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

[varmint]

s219, that's a really nice job of installing! I am slightly familiar with these systems, having installed a backup camera on my Subaru Crosstrek (too cheap to blow the $1000 they wanted for the factory system with their poorly reviewed nav. system) and trying to make it look like it belonged. I used a 6" monitor, since it fit nicely into the cubby in front of the shifter. The first monitor I got crapped out after about 10 uses, but of course I didn't know if it was the monitor, the camera or all the wiring. I find that keeping the camera lens clean is the biggest issue. I would love one on the tractor, but being open station, and using it in blowing snow (if we ever get enough to plow) seems likely to destroy it. I have found that old computer hard drive magnets, small, flat and incredibly powerful, make great attaching devices. If they have holes where you can install non-magnetic SS machine screws, all the better.

 

[s219]

Looks good, I like the mount. I ended up building a mount like waxman out of some emt I had just to see if I was going to like the front camera or need to change the mount design for my application. I really like the cable connector I plan on either doing something similar or upgrading the camera to one with a single cable. Camera looks well positioned yet well protected.

Yeah, I really wanted the camera centered on the bucket and close to the bucket top edge, but back enough that it would be out of the way and protected somewhat without having to think about it at all. The bucket top edge is about 2" in front of the camera, so it should keep most loads from ever hitting the camera (I usually pile firewood right up to the top edge and put one last row in front of the edge). We'll see how this works out over the next couple weeks.

 

[s219]

s219, that's a really nice job of installing! I am slightly familiar with these systems, having installed a backup camera on my Subaru Crosstrek (too cheap to blow the $1000 they wanted for the factory system with their poorly reviewed nav. system) and trying to make it look like it belonged. I used a 6" monitor, since it fit nicely into the cubby in front of the shifter. The first monitor I got crapped out after about 10 uses, but of course I didn't know if it was the monitor, the camera or all the wiring. I find that keeping the camera lens clean is the biggest issue. I would love one on the tractor, but being open station, and using it in blowing snow (if we ever get enough to plow) seems likely to destroy it. I have found that old computer hard drive magnets, small, flat and incredibly powerful, make great attaching devices. If they have holes where you can install non-magnetic SS machine screws, all the better.

For open station use, the weak link is definitely the screen since it's not meant to be outside. But it was only about $26, so no big loss if it dies (I may order a second one as a backup, since then I could just plug it straight in without any fuss). What I have been doing in wet weather is sliding a zip lock bag over the screen, and so far that is working OK and the screen is still usable looking through the bag. Though I realized I need a zip lock *and* a rubber band when it's windy out!

I am not worried about the cameras, since they are supposed to be weatherproof. I took one of them apart and it has a silicone gasket around the main seam in the camera housing, so it's probably OK for anything short of submersion. The wiring is all equivalent to or better than what's on the tractor from the factory, and I put drain holes in the little aluminum boxes. I hope the system holds up for a while, given all the time/labor that went into it.

 

[Paul Thornton]

S219, you're nice install might've cost me more money, thanks.

 

[94BULLITT]

S219 your install looks good. You could build a plexiglass cover for the monitor to protect it from the elements.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
From here, I still have to cut and attach a small plexiglass window to the front of the camera mount for extra protection, and connect a small stainless steel safety cable between the camera mount and bucket in case it ever breaks away for some reason. The idea with the magnets is that they will pop free before anything can break, and then the safety cable will keep the bracket from falling off and stressing the wiring harness.

Terrific job on your FEL camera setup! :thumbsup: The plexiglass cover sounds like a good idea to protect the lens. You could probably cut small squares of tear-off goggle lens covers to stick over the plexiglass, then peel a layer off every so often to keep things clear.

 

[PILOON]

For my bucket mount I will be using a magnet and I have some armored flexible sleeveing to protect the leads,
While not tried yet I believe standard co-ax could also be used.

 

[s219]

For my bucket mount I will be using a magnet and I have some armored flexible sleeveing to protect the leads,
While not tried yet I believe standard co-ax could also be used.

If you can get coax with stranded wires, it should work fine. On the iteration where I tried S-video connectors, I used S-video cable, which is pairs of coax in a bundle. Was plenty flexible. Really, only three conductors are needed since video and power share the ground from the camera, but the harness on the camera I used split the grounds downstream of the camera, so I followed suit with my wiring and ran four conductors.

 

[breadtrk]

Coax with the shield properly grounded may help with any electrical noise from degrading the image too.

 

[varmint]

FWIW, when I was trouble shooting my auto installation, I used some audio RCA cables, and I found they worked the same as the so-called video cable that came with the camera... A EE friend confirmed that they were equivalent.