gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

OK, so hear me out.

With the new 2013 Accords getting small cameras on each side-view mirror and activated when the turn signal is on, I wonder if it could be done to a TL.

You would already have power going to a video camera through the turn signal indicator on 2007-2008 models because they already have the integrated mirror turn signals on the side-view mirrors. The only thing you would need is a video unit like from DOM or AVElectronic to integrate into the navigation screen.

The only other thing that I wonder if the electronic signal from the mirror turn signal indicator itself. Is it constant like in the Accord or would the video screen go on and off in relation to the turn-signal?

I might consider doing this project and crafting a camera housing for this if the electronic signal is constant. I would just need two small cameras to place under the turn signal indicators.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TaoTronics-H...item27caf85d6b
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170-Mini-Ant...item19d3ce5e3c
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAR-REAR-VIE...ht_2432wt_1125 (I like this one the best)

Thoughts?

erdoc48

Your plan is doable but probably expensive and a lot of installation work. It sounds like you're trying to eliminate the blind spots, right?

I have the Multivex mirrors on my TL for the same purpose- cheap, low tech, easy installation, and does the job of eliminating the blind spot beautifully. I really don't know why they aren't factory installed on all cars, instead of an electronic blind spot warning system which costs $$$ and can be annoying to see the lights activating all the time.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Not necessarily. Just a little bit of coolness factor for it.

Not going to do it unless the video feed is constant and not blinking in relation to the blinking LED turn signal indicator.

Won't really be that expensive. I can get two cameras for under $50. I just have to find the DOM NavandTV2go unit. The wiring I can do myself.

erdoc48

Wow, I just read on another forum Mutivex went out of business - they made a very good product.

geekybiker

It is illegal in the US. The mirrors we have are mandated by law. Apparently that sort of mirror is standard on some cars out of the US.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Interesting.

THTL

iTrader: (2)

hmmm. Liking the idea.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

I'm thinking more and more about it. Does anyone know anything about turn signal electrical signals? Is the voltage constant, or is it cyclic in relation to the on and off? Reason why I ask is that I would power the camera directly from the turn signal power. If I get basically a blinking screen for the camera display on the navi screen, I'm not doing this project. However, if the voltage is constant the the LED blinks, then I could hook up a camera to each turn signal. Every time I turn on my turn signal, BAM! the video comes on the navi screen.

I just need to confirm this before I start looking for a DOM NAVandTV2Go unit.

THTL

iTrader: (2)

I think i should be constant. The light blink because of the relay.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

So if I strip out some of the wife from the positive and negative wires of the blinking light and connect the video camera power wires to it, they should work constantly, right? O would I have to connect them before the relay?

Need to find a NavandTV2Go unit soon!

THTL

iTrader: (2)

Why couldnt you post this sooner. I just installed a rear view camera a couple weeks ago. Or else i could test it for you.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

According to the wiring diagram, the left front turn signal wires are red/blue and black, and the right front turn signal wires are white and black.

In order to get out the turn signals you have to remove the entire door panel. Not really a problem.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

I might have to try it, depending on how hard it is to get to the rear tail lights. I would just hook up a voltmeter to DC volts on the tail lights and see if the numbers alternate. If they do, so would the video screen (come on and off on the navi screen).

THTL

iTrader: (2)

Where would you mount the camera?

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Under the side mirrors.

rubenders

The turn signal power will blink at the mirror but if you intercept the power signal from the turn signal switch from the steering wheel is 12 volt at all time when the turn signal is on.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

So it sounds like I'd have to splice in before the relay. Where is the turn signal relay in our cars?

rubenders

Under the hood fuse s box is a built-in relay control module .

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Sonofa...! It's under the hood?! Great. Now I'd have to run wires from the mirror turn signals, through the door panels, through the rubber grommets on each side, and then to the front fenders.

rubenders

You don't have to do all that. Just take the power signal from the turn signal cable coming down the steering wheel. Where you located this is very easy to do.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

I'd have to find out from the Haynes manual what color the wires are and where the wires go from the turn signal cable from the steering wheel.

rubenders

I have the acura tl 08 . 07. Repair manual let me see

Left turn signal wire color from the switch is black / Lt green
Right turn signal wire color from the switch is Orange / white.

From the turn signal relay behind the inside fuse box are. Left red/blue and right is white.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Gotcha. That's for the left and right rear turn signals.

I'm reading the Haynes manual now, and it looks like the turn signal light switch is embedded in the combination light switch. There are three wires coming out of the combination light switch: BLK/GRN, ORG/WHT, and BLK. They go to the combination switch control unit. If I did this, I would tie into those three wires.

The left camera would be connected as follows:

LEFT CAMERA SWITCH
+ (positive) --------> BLK/GRN
- (negative)--------> BLK

RIGHT CAMERA SWITCH
+ (positive) --------> ORG/WHT
- (negative)--------> BLK

Now, I have an idea of the cameras I would use, where to make connections, HOW to make the connections, but now I need a way to hook up the video connections, like a DOMs NAVandTV2Go unit.

Edit: Why, oh why, do I have to remove the door panel for this project? Apparently you don't for the 1999-2003 models! Ugh.

rubenders

I don't think a camera in the left side will be a good idea.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Porque?

If I put a camera on the right side, I'll put one on the left to make everything symmetrical.

Like the new Accord, to which this mod is based.

05AcTL

iTrader: (15)

These have been discounted probably cuz there wasn't much of a market for them that and Eclipse is no longer for sale in the US but here....

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cEyF4WN...se-FEC106.html

You might be able to find them on ebay

05TLbase

There's already 12 volts in the doors no need to run power inside the car... Window switches prob heating element in the mirrors too. Many possibilities!

Pretty sure accord only has cam on right mirror btw... Hopefully Rlx will have on both cuz I like symmetry too

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Problem is that you need 12 V to power the cameras only when the turn signal comes on, hence why'd you'd have to tie into the turn signal electrical wires.

05TLbase

power the cameras the whole time... its the video switching that's the prob. Turn signal before relay to dom unit or whatever has the trigger. No extra wiring through door required. Except the video signal itself.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

I'm not going to do that. That would dramatically reduce the life of the component number one, and number two, I want these to function like backup cameras, and I want them only to be on when the turn signal is on.

05TLbase

I think you would be turning the camera's "on and off" quite a few more time without a constant source, so component life probably the same either way. (and 11 dollars on ebay so if they do go bad... easy replacement) I have a 6 dollar webcam from Ebay I use as a baby monitor in my car that's still going strong a yr later and it has IR so I know it's always on. Different voltage but the concept still valid.

2nd you will need a trigger no matter what.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

The trigger would be the turn signal to turn on the cameras, like a rear-view camera. I want that particular camera to turn on when I put on the turn signal, not both at the same time. I've decided I'm going to do this project, I just need an AV switcher like DOM's NAVandTV2GO unit. Finding those are hard!

THTL

iTrader: (2)

Navtool is another option.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Hmmmmmm. Interesting.


At $279, price seems a little steep.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Does the NAVtool have NTSC compatibility? The camera I want (the third link on the first post of this thread) only says it has NTSC compatibility.

rubenders

so look like you have a wirinng idea all you need now is a video input interface and you done. i am building another car pc for my car and this will be a good thing to have

THTL

iTrader: (2)

yes.

05TLbase

You are talking about powering the camera. You need a trigger wire to switch input from nav to the camera. this can be done with a simple switch (pointless for quick use and oem functionality) or tapping into signal circuit. Before the relay is what you want... if tapped after it will continually switch from nav to camera as your signal lights flash.

Also, I haven't seen anything with more then one triggered switching input. So dual cams will be a PITA, some sort of relay network could get the job done but it'll take more planning than I want to do now.

I've sort of run into the same problem. I want to run nav on my aftermarket screen but have the stock back up camera come on automatically whether Im using the pc or the nav.

Devils always in the details somewhere.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

The NAvtool or DOM's NAVandTV2Go units do this AUTOMATICALLY. And I only want one camera on at any given time. You can't turn BOTH turn signals on at the same time.

Each unit has a separate function for a rearview camera to come on every time the car is placed into reverse. Instead of reverse, I'll power and switch the cameras by turning on my turn signals.

05TLbase

AUTOMATICALLY DOESNT MEAN MAGICALLY.

The "blue wire" on dom's unit is the trigger wire... allowing for automatic switching to reverse camera.

What kind of engineer are you?