How to Install a Backup Camera in My Car
Safety needs to be the number one part of owning a car. Surprisingly, many tragic accidents occur when cars back out of driveways. Children may often be lurking about unseen. A backup camera, which is easy to install, can turn out to be a lifesaver.
Required Materials
Back-up camera kit of choice
Hole edge protectors
Sheet metal tape
Required Tools
Drill with larger drill bits
Wire snips and cleaners
Electrical tape
Wire pull
Hardware
There are two main types of back-up cameras. One is a wireless device that simply attaches the hardware at desired locations. The second is a device that requires running wires through the headliners of the car. Each is effective although there can be a few seconds of delay with the wireless device.
Hardware Installation
Begin the wire installation by drilling a hole into the cargo area for the camera. Its location and angle should produce the widest possible viewing area. Install a rubber gasket ring into the hole so that no wire chaffing or camera damage occurs due to driving conditions.
Install the monitor base. Most monitor bases, wireless or wired, fit nicely over the rear view mirror bracket and are additionally supported by two-sided tape to the front windscreen. Metal sheeting tape will work well for attachment of the controller unit to the cars sheet metal body frame within the vehicle and behind some plastic part. Make sure to connect a grounding wire to the car’s bare metal.
Wiring
Using the wire pull, guide the wiring through the liners of the car to the rear cargo area housing the camera. Allow quite a bit of extra wire once you have reached the cargo area. Wire the controller unit into the camera and the vehicle’s 12-volt back-up lamp (this will activate the unit when the car is put into reverse gear.)
Override and live wire
In order to prevent a live wire going to the back-up lights you will need to install a diode override switch. This installation should be done behind the radio system. Removing the radio and dashboard and wiring this into the system takes the longest amount of time for any aspect of the installation. Drill a hole into the dashboard for the switch and use a rubber gasket for unit protection. Wire the switch and diode into the power wiring system for the radio and the controller unit.
Testing
Before you begin to put the dashboard and radio unit back into place, check to see that the unit is working. You may need to check your wiring. If a connection has not been wrapped in electrical tape make sure that it gets wrapped. Also make sure that all of the connections are tight. Jostling around in a moving vehicle will easily loosen a poorly done wire connection.