Wiring a camera to a trailer.

O.A.P

I put a rear view camera on my defender a few years ago and the monitor that came with it has two video input plugs, this one
http://www.parkingcameras.com/store/product.php?productid=54&cat=26&page=1

I would like to add another camera to my trailer and I will have to get extra video cable to bring the signal to the monitor obviously.

The power cable with the camera is only 1.5 meters long so would it be simply a matter of splicing it on to the trailer wiring (lights and indicators) or would it be better to get extra power cable also and plug it direct to the defender ?

If wired to the trailer would the camera only work when the lights are on ?

Any help or advice appreciated. Sorry for the long post.

Eric Cartman

I had a setup like this I made for a customer.

I used a connector similar to this http://www.ebay.ie/itm/4-Pin-XLR-plug-Aviation-waterproof-connector-free-shipping-/150851248499?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Coaxial_Cables_Connectors&hash=item231f6f6173 to sit next to the towbar N connector , the camera was just wired in on 3 pins (video , +12 and Ground) from the camera to the plug on the trailor end. On the plug I also joined the 4th pin to the ground.

On the socket end I wired up the video pin to the cars existing camera, and the ground to the existing camera ground. To switch the cameras I used a relay where both cameras were on either output, by default the relay would power the internal camera on the car, but when the connector was plugged in , the 4th pin would ground the relay switching the power to the trailor camera only.

It worked really well and auto switched the cameras to keep 1 display.

O.A.P

Thanks for the reply Eric.
On the monitor I have there is a switch that allows me to change between AV 1 or AV 2 so I though that this would allow me to switch between what ever camera I liked when the trailer is on.
The monitor is permantly on in the cab as I have the load bay of the defender closed off so the mirror is useless.

101sean

Have exactly the same system from them (under their reversingcamerasuk name) and is should be easy to add another camera. Contact them, I found them very helpful, they list a trailer cable which includes power and video feed.

Mine isn't wired to the reversing light, I just tap the screen when I need it and camera is wired to an ignition feed. On that monitor it's just as easy to switch inputs by tapping on it.

Edit, not sure it is the same company but it's the same town but reversingcamerasUK list more trailer cables and a wireless option. http://shop.reversingcamerasuk.com/epages/es106294.sf/en_GB/?ViewAction=View&ObjectID=631856&Page=2

O.A.P

Yeah Sean thats how I wired up mine too and I leave it on when Im driving.
I'll have a look at that other site and ring them in the morning before I order anything. Thanks again.

101sean

I have a small discrete camera on mine but it's too wide angle so I'm going to move it and use it as a hitch camera and put a standard one up top using the second input.

It's funny backing up to very close to car bumpers and watching the panic in the other drivers eyes