What I'm trying to figure out, and there seems to be much discussion over the Ford OEM camera, is the wire out of the back of my Alpine HU had a wire for the reverse camera. Supposed to switch the display to the camera when in reverse. Am I tapping the same power wire for that part of it as I am the power for the camera? Or is there a different wire?? ('05). Thanks guys...

 

I have a Pioneer as opposed to the Kenwood, but I can tell you my unit has both an input for the camera signal and a back-up wire connection.

The back-up wire, when connected to your vehicle simply sends current to the HU to let it know that the vehicle is in reverse and to turn on the rear view image automatically when you reverse.

The camera can be powered separately (via switched power to the HU in my case) to allow rearward viewing at any time manually, or automatically when in reverse.

You can of course just power it from the reverse lights / reverse wire if you only want the camera to power on when in reverse.

Not sure what e-bay camera you have....

If you had / have the Ford camera:

black wires are connected to ground.
red wire to power source
white / silver core = video -
white / copper core= video +

I cut and spliced the camera's video outputs to an RCA cable, (the outside of the plug is negative, the inside prong is positive), then ran it into the truck and plugged the other end of the RCA cable into the video in for the Back-up camera on the HU.

Hope this helps...

 

My question regards the wire out of the back of the HU... do I hook that up to the positive lead on the reverse light also (where I am getting power for the camera, I don't want it on all the time) or some other wire under the dash?

 

Do you have any pics of the wiring schematics of the Head unit? With out that I am guessing that is just a signal wire to get it to automatically turn the HU to the video input so you don't have to manually do it. So that would go to the reverse light wire so that it gave the signal to switch it to the reverse mode.

 

REVERSE - Orange / White "To plus side of the back lamp signal lead of the car"

Is it safe to use the positive side of the reverse light for camera power AND HU signal lead? It would be really easy to run a wire back with the RCA cable.

 

That is the way I would do it. And you would be tapping into the correct wire for the HU signal lead as well. So I would say you should be just fine doing it that way. Where did you get the camera? I am wanting to add this to my truck as well.

 

Ebay... seller was alpha-bid. Less than $25 shipped to me.

Thanks... I really just wanted to make sure hitting that wire for both was fine.

 

The hitch is visible on the left side of the screen, just barely...

 

Sorry im a little late for this. It is best not to use the factory reverse wire to power the camera. Instead an accessory wire is the appropriate alternative. The last thing you want to do is add drain to a light and the camera can only be viewed when backing up. If it was done the other way, it would come on when put into reverse but could also be viewed when a brake check is needed on a dipsh*t driver or when towing a trailer.