Backup Camera Help plz
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Dallas GA
Backup Camera Help plz
this might be in some other thread but i couldnt find it. anyway i need some help with installing a backup camera. iam also in the processes of installing a new headunit. my question is from my headunit plug. is a solid white wire which is supposed to be wired into the Reverse light wire.. and secondly the camera has 2 rca's on it and thats all no other wires one yellow and one black.
question.
1. which wire color am i looking for to tap into with the white wire ?
2. what do i do with the black Rca wire ?
anyhelp on either of these question's would be greatly appreciated since to be honest i have no idea in hell what im doing here. lol just thought it would be nice to install a camera while putting in the my new HU. Thx
question.
1. which wire color am i looking for to tap into with the white wire ?
2. what do i do with the black Rca wire ?
anyhelp on either of these question's would be greatly appreciated since to be honest i have no idea in hell what im doing here. lol just thought it would be nice to install a camera while putting in the my new HU. Thx
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 628
Likes: 0
From: Lohman, Missouri
Roast: It is almost a univerally accepted code that the yellow wire would be the composite video out. Therefore it connects to the H/U's video in (you probably already know that.)
The black RCA??? You didn't mention any way of getting power to the camera. Could it be that the camera is powered via the black lead? No instructions with the camera? My rear camera came with a second "white"wire for sound so that is another possibility but I doubt it. (DON'T connect power to the black wire until you are sure!
) Since the camera only has two wires Yellow=Video, Black would be for power and potentially ground or is there another provision for grounding?
Sounds like the white wire of the H/U gets connected at the tail light to the wire feeding the backup light as a trigger. Do you have a little ohm meter? Take a tail light off and double check with the ohm meter at the leads of the backup lamp, (hint it won't be the black wire of the tail light), I just always make sure with my handy dandy ohm meter.
Sorry I can't just tell you the color. When I did my install I have the MyGig with Lockpick which triggers from the Jeeps computer. No need to splice in wires at the tailights just at the Lockpick but that shouldn't discourage you. It's still an easy fix if you understand how the camera works.
WHOA! I reread you post. Does the manual of your H/U say to splice a tail light wire into the "white wire" of the H/U? Or were you asking if just any old white wire in the harness should be connected???
The black RCA??? You didn't mention any way of getting power to the camera. Could it be that the camera is powered via the black lead? No instructions with the camera? My rear camera came with a second "white"wire for sound so that is another possibility but I doubt it. (DON'T connect power to the black wire until you are sure!
) Since the camera only has two wires Yellow=Video, Black would be for power and potentially ground or is there another provision for grounding? Sounds like the white wire of the H/U gets connected at the tail light to the wire feeding the backup light as a trigger. Do you have a little ohm meter? Take a tail light off and double check with the ohm meter at the leads of the backup lamp, (hint it won't be the black wire of the tail light), I just always make sure with my handy dandy ohm meter.
Sorry I can't just tell you the color. When I did my install I have the MyGig with Lockpick which triggers from the Jeeps computer. No need to splice in wires at the tailights just at the Lockpick but that shouldn't discourage you. It's still an easy fix if you understand how the camera works.
WHOA! I reread you post. Does the manual of your H/U say to splice a tail light wire into the "white wire" of the H/U? Or were you asking if just any old white wire in the harness should be connected???
Last edited by Fathom; Jun 26, 2009 at 05:48 PM.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
I am going to agree with Fathom. The yellow is Video. If there are no other wire the Black is probably power. Center Positive, outer Ground. Check documentation.
The reverse wire is above the passenger kick panel. White wire, Gray stripe. Along side the passenger footwell is a small group of wires that runs under the plastic cover. The bundle is about 1" in diameter. That White/Gray goes to the tailights for the reverse lights. Just splice in there.
The battery in my camera just died.
The reverse wire is above the passenger kick panel. White wire, Gray stripe. Along side the passenger footwell is a small group of wires that runs under the plastic cover. The bundle is about 1" in diameter. That White/Gray goes to the tailights for the reverse lights. Just splice in there.
The battery in my camera just died.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
I was asked to post pics of the harness in the footwell.
Open the passenger door. Lean into the Jeep in front of the seat. Look at the outer body panel. The wiring harness comes up from under the plastic.
Sorry I couldn't take a better pic. Months ago I got a two pack of batteries. The first one was dead. The second battery took one pic and died. Looking at new cameras with built in batteries.
Open the passenger door. Lean into the Jeep in front of the seat. Look at the outer body panel. The wiring harness comes up from under the plastic.
Sorry I couldn't take a better pic. Months ago I got a two pack of batteries. The first one was dead. The second battery took one pic and died. Looking at new cameras with built in batteries.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: North, GA
I bet your camera is similar to the one in this pic. Take a look and see.
autotoys.com/pics/thumbs/t_PLCM20.jpg (intentionally not hyperlinked)
As stated above...The yellow is the video out from the camera which should go to your rear view camera video in on the head unit (or video in depending on head unit model).
Also as stated above...The black plug is similar in shape as a normal RCA, but it is not an RCA. There should have been a seperate wire that came with your camera which had a male plug that would plug into the black female plug. This wire with the male plug should have a pigtail off it with one red and one black wire. The red will be + power for the camera and the black will be - for the camera.
autotoys.com/pics/thumbs/t_PLCM20.jpg (intentionally not hyperlinked)
As stated above...The yellow is the video out from the camera which should go to your rear view camera video in on the head unit (or video in depending on head unit model).
Also as stated above...The black plug is similar in shape as a normal RCA, but it is not an RCA. There should have been a seperate wire that came with your camera which had a male plug that would plug into the black female plug. This wire with the male plug should have a pigtail off it with one red and one black wire. The red will be + power for the camera and the black will be - for the camera.