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Last Changed 5/8/2011 |
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We got used to being able to see behind Training Wheels
with its rearview camera system.
We like that view, because there are so many idiot car drivers that
try to sneak around the right side of an RV. When we started to
pull Sparky behind Tige,
the rear view camera became a necessity as we had to have a way to
monitor Sparky's status. We have tire
pressure monitors on
Sparky but other things can happen and
Sparky isn't visible in
Red Rover's mirrors.
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We added a rearview camera to Tige.
note - as we replace the camera because of water invasion, we became
aware the "weatherproof" does not mean the camera can withstand hard
rain. We used a different camera when we replaced this camera when
the rain invaded it. Details are at
Rear View camera (2). |
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We mounted the same kind of CCD camera that was used on the rear of
Red Rover.
We painted the normally black camera so that it did not stick
out visually. |
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A view from the ground. You can hardly notice the camera. |
click on images to enlarge |
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When we ordered Tige, we had a pull wire
installed from an access hole in the back cap to the front pin area
where the trailer cable is attached. We used that pull wire to
string a piece of Cat-5 wire.
At the front end of the trailer, we installed a four conductor jack
and attached the Cat-5 wire.
Plugs were soldered at the other end of the Cat-5 wire to attach to
the camera. |
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A four conductor jack was installed above the trailer cord jack.
Cat-5 wire was used to attach this jack to the Rearview Monitor in
Red Rover's cab. |
click on images to enlarge |
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This is the cable we will use for the truck to trailer connection of
the rearview camera. This cable/jack set was sold for making
connections to toad vehicles behind a motorhomes. |
click on images to enlarge |
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Over time we had problems with the cable connectors on the
cable at the end where we attach and detach the trailer to the
truck. The trailer end of the cable is hardly ever removed so
there had been no problem at that end.
We had two problems with the receptacle which has the male pins.
The springing action that is needed to clean the contact area and
the contacts meet weakens over time. The spring action is a
split in the pin. After a lot of insertions, the gap
closes and the springing action is reduced.
Also, as we disassembled the receptacle, we found that a couple of
the pins had retracted a bit also making for poor contact. |
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After looking at many options, we decided to use a standard 7-way
plug and receptacle like the normal trailer cable that has light,
brake, and power connections.
The connectors have a lot more capacity than is need by the
rear-view camera. But we like the way the plug contacts are
sprung. That insure a good wiping action as the plug is
inserted. These connectors are geared for a lot more use. |
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The plug had flat blades that engage the spring contacts in the
receptacle. |
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The larger 7-way connector fit in the same place we had the 4-way connector. |
Tige's camera plugs into the same monitor as the rearview camera on
Red Rover. Since only one of the two cameras is useful at one time, the video input selector on the
monitor handles the switching function.
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