Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I would like to upgrade my rear view camera in an effort to get better
picture quality...just the camera, not the monitor or cables. I bought
a modern night vision color camera off eBay, but at night the picture
is drowned out completely by glare from the infra-red lights reflecting
off the small window the camera looks out of on the back of the coach.

Has anyone had luck changing out their camera? What model did you
use?

Thanks

Scott Forman
82 FC35RB
Memphis

Scott I also bought a camera with infrared lights and had to remove the
small window to eliminate the back glare. I replaced the window with
plexi-glass. I cut a hole in the plexi the shape of the camera and pushed it
through the hole. I sealed up the small gaps between the plexi and the
camera with buytal. Of course this all depends on you camera being an all
weather outdoor camera. If it is an indoor camera then I think you are
looking at getting a different one. I recommend you check out these folks

http://www.rvcams.com

If you'd like me to send you some photos of my install let me know.

On 20/05/06, Scott Forman <sforman@...> wrote:
>
> I would like to upgrade my rear view camera in an effort to get better
> picture quality...just the camera, not the monitor or cables. I bought
> a modern night vision color camera off eBay, but at night the picture
> is drowned out completely by glare from the infra-red lights reflecting
> off the small window the camera looks out of on the back of the coach.
>
> Has anyone had luck changing out their camera? What model did you
> use?
>
> Thanks
>
> Scott Forman
> 82 FC35RB
> Memphis
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Man, that sounds like a lot of work...I'll just try to find a camera
that won't glare...

Thanks

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Robinson"
wrote:
>
> Scott I also bought a camera with infrared lights and had to remove
the
> small window to eliminate the back glare. I replaced the window with
> plexi-glass. I cut a hole in the plexi the shape of the camera and
pushed it
> through the hole. I sealed up the small gaps between the plexi and
the
> camera with buytal. Of course this all depends on you camera being
an all
> weather outdoor camera. If it is an indoor camera then I think you
are
> looking at getting a different one. I recommend you check out these
folks
>
> http://www.rvcams.com
>
> If you'd like me to send you some photos of my install let me know.
>
> On 20/05/06, Scott Forman <sforman@...> wrote:
> >
> > I would like to upgrade my rear view camera in an effort to get
better
> > picture quality...just the camera, not the monitor or cables. I
bought
> > a modern night vision color camera off eBay, but at night the
picture
> > is drowned out completely by glare from the infra-red lights
reflecting
> > off the small window the camera looks out of on the back of the
coach.
> >
> > Has anyone had luck changing out their camera? What model did you
> > use?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Scott Forman
> > 82 FC35RB
> > Memphis
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
> 94 WLWB
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Scott,

I bought a cheap "board camera" (black and white), and using velcro, mounted
it on the face of the old RCA camera, after unscrewing and removing the
lens. I had the same problem with the glare from the IR illuminators...I took
black electrical tape and covered the IR's with the tape. The modern cameras
already have such low light specs, they are much better than the old RCA's
that came with the BB when new. even without the IR's, the new board camera
still works better than the old RCA. I think I paid about $39 for the camera,
with all the necessary 12V power cord and RCA style video plug...hooked right
up using the original BB wires.

For around $300 or so, you can redo the entire B&W system, with a color
camera and little LCD color monitor..a little more labor...maybe someday for
me,
but for now, the B&W system works good, even during the darkest night. The
light given off from the tail lights of the BB is sufficient to illuminate my
box trailer when I'm towing it.

Good luck,

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
86 38PT


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Scott, when my backup camera went out, I also checked with rvcams.com
and was told that with no camera with infrared sensors would work
properly with a plexiglass or glass cover over them. I ended up
replacing my black & white Sony camera with the matching (but newer)
model since I didn't think it would look right to eliminate the cover
on the back. Typically black & white cameras have a lower lux rating
(the minimum light they can resolve) than color cameras.

Sounds like you may have to go with a non infrared camera or use an
approach such as that suggested by Rob. The folks at rvcams.com are
great to deal with and will bend over backwards to help you out.

Michael Day
1992 Newell 43.5' 8v92

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...>
wrote:
>
> Man, that sounds like a lot of work...I'll just try to find a camera
> that won't glare...
>
> Thanks
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Robinson"
> wrote:
> >
> > Scott I also bought a camera with infrared lights and had to remove
> the
> > small window to eliminate the back glare. I recommend you check
out these folks
> >
> > http://www.rvcams.com
> >
> >
> > On 20/05/06, Scott Forman <sforman@> wrote:
> > >

> > > I bought
> > > a modern night vision color camera off eBay, but at night the
> picture
> > > is drowned out completely by glare from the infra-red lights
> reflecting
> > > off the small window the camera looks out of on the back of the
> coach.
> > >
> > > Has anyone had luck changing out their camera? What model did you
> > > use?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Scott Forman
> > > 82 FC35RB
> > > Memphis

Hey, I forgot to mention in my original reply....my image is reversed in the
monitor...try to find a camera that has a "reverse image" switch, or perform
the mod in the files section reversing the image at the monitor.
Personally, I use the camera merely to check that my "toad" is still there, and
to help
a little when backing up...I just have to remember that left is right, and
right is left (seeing cars passing you on the opposite side is a little
unnerving, but I've gotten used to it). I've even thought about directing the
lens
into a mirror which would reverse the image, but I think I'll improve the
entire system before that.

Kevin Mc
YL CA
86 38PT


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've used the PC-164C (I believe) from http://www.supercircuits.com.
They have a couple of ultra-low-light/.0003lux cameras, the one
mentioned above is a C-mount type, takes the lense from your old
camera. Another I've used I am holding but can't make out the
model#, it is another ultra-low-light B&W camera from Supercircuits
but a lipstick-type, 600lines resolution and .0003lux which is
basically full-resolution in 1/4 moon, or enough to see clearly from
the clearance lights on your coach. This lipstick camera is
weatherproof, perfect for mounting to the top of the spotlight for
remote-control looking around at night.

Don't buy an IR illuminated type. They will glare off of the glass,
and the IR illumination is short-range. A good low-light camera is
worth the money IMO. For your '82 you can also use a color camera,
the downside is that the color cameras are not nearly as sensitive
in low-light. You could mount an IR illuminator on the outside of
the coach if you wish.

To reverse the image in the monitor, you simply open the "silver
box" and reverse the red and blue wires on the four pin connector.
If you want image reversed only with the key on for correct
orientation using the TV portion of this system (I would wonder why,
too small to see and no cable channels, but I digress, ...) you will
need to install a DPDT relay to switch these wires with ignition
power on. Instructions available if necessary.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman"
<sforman@...> wrote:
>
> I would like to upgrade my rear view camera in an effort to get
better
> picture quality...just the camera, not the monitor or cables. I
bought
> a modern night vision color camera off eBay, but at night the
picture
> is drowned out completely by glare from the infra-red lights
reflecting
> off the small window the camera looks out of on the back of the
coach.
>
> Has anyone had luck changing out their camera? What model did you
> use?
>
> Thanks
>
> Scott Forman
> 82 FC35RB
> Memphis
>

--- Jeff:
How did you get so smart???
Hope is well with you in Michigan.
Regards,
Hank Hannigan
90SP36
80FC31





In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> I've used the PC-164C (I believe) from http://www.supercircuits.com.
> They have a couple of ultra-low-light/.0003lux cameras, the one
> mentioned above is a C-mount type, takes the lense from your old
> camera. Another I've used I am holding but can't make out the
> model#, it is another ultra-low-light B&W camera from
Supercircuits
> but a lipstick-type, 600lines resolution and .0003lux which is
> basically full-resolution in 1/4 moon, or enough to see clearly
from
> the clearance lights on your coach. This lipstick camera is
> weatherproof, perfect for mounting to the top of the spotlight for
> remote-control looking around at night.
>
> Don't buy an IR illuminated type. They will glare off of the
glass,
> and the IR illumination is short-range. A good low-light camera is
> worth the money IMO. For your '82 you can also use a color camera,
> the downside is that the color cameras are not nearly as sensitive
> in low-light. You could mount an IR illuminator on the outside of
> the coach if you wish.
>
> To reverse the image in the monitor, you simply open the "silver
> box" and reverse the red and blue wires on the four pin connector.
> If you want image reversed only with the key on for correct
> orientation using the TV portion of this system (I would wonder
why,
> too small to see and no cable channels, but I digress, ...) you
will
> need to install a DPDT relay to switch these wires with ignition
> power on. Instructions available if necessary.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman"
> <sforman@> wrote:
> >
> > I would like to upgrade my rear view camera in an effort to get
> better
> > picture quality...just the camera, not the monitor or cables. I
> bought
> > a modern night vision color camera off eBay, but at night the
> picture
> > is drowned out completely by glare from the infra-red lights
> reflecting
> > off the small window the camera looks out of on the back of the
> coach.
> >
> > Has anyone had luck changing out their camera? What model did
you
> > use?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Scott Forman
> > 82 FC35RB
> > Memphis
> >
>

I just installed my color LCD and camera I bought off of e-bay.. works
great. Awesome color picture. Good investment IMO.. Brought it up to the
21st century.



I do agree the night vision LED's do make a glare at night on the glass, I
will be addressing that next. However during the day, it is a beautiful
picture.. The nice clear LCD Monitor has a remote control too! To reverse
the angle, all I have to do is click a button. It will flip the image upside
down or left to right, any direction. Plus I have it wired for constant on
(to monitor behind me while driving) or auto for automatic operation in
reverse for camera power, and LCD power.



Its just as easy as putting 'tape' over it as one person said, but I will
probably take it out, and paint it- careful to mask off everything including
the small circle that is the camera's eye. this way, everything will match,
and look good., I don't want it to look like a mess up there..



I have had a couple of requests to post pictures of my set-up so they are
now there on my 81 wanderlodge restoration pics in the wanderlodge forum
photo's section; click link below:



http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...rowse/4c94





Stephen Hare

81 FC33-SB

Plant City, FL







_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Henry Jay Hannigan
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 12:36 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Changing cameras



--- Jeff:
How did you get so smart???
Hope is well with you in Michigan.
Regards,
Hank Hannigan
90SP36
80FC31





In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> I've used the PC-164C (I believe) from http://www.supercircuits.com.
> They have a couple of ultra-low-light/.0003lux cameras, the one
> mentioned above is a C-mount type, takes the lense from your old
> camera. Another I've used I am holding but can't make out the
> model#, it is another ultra-low-light B&W camera from
Supercircuits
> but a lipstick-type, 600lines resolution and .0003lux which is
> basically full-resolution in 1/4 moon, or enough to see clearly
from
> the clearance lights on your coach. This lipstick camera is
> weatherproof, perfect for mounting to the top of the spotlight for
> remote-control looking around at night.
>
> Don't buy an IR illuminated type. They will glare off of the
glass,
> and the IR illumination is short-range. A good low-light camera is
> worth the money IMO. For your '82 you can also use a color camera,
> the downside is that the color cameras are not nearly as sensitive
> in low-light. You could mount an IR illuminator on the outside of
> the coach if you wish.
>
> To reverse the image in the monitor, you simply open the "silver
> box" and reverse the red and blue wires on the four pin connector.
> If you want image reversed only with the key on for correct
> orientation using the TV portion of this system (I would wonder
why,
> too small to see and no cable channels, but I digress, ...) you
will
> need to install a DPDT relay to switch these wires with ignition
> power on. Instructions available if necessary.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>

_____



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]