I've installed a reversing camera, which I discussed in THIS thread (wrong place!).

 

It works fine when the engine off and the car is in reverse, but does not work when the engine is on.  There is still power to the unit (green light steady on) but the image does not display - it tries to, and you see the "AV2" text occasionally flash.

 

The monitor, which is in a rear view mirror, was powered from the interior light to save running cable to the battery.  I have checked that power is there when it should be (rather than when the doors are open, for example).  

 

I've tried looking at taking power from other places, but even when I run cable direct to the battery I get the same issue.

 

I am wondering if the issue is not voltage drop, which I was originally thinking, but is actually electronic or electrostatic interference from the engine.  Would a noise suppressor on the power feed solve the problem??

 

 

Is the camera connected to the reverse lights? If so, others have had issues with the bulb monitoring causing interference.

7 minutes ago, langers2k said:

Is the camera connected to the reverse lights? If so, others have had issues with the bulb monitoring causing interference.

Thanks for the quick reply😀

 

The camera is connected to the reverse light, yes.

 

If that's the issue I could maybe run a switch to power the camera but it's a hassle that it won't come on automatically when reverse is engaged..

 

Are there any other better solutions?🤔

Edited 19 June, 20197 yr by mark674500

For now, I'd check that theory by swapping the reverse light power for a permanent power to see if it helps.

 

If it does, a delay box might work? I think some have used relays but it might buzz.

For now, I'd check that theory by swapping the reverse light power for a permanent power to see if it helps.

Good call - will probably have to wait until the weekend until I do that.

 

If it does, a delay box might work? I think some have used relays but it might buzz.

I've not heard of a delay box.  I do understand how a relay could stitch the power on but separate the circuits and that seems like a good idea.

 

Edited 19 June, 20197 yr by mark674500

I have a similar perhaps related problem with the reversing camera on my Chinese head unit, I think that its caused by interference.

 

Mine is not wired to the reversing lights or the reverse switch, the canbus signals tell the head unit when reverse is selected and to display it as well as the rear parking sensors.

 

It is powered from the rear wiper (canbus permanent 12v) as recommended by Sascha, the video cable runs beside the loom along the door sill.

 

Frequently when reverse is selected the hed unit will crash and reboot, other times it displays a windows type error code window full of Chinese characters).

 

For some reason it will always cut out when I reverse up to my garage beside the main building if i stop halfway to align the steering, it has never done this at any other place and will do it consistently here,  it could be coming into range of the wi-fi.

 

Any interference thats causing the head unit to reboot must I believe be travelling up the video line, can anybody suggest a suitable capacitor for this and/or the 12v feed?

 

Another thing that happens is the trajectory grid that is superimposed, it moves according to where the steered wheels are pointing, probably 50% of the time they remain static.

 

I think the interference could also be on the canbus line and/or created by the reverse parking sensors, can these be disabled by VCDS for a brief test? It wont take long for the problem to reoccur if its not the parking sensors.

 

 

I like the idea of going from the rear wiper, presumably the feed that turns on the wiper when reverse is engaged?

 

Sorry cannot help with your questions!

Edited 19 June, 20197 yr by mark674500

No, there is a constant 12v feed because like most other equipment on our vehicles it has a canbus communication module and gets its commands via that, no switched lives from the dashboard.

 

I would never have thought of it and have Sascha to thank.

So how does the camera only get power when you're in reverse rather than all the time? That's the way the set up I have works (there is a link in the op). No idea how to tap into canbus for this, but I do understand how the relay idea a few posts up would work. Sorry if I'm being a bit slow....

Edited 19 June, 20197 yr by mark674500

Mine is powered all the time and the head unit gets a signal via the canbus that reverse gear is engaged so displays the camera image as well as the birds eye view showing the parking sensors.

 

I did not know if it would work so was prepared to connect a feed from the reverse selector switch or the reversing lights to the input on the head unit but it turned out to be not needed.

Sounds good. I don't think mine is that sophisticated!