Question about how TV charges RV

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 08:32 PM

How does a tow vehicle charge a camper battery?

To sum it up is there is a cable from my trucks alternator to the campers battery, Is the connection on the camper side when disconnected from the truck is it live or dead? When is this line have juice or 100% dead.

sherdep · 02-02-2011, 09:05 PM

In the 7 pin harness on the tow vehicle there is +12 volts going to the battery thru the 7 pin cable in the camper thus charging the battery when you have the trailers plug plugged into your tow vehicle -
when the tow vehicle is running that is when the battery in the camper is being charged unless it is disconnected from the tow vehicle and is hooked in the camp site service which is then being charged by the battery charger or inverter / charger.

neither portion of the 7 pin harness is dead because they both have voltage on them unless the + plus side of the battery is diconnected - the trailer plug is enclosed so no wires are exposed and the 7 pin plug on the tow vehicle usually has a cover so no connections are exposed there either

does that answer your question?

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 09:23 PM

Sadly it does. I wanted the cable dead when disconnected.

Thank you for responding.

sherdep · 02-02-2011, 09:33 PM

can I ask why you want it dead when disconnected?

you can always put a switch or a disconnect between it if it concerns you but I dont think you have to be concerned with it - its low voltage and you would either have to break the connector or stick something metal into the pins to get at the pins

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 09:37 PM

Because I want a backup camera for my TT , I want the juice to it DEAD when I disconnect the truck.

sherdep · 02-02-2011, 09:45 PM

I am thinking about adding one when I get my TT as well - most likely going to do a wireless setup. which camera are you looking at if I can ask?

in the 7 pin harness there is a backup circuit there so hook the camera to that so when you put the TV in reverse it engergizes the camera - or you could put a switch to the camera so it is shut off when not in use if you are going to use it while you are going forward as well as in reverse.
just an option

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 09:49 PM

I bought mine off of Ebay which I can give you the links. The way my monitor is, it has 2 video in. It has the prefer video in and a switch video in. So for example video 1 is always on and live and prefer. But the second the monitor notices video 2 has power it auto switches to that for video(going to be hooked up to backup lights).

My monitor was 25 dollars to my door off of ebay from hong kong. I went this way to see if i would even use it. Plus I don't have the camper rear view mirrors which are about 70 dollars for a good pair. My setup will cost about 50 bucks by the time I'm done and I will have 3 back up camera's.

leencharlotte · 02-02-2011, 09:56 PM

Scubieman, can you post the links?

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 10:03 PM

This is the camera which i will get two, one for my truck and one for the camper. Waterproof LED Night Vision Car Rear View Backup Camera - eBay (item 190459440844 end time Feb-18-11 23:28:47 PST)

The monitor - Mini 3.5" TFT LCD Car Rearview Reverse Monitor Camera - eBay (item 370458133917 end time Feb-17-11 00:04:28 PST)

I will have to backup cameras on RV one on top center and another one on the license plate. I will use the top center while going down road and license plate while backing up RV. I will disconnect the truck backup camera when camper system is in use then reconnect once I'm ready to use again.

sherdep · 02-02-2011, 10:23 PM

Thanks for posting the links as well - I would like to hear some feeback when you install or use the camera's cause I am thinking of doing something similar with camera's for my travel trailer as well especially since I am usually the only one directing myself to the trailer tonque - the camera will be very handy in that situation and would pay for its self just for that part.

leencharlotte · 02-02-2011, 10:35 PM

You mention disconnecting the tv camera. Will you be splicing in to the tv setup for the "trailer camera" when backing up? And will you play the lic plate camera on the new screen?

I have a 2010 tundra with the factory backup camera but my monitor is part of the rear view mirrror, having it play while driving would b great when merging!

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherdep

Thanks for posting the links as well - I would like to hear some feeback when you install or use the camera's cause I am thinking of doing something similar with camera's for my travel trailer as well especially since I am usually the only one directing myself to the trailer tonque - the camera will be very handy in that situation and would pay for its self just for that part.

That is why I am putting a backup camera on my truck as well. For one to test before running the wires through my brand new camper. But for second I live in a larger city of 125,000 people so parking lots are common and thick with people so getting my truck in and out of places will be very handy. Also backing up to the camper and hooking now will not require the wife standing by the hitch and turning the imaginary steering wheel in the direction I should go.

scubieman · 02-02-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leencharlotte

You mention disconnecting the tv camera. Will you be splicing in to the tv setup for the "trailer camera" when backing up? And will you play the lic plate camera on the new screen?

I have a 2010 tundra with the factory backup camera but my monitor is part of the rear view mirrror, having it play while driving would b great when merging!

The way I am doing it is running a 4 way trailer plug from truck to camper.

So when I want to use the truck rear view mirror I plug in the 4 way trail plug to that camera. If I want to use the two cameras on the camper. I disconnect the 4 way from the truck back up camera and plug it into the campers back up camera system.

The 4 way is the only thing I could thing of that provides enough wires to make it quick disconnect but yet water tight.

Hipshot · 02-02-2011, 11:35 PM

I installed a backup camera above the license plate on my silverado. It displays on the factory nav system, had to pay chevy $150 to reprogram the nav system. I installed a device called a GM Unlocker. The Unlocker switches to rear camera when the truck is shifted to reverse, the turn sugnals are turned on or the window lock button is pressed 4 times and stays on rear camera until the mute button on the steering wheel is pressed 2 times, turn signals turned off or shifted out or reverse. After I got my TT I installed a camera in the spare tire cover. The TT camera goes through the GM unlocker and functions the same as the truck camera. Both cameras plug into a A/B switch under the dash. This lets me select which camera I want to see. This is great when hitching up, changing lanes and backing. I got both cameras and the GM Unlocker off ebay.

LadyWindrider · 02-03-2011, 12:33 AM

How did we get from charging a battery to backup cameras? And we wonder why congress can't get anything done...........

rockin'ray · 02-03-2011, 06:16 AM

My '09 Tacoma has the option for back up camera but they want $400.00 for camera. I bought one from Future Shop and modified it to fit in tail gate latch where the factory one woulg go and is connected to a nav deck. Works great. I do have a license plate one as well which I used at first but it was not high enough to give a perception of distance for backing up to a trailer which is why I switched it.

I have been thinking about putting the other one on our TT up high and center as well for backing up especially in the drive way which is tight. I was just wondering how I could do it without actually having to disconnect the truck one while towing but then I saw mention of using an A-B switch which I think I may look into getting to do this now. I like to be able to check my hitch periodically on longer trips which I can do with my nav deck which allows me to turn on manually as well as switch with reverse.

The truck one is a marriage saver when hooking up to the TT, I think one on the TT will make life even better.

scubieman · 02-03-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windrider

How did we get from charging a battery to backup cameras? And we wonder why congress can't get anything done...........

Because the reason I asked the question is for my back up camera.

edman87k5 · 02-03-2011, 12:50 PM

I have the exact rearview camera in your first ebay link on the plate of my truck aimed at the hitch. I can easily back up to any of my trailers on the first shot by myself and must admit that the quality of the video these things do for $20 is awesome. And the night vision is as good as daylight.
I already had a 10" overhead monitor / dvd player so I only had to put out another 20 for the camera itself. I have had it for over a year now and no problems or fogging of the camera. If the dew is still out, you do have to wipe the lens off, but that applies to any camera no matter how expensive.
I just installed a switch on the side of my overhead housing that powers the camera. I flip the switch and change the input of my monitor to aux1 and I see whats behind me. Would gladly do it again.

scubieman · 02-03-2011, 01:27 PM

Thanks for reply. Awesome news.

Dodge Guy · 02-03-2011, 06:16 PM

On the 12V question, on some trucks the 12V`s are switched on/off via a relay. so when you turn off the truck with the trailer still connected it will not run down the battery in the truck. I set up my old Dodge van that way too. it depends on the year and Manuf.

Now on the camera. I installed on of the last available wired VR3 camera`s from pepboys. I cut the wire 3 feet from the end and extended the cable and mounted the camera on the rear of the trailer. I have a rear mounted bike rack and I can watch the road behind me and keep an eye on our bikes. the monitor is small enough that it is mounted just below the rear view mirror in my Excursion. the cost was $110 IIRC and the only problem I had was the plastic cover on the camera fogging up, I fixed that by removing the cover and it has worked flawlessly for over 3 years now!

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