A backup camera for $50!!!!!!!!!!!

s219 · Jan 21, 2015

Threepoint said:
On your plans for a front camera, I'm wondering how it would be any more useful to you, as a practical matter, mounted on the loader bucket or loader arms. Seems to me that would make it unnecessarily vulnerable, and if you're using a wired camera, make it more difficult to run and protect the wire. What would you plan on using it to see other than what's going on at ground level when the bucket is down and you're picking up material or "dozing"? I was thinking it would be best to mount it on a sturdy 12" or 15" post fixed to the top of the grill guard, so you could see the bucket's cutting edge on the ground. I take your point about vibration, but if the camera weighs nothing, so if the post were sturdy enough, I don't think there would be any more vibration than on the bucket or loader arm itself.

Noticed I never finished replying last night -- thanks for the suggestions.

I have a couple goals for the front camera:

1) to better see down in front of the tractor when moving around, since I can't see past the hood ornament now -- kind of lose sight of what's happening for 7-8 feet in front of the tractor.

2) to better aim and position the forks when picking up pallets (I currently have clamp on forks that the bucket obscures, but plan to switch to proper forks at some point and would still appreciate some camera assistance). Many times, I am using the forks to offload a pallet from a truck or trailer that is 2-4' off the ground, so the bucket will be raised quite a bit and the camera will need to see over the bucket lip at those heights. Makes me think the camera needs to be bucket mounted to see what's going on regardless of height or angle.

3) don't want to screw up whatever eyeball vision I already have, so nothing sticking up in the driver's view as a distraction.

If it weren't for #2, the grill guard would be ideal an ideal mount. It has a horizontal strut about 3/4 the way up that gets a good view over the bucket in it's lowest positions. Wiring would be a heck of a lot easier for sure.

94BULLITT · Jan 21, 2015

Putting dielectric grease on connections is never a bad idea either.

andrec999 · Jan 21, 2015

Ok, I know what is different, I also purchase the receiver and transmitter as suggested by Amazone.
I think I will go without these two gadget and go with wires, more simple for me.
As I see it yellow RCA goes with yellow RCA, what about the red one on the camera.
As you can see, I am not to electronic enclined.

Thanks

94BULLITT · Jan 22, 2015

andrec999 said:
Ok, I know what is different, I also purchase the receiver and transmitter as suggested by Amazone.
I think I will go without these two gadget and go with wires, more simple for me.
As I see it yellow RCA goes with yellow RCA, what about the red one on the camera.
As you can see, I am not to electronic enclined.
Thanks

Red to +

aczlan · Jan 22, 2015

andrec999 said:
Ok, I know what is different, I also purchase the receiver and transmitter as suggested by Amazone.
I think I will go without these two gadget and go with wires, more simple for me.
As I see it yellow RCA goes with yellow RCA, what about the red one on the camera.
As you can see, I am not to electronic enclined.
Thanks

Red RCA or red wire? If its a red RCA and it has other wires as well, its probbaly for a microphone. If it only has a Red and a Yellow RCA, its an oddball.
If its like most cameras I have seen, the red is a power plug and is a different shape than an RCA plug.

Aaron Z

aczlan · Jan 22, 2015

Some examples of "Standard connectors" on these cameras:
Red for power, Yellow for video:

Red for audio, Yellow for video, Black for power:

Aaron Z

PILOON · Jan 22, 2015

Re yellow video cable;
Were the length to be critical they would be using BNC connectors and co-ax rather than RCA connectors and shielded wire.
I used the 4 ft TV/VCR/ RCA cables that came with and older TV installation that I had hanging around. (again proving that one should never toss things out)

andrec999 · Jan 22, 2015

Yes exactly like the first pic.
The red RCA wire , if it is audio, then I don't need to connect anywhere, right.

aczlan said:
Some examples of "Standard connectors" on these cameras:
Red for power, Yellow for video:
View attachment 407980
Red for audio, Yellow for video, Black for power:
View attachment 407981

Aaron Z

aczlan · Jan 22, 2015

andrec999 said:
Yes exactly like the first pic.
The red RCA wire , if it is audio, then I don't need to connect anywhere, right.

On the first picture (below), the red is power in and needs a power cable to plug into it:
View attachment 407980

On the 2nd picture (below) red is audio and black is power:
View attachment 407981

Aaron Z

andrec999 · Jan 22, 2015

I see , so I can put an extension from this red wire to the red power wire of the screen and connect to a power wire on the tractor.
I think I get it, now if it can get a it milder here, I will be able to install it on tractor. Very cold here.
Thanks again.

aczlan said:
On the first picture (below), the red is power in and needs a power cable to plug into it:
View attachment 407980

On the 2nd picture (below) red is audio and black is power:
View attachment 407981

Aaron Z