Added a 2nd Camera to factory screen
#1
Added a 2nd Camera to factory screen
So in my quest to add a 2nd camera to my factory screen and looking at all of the posts in this forum , I decided to give it a try. I wanted it to be a factory looking as possible and to basically cut no wires . This is what I did
After searching the web and saw other companies out there that sell kits which ranged from $249-over $1000 american . All i really wanted was the Harness but certain companies would now sell me the harness without buying the entire kit.
I found Metra-Axxess have just released a Plug and play harness and little black box to add 3 more camera's with your factory camera , and these are controlled by Canbus (Triggers). I manged to get my hands on the Ford Harness from here
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item...DDCAM-FD1.html
but the magical Black box no one has yet , I spoke with Metra directly and was told they will be shipped out soon. at this moment in time I only wanted a second camera so I did not need the black box. This 2nd camera can be used for anything, I am using it to see my Bed.
I ordered one of these https://www.qualitymobilevideo.com/a...l#.WqQ1t4PwaUk
which will do my video switching .
and finally I purchased a used 3rd brake light camera (did not want to ruin mine) and a wired back up camera (inexpensive one but it does the job)
I also 3d printed a spacer to push the brake light bulb away from the Camera
Since part of the harness has a connector that plugs into the blackbox , which brings power , grounds, triggers, speed sensing, and talks to the Canbus , i just needed to Jumper the Canbus pins (they had Canbus in and out pins) so i just jumpered the pairs this way I did not cut the harness up. I also used the +12 and negative to power the Video switched . I powered the camera by teeing into the 3rd brake light cargo lights and this became my trigger .
Connected things up and tested and it worked.
When I put the car in reverse the factory camera comes on like normal , when I push the cargo light button on the dash the new camera comes on . Later on if i want to add more cameras I can since I have not cut anything on the harness
Here is a video of how it works
I am not happy with the angle and the parking lines but I will work on that
So all told
$38.63 for Harness
$32.99 for Video Switcher
$25 for the 3rd brake light
$30 for the camera (it also came with a 4.3" screen
so about $150 after shipping cost with the option down the road to still buy the Black box
Video switcher triggered by the cargo light button on dash
Comes with 2 Harness, 1 for the 8" and 1 for the 4.2"
This is the one for the 4.2" other one just has the 54 pin connector
After searching the web and saw other companies out there that sell kits which ranged from $249-over $1000 american . All i really wanted was the Harness but certain companies would now sell me the harness without buying the entire kit.
I found Metra-Axxess have just released a Plug and play harness and little black box to add 3 more camera's with your factory camera , and these are controlled by Canbus (Triggers). I manged to get my hands on the Ford Harness from here
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item...DDCAM-FD1.html
but the magical Black box no one has yet , I spoke with Metra directly and was told they will be shipped out soon. at this moment in time I only wanted a second camera so I did not need the black box. This 2nd camera can be used for anything, I am using it to see my Bed.
I ordered one of these https://www.qualitymobilevideo.com/a...l#.WqQ1t4PwaUk
which will do my video switching .
and finally I purchased a used 3rd brake light camera (did not want to ruin mine) and a wired back up camera (inexpensive one but it does the job)
I also 3d printed a spacer to push the brake light bulb away from the Camera
Since part of the harness has a connector that plugs into the blackbox , which brings power , grounds, triggers, speed sensing, and talks to the Canbus , i just needed to Jumper the Canbus pins (they had Canbus in and out pins) so i just jumpered the pairs this way I did not cut the harness up. I also used the +12 and negative to power the Video switched . I powered the camera by teeing into the 3rd brake light cargo lights and this became my trigger .
Connected things up and tested and it worked.
When I put the car in reverse the factory camera comes on like normal , when I push the cargo light button on the dash the new camera comes on . Later on if i want to add more cameras I can since I have not cut anything on the harness
Here is a video of how it works
I am not happy with the angle and the parking lines but I will work on that
So all told
$38.63 for Harness
$32.99 for Video Switcher
$25 for the 3rd brake light
$30 for the camera (it also came with a 4.3" screen
so about $150 after shipping cost with the option down the road to still buy the Black box
Video switcher triggered by the cargo light button on dash
Comes with 2 Harness, 1 for the 8" and 1 for the 4.2"
This is the one for the 4.2" other one just has the 54 pin connector
The following users liked this post:
dms1 (01-17-2019)
The following users liked this post:
Limitless-87 (03-16-2018)
#4
Senior Member
That's pretty sweet and the price is coming down finally. Having done the work do you think there is a way to display a front camera and have it somehow turn on with a switch instead of putting the transmission into reverse and just switching camera inputs?
#7
Senior Member
I've often wondered why there are not forward facing cameras on the mirrors so that you can see if you can safely pass someone or change lanes
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#8
There is a system by axxess that I was going to go with ( I'm using their harness but not brain ) that can control 4 cameras and they are triggered by how you want them to be . I.E side cameras turn on via turn signal . It uses Canbus to make it work