Back up camera protection

It seems like it'd be simpler to rig up a sprayer than a wiper. Many cars have tubing that runs from the washer fluid tank in the front to the back for the rear window wiper. Maybe rig it so the sprayer has a little force and can spray some washer fluid on the lens and clean it at your discretion?

 

Haven't cleaned my truck in a whiiiiilleee and even ran her through mud, nothing's built up so bad that I've been out there to wipe off any considerable build up. I figure a sprayer would leave water on it like when it rains and one would see the droplets. A strong shot of compressed air would seem to work.

 

I like the air idea.

Lets see get $100 air compressor $60 air tank $50 for wiring, air lines and other parts.

Then about 2-3 hours of work.

Have it hooked up to a solenoid on a relay so when the truck in put in reverse it gives a 1 second burst of air.

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Just take finger before getting in truck and wipe lens.

 

Finger wipe doesn't work if it's raining

 

You could just remove the camera and look behind you when you back up. If you decide to keep the camera, using your finger is the easiest, cheapest way to clean it. Or you can choose to garage your truck and never drive it in the rain, mud, snow, rain, fog. If you can wipe when you go to the bathroom then you can wipe the camera when you walk behind the truck after you're done driving.

/thread

 

x2

 

X3

 

X4

 

X5

 

TRUNK MONKEY!!!!

 

Headlight washer kits are less than $50. Just mount the tank and pump inside a bed cubby. Route the hose though the tailgate, and drill a small hole in the tailgate for the low-profile nozzle.

https://www.europaspares.com/product/0/19620/Universal_Headlight_Washer_Kit___Xkks02_19620.html

 

But that is only adding water to a water problem.

Needs to be air.

 

Air isn't going to remove caked-on dirt. The only air would work is if you set it up to blast continuously, and have the air jet blast outward and shroud the camera lens (like how a TIG welding torch uses argon to shroud the tungsten).

 

I disagree with this, military vehicles use blowers (compressed air) instead of wipers to clean episcopes (tiny little windows) A high pressure blast is going to take off anything that isn't bound to the top layer.

In our application, if the lens cover is rain-x/waxed/whatever'd, any dirt may rest on the lens, but will not bind and will come off with the air, the same as a finger swipe.

 

I don't care about dirt , I wipe that off when I leave for work

I want to keep rain off it during travel so I can use the camera when I get to my destination

 

this will leave a little hazier overall picture, but
you will be able to make out the scene...no water
drops can possibly stick

http://www.spillcontainment.com/everdry

this is expensive stuff, so 'just testing the idea' is gonna hurt

 

Makes me wonder how I manage w/o a backup camera.

;-)

 

I guess a washer system, and a wiper of some sort, OR a spray wash, with an air blast, which sounds even better. Thank you everyone for the ideas. Now I have to brainstorm and actually make something that will work, and be relatively inexpensive.

 

BINGO!

 

i think the basics of aerodynamics behind the truck will always cause dirt and liquid to build up on there in other than ideal driving conditions. I will agree w/ the above post, when all else fails, I turn my head...did it before I got this 2012 9 months ago, why can't I keep doing it. on a side note (and yes its my own doing) looking out at night through 5% put over factory tint makes things a little tricky, comes w/ the territory, you get better at it