Reversing camera install

[Flat6Estate]

I installed a parkmate butterfly style reversing camera for my nexus 7 install in my wagon.
The camera is only powered when the reverse lights are on.
The rca wiring goes up the tailgate pillar, through the passenger side rubber cable cover, and follows the rest of the wiring harness down the passenger side and up into the glovebox.

Since installing the above, I have occasional static through FM radio, whether the camera is,powered or not. It's actually worse when the camera is powered (in reverse gear). I'm not in reverse much and can live with this. But when driving normally, the static is driving me insane...

What have I done wrong, and how do I fix it?

[BillyCorgi]

Tim,
You have been playing around in the rear trim area of the tail gate.
The factory service manual says that behind the rear gate trim area is (1) the Antenna Amplifier for the radio and (2) the noise suppressor.

From your description of "static" have you disturbed the noise suppressor?

[Flat6Estate]

Pretty sure I didn't touch it.
Wired camera power up to passenger side reverse lightand earthed to body, and sent rca up passenger side of tailgate. Don't think I touched anything else

[BillyCorgi]

If you have earthed the camera power to the tail gate how well is the tail gate earthed to the body?
Given the video signal frequency I would not rely on the metal of the hinges for an earth of the tail gate to the body.
A separate earth wire strap, possibly braided, would help alleviate any high frequency noise being put onto the tail gate by the video signal.
If the camera ground wire is injecting noise onto the tail gate, then this may work its way back through the antenna amplifier or noise suppressor?
Just a thought.

[Flat6Estate]

Even when the camera isn't receiving power from the reverse light?

[BillyCorgi]

I am not an expert an RF interference, just have some rudimentary experience and just trying to help?
You will need to filter what suggestions to use and which to reject.
After all, you did the install and are most familiar with what has been done.

You say that the Video RCA lead wiring goes up the tailgate pillar, through the passenger side rubber cable cover, and follows the rest of the wiring harness down the passenger side and up into the glovebox.
With the noise annoying you, unplug the video RCA at the glovebox end and see if the static comes and goes with making/braking the video lead earth (the camera can be off).
If this causes the static to come & go, there most probably is an earth loop.

[mihai]

I'd recommend unplugging it from the reverse light and ground and removing the RCA cable at one end. If the static is still there then you have knocked something around unintentionally.

If static goes, then plug things back in 1 at a time checking for static after each step. RCA's first, then power.

[bigBADbenny]

You may have powered the camera from the negative side of the reverse lamp.
Maybe use a 12v LED or multimeter to check that the reverse camera positive/body neg polarity is correct, with the car in reverse gear.
On my install I used a bolt up behind the exterior trim panel as the ground.
I burnt at least one camera powering it direct from the +/- of the reverse cam, (suggests a variable ground?) live n learn

[Flat6Estate]

Power is definitely wired to positive wire. Tested with meter. Coloured wire not black one.
Used Existing earth lug point on body of tailgate
Have tried it with rca unplugged at glovebox.
All same pulsey static while driving forward.

Stupid question, but which side of the car does the aerial wiring run down the car? If passenger side, could this be part of the problem? Rf interference from poorly shielded cheap rca cable?

[BillyCorgi]

PM'ed
The FSM shows the Antenna amplifier wiring coming out the top RHS of the tail gate and going down the driver's side of the car.

[bigBADbenny]

I wired my cam up the passenger side of the tailgate.

[Flat6Estate]

That's what I thought BBB.
Where did you go from there?
I assume you aren't having any interference issues?

[SIMO888]

here are the best 2 articles on installing a reverse camera

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.p ... 41555.html

http://liberty.asn.au/files/Factory%20S ... .10.12.pdf

if you read these there is no way you will have problems

[bigBADbenny]

That's what I thought BBB.
Where did you go from there?
I assume you aren't having any interference issues?

No issues, I ran it down the inside gate trim, along the rear window, down over the rear seat hump, along the lhs rear door sill trim, iirc under the passenger seat and through the center console. Mostly all hidden and protected from snagging.