Moving the License-Plate holder Video Camera - Questions

Nomadcat · 03-10-2010, 10:23 AM

Anybody done it?

The camera is blocked by the Aluminess galley box.

I have two options:

1. Find the video cable, splice into it and run it to another camera. This approach is easier if I can find the actual cable. Then, I just have to find a cheap industrial camera and mount it in an appropriate place.

2. Take the license plate holder out, remove the camera, then stretch the cable and mount it somewhere. My only worry here is in being able to remove that holder. It also has door handle and lock in it.

Has anybody done this? Is it difficult?

I just got my used 09 Factory Manual in the mail, so I'll check there later when I'm not working and then report back.

The rear window-mounted fan is happening soon. I have to remove some heavy rivets - somehow - from the inside. Do you think drilling them out will work? then it's insulation and paneling time.

jage · 03-10-2010, 10:34 AM

Well the cable has to run between the door and the body. You have at least all that is contained in the door to play with. If it's coax you can just use cable tools to put a new end on it. The cables that came with my camera (shipped not installed) are 66 foot each, so it would be nice if there was some excess in your line, hopefully at the door end, or right inside the rear column.

Since I'm going to be installing soon I'd appreciate anything you find out.

yvrr · 03-10-2010, 05:16 PM

Rather than trying to drill out the rivets, I'd use a small grinding wheel in a Dremel tool or cordless drill. Drilling pop rivets works but the dimple on one end makes it easy to center the drill.

Nomadcat · 03-10-2010, 08:48 PM

Thanks for the tip on the dremel.

That's a great idea and, finally, a good use for my Dremel.

I'm going to look into the license plate holder thing tomorrow.

charlie56 · 03-10-2010, 11:37 PM

Try removing the tail lights and looking there for the video cables. When I took my driver-side tail light out there was after-market cable there but I didn't trace it out to find out what it was.

Nomadcat · 03-11-2010, 07:36 AM

I was doing my best to look back there yesterday. I seems like there's a small rubber harness that comes right off the top of the camera assembly. The whole trick is how to get to it. I think I could take the whole plate holder assembly out pretty easily. Getting it back in is what I'm worried about.

yvrr · 03-11-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie56

Try removing the tail lights and looking there for the video cables. When I took my driver-side tail light out there was after-market cable there but I didn't trace it out to find out what it was.

That is the connection to "tell" the backup camera to turn on. The camera comes on when the van is shifted into reverse and shifting into reverse also turns on the backup lights. When there is power to the backup lights, the camera turns on and begins transmitting a picture...

Nomadcat · 03-13-2010, 07:25 PM

Here is the wiring diagram page that shows the rear view camera setup. It's in the wrong place, though. The actual camera is about where I made the red circle.

Perhaps the location they mark is for the power to the camera.

Anyway, for what it's worth.

Nomadcat · 03-13-2010, 07:27 PM

Also, I got the rivets out. The ones holding the metal brackets on the side were *much* softer than the ones holding the brackets for the factory partition.

Those last rivets took forever with a strong drill and tungsten bits. They did come out, though.

I cleared a lot of stuff out. My insulation should arrive this week. The weather sucks, but I'm going to start soon, either way. I cannot wait.

I'll start a separate build thread soon.

hansk · 04-12-2010, 12:51 AM

I've also considered moving my camera. It's an after market wireless backup camera that I installed on the license plate. I ran the wire in where the license plate wiring runs and over to the right side rear tail light. It was rather easy to do this after popping off the rear door's inside panel.

Now I am doing this work again since I have found that the view from the license plate is a problem because:

1. It's blocked when I have bikes on the hitch rack.
2. The angle is too low that distances are harder to judge.

So I would like to move the camera up to the penthouse near the rear tail light. That would give me access to power and be high enough to look over and down behind the van.

I temporarily mounted the camera at the upper location and tested it. The higher angle really improved the view and the ability to judge the distance between the van, bike rack, spare, and whatever is about to be whacked.

Now I just need to finish the mount and wire it up.