Got my reverse camera installed a few weeks ago thought I would post some pics! I used the kenwood cmos 200, probably more then most people would pay for a camera but I loved the size the quality and especially the quality of this camera. It comes with all the cables you need and it have a power regulated box to protect it from voltage spikes etc. This is a camera you will not ever need to replace for the life of your car.

For the install I used the DOM unit, I also drew this schematic below as I was trying to figure out how to have the camera activate automatically but also have a switch up front so I can turn it on anytime. With this setup you don't have a power wire running up front from the trunk just a ground wire which I felt was safer. For Acc switched power I just tapped into the navigation, the power draw from the camera is nil. Some people including DOM will say you need to run a dedicated power wire to the fuse box, that is up to you.



Here is the camera, I plugged it into my tv in the living room first to test it out. Very very good picture!!! That little box below is the power regulator it comes with.





Sorry not much detail on the DOM install I figured there are several other DIYs for that. I did run the switch for the second video up to my center console along with the switch and ground wire from my diagram above. This way I can activate the reverse camera and the second video source from my console which for me will be a front camera (install pending).












Night Shot



Just a sexy shot! With my Wife's C230

 

Nice install Roger, great choice in camera. I agree, you get what you pay for. And it should last the life of the car, plus leak free.

Nice diagram, reverse on demand switch is a good idea. For those with 07-08 oem reverse camera you can add an on-demand switch. all you need is a switch and a diode. Did it on mine, in like 15-20 min.

Where are you thinking of mounting the front camera? Grill seems to be about the best and only spot. What's the purpose for it? Parking?

 

looks good....looks like you did a clean install

 

reverse on demand camera switch...does it also turn on the reverse lights???if so is there any way to do it so that the camera itself comes on without the reverse lights

 

Thanks! For the front camera I am thinking somewhere in the front grill maybe under the emblem I need to see what the view will look like from that angle first. The front camera would be for parking both parallel and pulling up to those cement parking blocks once I lower my car! I would always scape those on my Acura legend. Also most of all its just a cool factor for me I love little gadgets even if I never use them. I plan on installing a carpc so I wont need that A/V for a DVD player or anything.

 

No it does not turn on the reverse lights, when the switch is on power is routed through and gets power from pin 87 no longer any connection to the reverse lights (87a)

 

The front camera for those damn parking blocks is a great idea Roger. I could have used that back when I had my front end repainted. I scraped it on one of those stupid blocks the second week I got it back.

You going to use the same brand camera? How much was it? If you don't mind answering.

 

The Kenwood I bought for 148 shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/2010-KENWOOD-CMO...ht_3385wt_1020

For the front camera I am using the Audiovox ACA200W for about 60 shipped.
I choice this camera because it seemed to have decent review for the price and you can switch it so the image is not reversed for use as a front view camera. The kenwood camera you can only switch through software if its hooked to a kenwood stereo unit.


http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CEAQ8gIwAg#

 

looking to do the same thing to my oem camera..but the threads i came across also turn the reverse lights on...looking for just the camera to come on...anyone know if there is a thread i possibly missed?

 

Not sure exactly how the OEM is wired or else I could help you. Probably easily done with a diode added in to keep power going to the reverse lights when triggered with the switch. Looks like jptl04 did it might want to PM him

 

ok i will pm him...thanks

 

Great Install!,

Did you paint the reflectors behind the amber diffuser?

 

that is cleaaaaaan

 

Yes most of it not completely though, none of the actual amber was painted

 

how long did the install take? from the pics it looks pretty intense, and the most electrical work i've done would have been independent fog lights or isimple ipod adapter. is it pretty difficult to do?>

 

Not too bad I did a lot of sound deadening while I was in there so I cant really give you a install time. It also depends on if you choose to run a switch or power up to the front of the car cause you will need to remove the back seats which adds some time.

 

Looking good man! Wtf Serena got a Benz?

 

nice work and the car is lookin good!

 

props man, great work looks clean.

 

Apec rims!!! FTW!!! Way to go on the install looks factory.

 

damn roger you impress me all the time...nice job

 

thanks roger! I think I need to upgrade my camera too! mine can't see anything at night.

 

Is there a way to slant the camera more up, so it doesn't show as much of the bumber? I was thinking that maybe there is to large of an angle from the camera (like a specification feature). More angle is not necessarily better if half your screen is all bumper.. But then I see that the sky is sort of cut off too, so maybe just need rotate the camera up a little.? I mean, I'd rather see more sky than all that bumper. So does the camera swivel up more?

 

You can slant it any way you want, if you angle it up more the bumper starts to curve and looks like a boomerang. I wanted the bumper to stay relatively strait

 

It probably does that because of the 135 degrees wide angle attrribute. It squeezes it all in. Oh well. I do like the way it mounts and its the perfect size.. er it looks like the right size. clean cut.

 

I got the Kenwood Cmos-310. I just about like your 200 better. I can't seem to turn off the horizontal lines that mark off 1foot, 3foot and 5 foot. And the first rear view picture you posted really has a better picture than mine. I have a button that allows me to change the views, but there is only 1 that "looks decent". And that is the superwide angle one, which is probably about 180 degree. I do have a mode for 120 or there about, but it does not look as good as yours. It's all contorted. The only other selection that looks "normal", is the one that highlights the left corner and the right corner, and it cuts out the middle. But this particular mode is not necessary because that same capture exists in the superwide view but it is somewhat compressed in that mode but nevertheless, it is still there.. and you can see it. It's great for backing out of my garage in this apartment complex where I live. People don't think I can see them, so they pause... But I just sit there and then they pass on by.. But anyway, I would love to have a view that had a better aspect like 120. 180 is just too wide, but on this camera, 180 is the only thing that looks halfway normal All the others look weird. but your Cmos-200 does not look that way. I think your lens is different. Mine is made for 180 but it "synthesizes" it down to 120 when I press that mode but it doesn't look normal. Yours is much more normal to see, but it does not show that really far right view or that real far left view. I have a button that lets me switch between 4 or 5 different views, but only 1 looks normal. So, I'm stuff with that really superwide view and I can't switch off the horizontal lines without owning a Kenwood headunit I suppose.. in summary, I would like to have just a regular simple view like yours! haha It's amazing I paid extra money and I can't even 1 of the 4 views to look normal like yours.. Oh well. life.

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