Car solutions reverse anytime + front camera install

Measure the +12vdc wire coming out of the CS Interface. Set you meter to read DC and connect the red meter lead to the +12vdc wire and the black meter lead to ground. Test to see if there's power coming out of the CS Interface.

 

I did that and have 12v so I went down the line and had 12v on one side of my power inverter and 7.5v on the other side like it’s supposed to. Then that connection to the camera seemed like it was not getting the voltage. (I used safety pins to poke through the wires and connected multimeter to them) so if I didn’t get the safety pin in right it may be inaccurate. I got busy and need to test that connection again. If it’s actually good and the camera is getting 12v does that mean my camera is bad? It DID work, but maybe I blew it out??

 

If the camera is getting power, then you need to determine if it is producing a video signal output.

 

I was returning something at Harbor Freight and saw a test light so I purchased it. I'm going to use that on the positive wire on the camera when it's activated from the truck to see if I got the voltage. I *think* I can do the same thing on the negative wire by switching the clamp on the test light to the positive battery cable and probing the negative camera power wire. Maybe someone can confirm that for me.

Assuming I have good power there on both wires, do you know how I can test the video signal output with a multi-meter, the test light, or some other way?

 

You can't test for a video signal using a test meter or light. The only way to test that I can think of would be to use a small TV or monitor that has a composite (RCA connector) input. You would have to bring the TV outside near your truck, so that the camera can be powered by the truck. Then plug the RCA connector from the camera into the Composite input on the TV. If the camera is working you should see an image on the TV screen. Maybe someone else has another idea, but that's the only way I can think of to test the camera. If the camera tests as good, then the issue must be that the CS Interface was somehow damaged.

 

I confirmed that the camera is getting power. I’m tempted to order another camera.

 

That would be another way to "test", and easier than dragging a small TV out by your truck.

 

Alright, I'm trying to make sure I understand this all right. I have a 2018 Offroad and only want this to work with the stereo & wheel controls (no external switch).

I got the TopTierPro camera to fit in the mesh. With that camera and the attached cables, this is the correct way to wire it up, right? I'm basically just connecting the 12v power from the CarSolutions harness to the red wire on the video cable, connecting the red wire on the other end of the video cable to the red "power supply" wire, and then snipping the black wire on the power supply... right?

Sorry for being dumb.

 

@Loan Wolve...

Firstly, I never cut wires (black wire). You never know what you might need in the future.
I'm not 100% sure of the difference between the +12vdc wire from the CS Interface and the Trigger wire from the CS Interface. I think the Trigger wire is only powered when the Camera needs to be 'on', vs the +12vdc wire which is powered 'on' whenever the HU is on. But I didn't test this with a meter, so I'm not sure. In any case, I used the Trigger wire to power my Front Camera. I connected the "trigger" wires together, I did not use the red/blk wires from the camera. My camera is the Natika, so It may have different wires than yours.

 

Thanks for the comment. I would normally leave & not cut a little excess wires, but it's a very long bundle and wanted to keep it tidy & never plan to use them. Our kits do have different wiring, see the attached image for mine.

But what you're getting at is exactly what confused me - if the 12v trigger wire on the CS is powering the camera via the trigger wire near the head unit, do the red/black wires on the camera end even do anything? @MrBrooks and some other folks connected them both:

And @chiefjim seems to be doing very close to what I was going on his write-up, except he has black wires from the NATIKA that I don't have:

Anyone have any insight?

 

In my case I just bundled up the red/blk pair from the Natika camera and stuffed the behind the kick panel right where they enter the cab. I got the +12vdc connection by connecting "CS Trigger" to "Camera Trigger". I didn't connect a ground to the camera, it picks it up from the RCA video connector shield.

 

@HiProofProducts I know this post was ages ago but I'm looking to do this install and also have a DB Customs grill w TPS. Curious where/how you mounted your front camera. Are you happy with it still? Have any pics you'd be willing to share?

 

This is exactly how I wired mine the second time. I had it powered by the red and black wires the first time. Both ways work. When I accidentally cut my camera RCA wire after everything worked the first time and I was just tidying up wires it would never work again when I spliced it back together. A new camera (just to get the wiring post camera) fixed it right up.

 

Hi, I need a little help from someone that has installed a RCFF TTG2 camera control as shown on this first page of this thread.

1, there is an 8 pin M/F connector to go in to the HU. On the HU there are 2 8 pin connectors one is about the middle of the unit and one near the bottom, so which one ?

2, where the hell is the RCA and power connections for the OE rear camera?

This is on a 2017 taco just for clarity.

 

8 Pin is as circled in OP picture, middle one. you don't need to worry about connecting rear if its OEM, just the rear. If I remember right the connectors are all different so you can't connect to the wrong one.

 

So the black and red wires near the camera aren't needed?

 

No.

 

Just finished the install, it is a very tight fit behind the head unit. Can anything go wrong with some of the wires being so tightly pushed against the back?

 

Bump^

 

I think you’ll be fine. Nobody else has posted any problems.