What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

That's looking great man, nice job.

 

Got the icon stage 10, method 703s and a set of Nitos installed.

 

Off the wall questions here:

The back-up camera has a change in clarity (of the image) when the headlights are on compare to when the headlights are off.
My question is - does that still hold true with the license plate light delete wiring harness in play? Does the harness simply turn off the plate lights and not swap the camera to daytime view?

Nobody likes the glare from the plate lights in the camera lens, got that. (I don't like it.) But my question is not about that glare.
There is a significant visual difference in the quality of the image between headlights on and headlights off. Check it out in daylight when the plate lights won't have much effect, and you'll see what I'm talking about. So I'm wondering if that modified harness reverts the camera to the better quality image in addition to shutting down the plate lights...

 

Look for a mobile wheel repair guy or take to a shop. In most cases they can sand it and repaint it and you can't tell the difference. A valet accidentally clipped a curb in my M3 and the cost to replace the wheel was $1300. A mobile repair guy was able to make it look new and was about $150.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the change in quality happens at the camera itself. The bright tag lights change the overall average light level so the camera acts as if it is daytime (adjusting its ISO settings, I think). At night that means you get bright glare and a snowy image everywhere else. If the tag lights are not there to change the value, the camera properly adjusts itself to the right light level at night. So the net result is the same, as far as the camera is concerned, if you turn off the tag lights, shield them, or turn off your headlights.

 

Just turn off your headlights at night and check. It's much better with the harness, but still not as good as day. The daytime view is because there is more ambient light where night will always have some more noise. Like using higher ISO on a camera.

 

sorry.....my jeweler buddy once told me "even a broken clock is correct twice a day"

 

I can't check. I don't have the harness. That's why I asked others.

I always turnoff my headlights when in reverse, and I noticed the dramatic quality difference. It does not matter if it's a dark night or a dreary rainy day - it isn't about "more ambient light" at all.
There is a built setting in the camera, and was just wondering if that harness took advantage of it.

If you have the harness, maybe you can try it. At night, in reverse, turn off your headlights via the actual switch - and notice the great view with just your reverse lights. Then look again using your modified harness. Is there a difference?


Edit: "great view" being a subjective term here. I've heard other compare our truck cameras to mylar over a peep hole! lol

 

The effect of the harness is identical to turning off your headlights at night, since that also turns of your license plate lights. The rest is automatically adjusted by the camera or something else in the truck. With the harness, there is no difference in quality at night if the lights are on or off (I do have the harness and can confirm)

TLDR: You should get the harness is you like how it looks with your headlights off. It will be the same.

 

Maybe.
Of course the tag lights are directly in view of the camera and so they might alter it's ISO settings. But then, wouldn't follow that those with extra bright reverse lights (added or just enhanced) would also get that snowy image if there was anything even remotely reflective behind them when backing up? Like the garage door or wall, or other cars, or that big bro-dozer chrome bumper you mentioned before. Right?
I enhanced my back-up lights, yet my camera is very clear (with the hl switch in off).

 

Just something about that color scheme, very nice looking truck.

 

From what I can tell the harness is just a standard SPDT relay in-line with the normal tag light harness. The lights seem to be connected to the normally closed pin, and a pig tail is run to the reverse lights to trigger the relay and open the circuit to kill the tag lights.

 

I've got the Meso Stage-1 setup and the reverse lights were not enough to change the ISO settings. The difference I think is where the light is going. The reverse lights are lighting up what you want to see. The tag lights are shining directly at the camera. Big difference, both in direction and amount of light hitting the CMOS sensor.

 

Now I got it… I’ll have to borrow the quote when it fits the situation.

 

See, you're focusing too much on the plate lights. You're missing the point as evidenced with that first sentence of yours.
In my truck there is great difference in the camera view with the light switch on or off --- in bright day light and in dark of night --- regardless of the plate lights (covered or bare).
So the harness should also show you that difference; in a perfect world of course.

Don't get me wrong. I am not shooting down the harness, the inventor, nor those who use it!
We all love to mod our trucks! I was just really curious in it's working specifications (the harness).

 

I'll have to snag my wife's mirror and experiment. You kinda skipped over the point "something reflective behind them when backing up" shining directly into the sensor just as the tag lights do.
What you said would hold true out in the woods or open field. I thought the same so that's why I named objects being behind the truck.

 

Got my oil changed, front dif oil changed and transfer case oil changed. Did my rear dif about 1,500 miles ago so I’m all fresh with the exception of my transmission. Gotta get motivated to do that. Transfer case looked a little dark (like a honey color), front dif was probably never done (48,000 miles bought at 44,000) and looked like shit, and the rear dif looked brand new but since I did rear dif breather mod I said F it may as well.

 

Thank you!

 

So that would not have any effect on the camera setting. The camera still sees the headlight switch in the "on" position. That answers my question. (I mean without actual side-by-side playing around evidence. Good enough for me.)

Thank You!