Rear view camera: Difference between revisions
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'''Advantages''': | '''Advantages''': | ||
* Can be mounted very close to center. | * Can be mounted very close to the center of car. | ||
* Has large view angle (see comparison below). | * Has large view angle (see comparison below). | ||
'''Disadvantages''': | '''Disadvantages''': |
Revision as of 19:00, 7 February 2015
Rear view camera is a nice feature, especially if the rear window is tinted. This page covers rear view camera installation on W220 and various rear view cameras. To see the picture on COMAND screen a multimedia interface must be installed. Alternatively, a cheap (~15 USD) LCD monitor can be purchased.
Wiring
The simplest path from the front panel to the rear under seat is to follow the thick, red positive wire. Then the wire can follow wires that go from rear SAM to trunk cover. Have not been tested, but probably the wire could be fit into the trunk cover wiring shield. To activate rear view camera when the reverse is engaged you can connect wire to rear light reverse cable connector.
Cameras
Supposedly W220 rear view camera
Price: 35 USD
Marketed on the ebay as W220 rear view camera, however, there is no place where it could be possibly mounted.
Rear view camera in licence plate light module
Price: 50 USD
The camera comes with built-in LED which is powered by a separate wire. Note, that the LED is not CANBUS "error free", which means that if connected to licence plate light wire the LED will blink and errors will appear on the instrument cluster. To make it work an additional resistance - load resistor of 150 ohm must be added (you can also use 100 ohm load resistor, but in that case if the LED malfunctions you will not receive error message on the instrument cluster). To mount it in place of original licence plate light module you will have to sacrifice the original module by breaking off the connector. Breaking it is easy since if the original licence plate module has been used for a while the plastic becomes very fragile (see licence plate lights page).
Advantages:
- Discrete mounting (hardly visible from distance).
Disadvantages:
- The small LED provides less light than aftermarket LED modules (see licence plate lights page).
- Has relatively small view angle (see comparison below).
- Since mounted 20cm away from center, makes rear view biased (see comparison below).
Generic rear view camera
Price: 15 USD
Advantages:
- Can be mounted very close to the center of car.
- Has large view angle (see comparison below).
Disadvantages:
- Not very discrete (visible from distance).
Other Cameras
Comparison
Conclusions
- Rear view camera in licence plate module is more discrete.
- Since the generic rear view camera is mounted closer to center...
- Generic rear view camera has larger view angle.