Just look at the whole FORScan project. Crowd-based reverse-engineering at it's finest.:D

Anyway, I am familiar with NTSC video as it is what I went to school for in the late 80's early 90's, before the digital revolution. The whole LVDS arrangement is entirely different, and from what I've read so far, I would have thought, requires more precision than just splicing in a DPDT (double-pole, double-throw) switch. There is a good write-up of the basic LVDS info on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-vo...tial_signaling. Apparently wiring impedance is much more critical, and everything about or on the wire affects that. I have been looking into inserting an active electronic switch (as opposed to your passive, mechanical switch) inline with my F150's reverse camera so I can add at minimum, forward (grille), and rear-facing (trailer) cameras. However, due to real-life commitments, I haven't gotten very far with the idea; nor have I dug into the research as to what physical wiring/connector to hack into to inject the switched LVDS signal. It looks like you have, so I have to ask, where in the vehicle do the connectors you photographed reside? I would guess that they are in the dash, behind the 8" display (APIM?) as one of your pics shows the display unit minus it's bezel. In any event, I am glad to see you have something working here. I was beginning to think that the financial investment required to add either Ford or "approved" aftermarket hardware would make the whole project unfeasible.

For myself, I am finding that I am leaning another direction. Unless some of the Ford-mandated viewing limitations can be overcome with FORScan settings, I have to keep reminding myself that all these machinations are just so we can see a camera while 1) Moving less than ~5MPH, 2) After shifting into and out of reverse gear, and 3) All while requiring the Camera Delay option turned on in the vehicle's limited number of user-selectable settings. I'm beginning to think that the the >$100 I would spend on a cheap and replaceable NTSC Ebay camera and a dual-input video monitor rearview mirror may the route for me. Independent images from the 8" display, images that I can choose at my convenience, and low-cost hardware that won't bleed me dry if it craps out or wanders away from my vehicle.

packrat

This is the $12 camera I bought for testing I would NOT recommend it as it is really blurry. The lens itself looks to have like orange peel on the back side.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...dffe400041.jpg

For my camper I plan on trying to use a '11 Ford Fusion camera.

You are correct about the LDVS but that wire is only between the screen and the apim. The blue and yellow jumper wire. But yes if you splice in here you would have total control of the screen. Which some kits have already done.

The actual signal wire for the backup camera is in the 54 pin connector pin 14 +, pin 15 -, and pin 33 is the shield.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...0e6643db53.jpg

Delay doesn't work for me as I have an aftermarket backup camera.

Can't wait to see what comes from this before I continue my project of multi cameras.

Fingers crossed.