Rear Observation Camera Wiring - Montana Owners Club

TomCat · 02-27-2020, 06:56 AM

Hi Folks - just wondering if anyone can tell me how the power for the backup camera in my 2017 HC 305RL comes from the factory. I'm sure I can figure it out easily enough once I can hook up again, but just wondering if anyone knows. Is it wired to the running lights? Backup lights? Powered constantly?

Thanks!!
Tom

DutchmenSport · 02-27-2020, 07:18 AM

I'm not sure where exactly mine is wired to, but the power is active when the lights are turned on in the tow vehicle.

After this last Christmas, I installed the side cameras also. Of course, they run when the tow vehicle lights are on, since the side cameras also are attached to the yellow side running lights.

If you are considering getting a back-up camera, and your's is set up for the Furrion, I advise getting the larger screen, and get the "Observation" camera, and not the back-up. The "Observation" camera stays on all the time, which is really nice for driving. They are very easy to install, and although Furrion is not the cheapest, I think it works very well.

TomCat · 02-27-2020, 07:35 AM

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, I gleaned from all of the info out there that I wanted a rear observation camera. I purchased this one with one camera to start with:
http://www.4ucam.com/Digital-Quad-Vi...n.html#furrion

I haven't installed it yet, but the weather is improving and I should be able to soon.

It sounds consistent with what I have read that the camera wiring would be connected to the running lights. I will use that assumption as my starting point.

Thanks again!

rames14 · 02-27-2020, 08:14 AM

My 2015 came wired always on and I had it changed to be on with the running lights. I worried about burning out the camera being on all of the time, plus parasitic draw. I believe they changed it to this, but not sure.

Mikendebbie · 02-27-2020, 08:29 AM

My 2018 rear camera comes on when I turn on the vehicle headlights.

Dave10 · 02-27-2020, 08:35 AM

Most cameras are designed to be powered continuously. I wired mine to the running lights because I drive with parking lights on for safety reasons. Done this for years with not problems. I am not aware of any camera that is designed for intermittent use.

TomCat · 02-27-2020, 08:42 AM

Agreed. The same cameras are used as security cameras, nursery monitoring, etc. I am not concerned about that aspect of it. I think powered by the running lights is ideal. That will be my starting assumption. Thanks!!

wecker1 · 02-27-2020, 12:16 PM

Tomcat - FYI, on my 2017 Ford my Furrion Observation camera only works with the running/headlights physically turned on and not with the automatic "daytime" running lights.

TomCat · 02-27-2020, 01:28 PM

Thanks - good to know. I don't think I have automatic daytime running lights, but I assume that any time the trailer running lights are on it will work. I will definitely have to turn the headlight switch on for it to work if that's how it's wired.

lightsout · 02-27-2020, 02:15 PM

For what it is worth, the Furuion system is garbage especially for the price, I have the 3 camera system and could not be more dissapointed, with picture quality, especially with the low resolution camera and screen. Not a great sales pitch but mine is for sale used twice. It is an outright lie that Furrion calls it High resolution when it is only 480P... this is very old Technology

JDDilly · 02-27-2020, 05:25 PM

I agree. I have one that is 3 years old and worked for about 6 months. Furuion said there is no way to have it repaired and I would have to replace it.

DmaxDually · 02-28-2020, 11:26 PM

I installed the the Furrion S7 last year. I have the rear blade camera and the 2 side marker light cameras. I wanted my camera power to be independent of the TV and marker lights so I wired them into my RV batteries. I ran power and ground wire to my convenience center from an aux fuse block I installed in the garage area. I put a switch in the convenience for the cameras and ran wires to each camera. This way my marker lights don't have to be on all the time and my TV doesn't have to be hooked up to use them. Since I have the cameras I wanted to use them as security cameras while I camping. They don't record but I can see whats going on outside my camper when I'm inside cooking or watching TV.

RMcNeal · 02-29-2020, 04:27 AM

We also got the rear and side lights but ours were hooked up by CW so they only run when the TV headlights are on. I read about a hack where you put a 15 amp blade fuse jumped across the two pins in your 7 pin connector to power the marker lights. Haven't had a chance to try it yet though. It is supposed to power the marker lights when by back feeding through the 7 pin cable when hooked to shore power.

DmaxDually · 02-29-2020, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

We also got the rear and side lights but ours were hooked up by CW so they only run when the TV headlights are on. I read about a hack where you put a 15 amp blade fuse jumped across the two pins in your 7 pin connector to power the marker lights. Haven't had a chance to try it yet though. It is supposed to power the marker lights when by back feeding through the 7 pin cable when hooked to shore power.

Yeah, but then your marker light will be on all the time when you're camping. You don't notice it when you are on the road but the marker lights are be pretty bright, especially if yours are the newer leds. It's just my opinion but I think they would mess up the ambiance at night if all your marker lights were on all around your camper. Plus I don't think the campers on your opposite door side (ODS) would like your marker lights lighting up their campsite at night.
I purchased an extra blade camera and was thinking about installing it on my front cap. This way I would have 360 deg view around my campsite/camper. I havn't gotten around to it yet.

JAWs · 03-05-2020, 07:04 AM

I've had 2 Furrion's. First one replaced by Furrion...neither one are worth a CRAP! I called Furrion to explain my frustration about the dropped signal ALL the time. Do you know what they told me...."slow down". I said it happens anywhere from 40mph and above! I was ticked...so I said to the tech "isn't the camera going the same speed as the monitor? Is the wind blowing the signal away??" They had no answer.....and no sense of humor.
Joel

TomCat · 03-05-2020, 08:25 AM

I have read a lot about Furrion's troubles with wireless signal. Also, at the time I made my purchase of the 4uCam, there wasn't a 7" monitor size available. The 4uCam has an excellent reputation for solid wireless signal, so I went with that.

DebNJim B · 03-05-2020, 09:01 AM

I bought a cheap Chinese cam for less than half the price of the Furrion. Wasn't sure about it but took the chance. Could always return to Amazon if I didn't like it.
It does blank out now and then for a few, maybe 5 seconds, but it does what I wanted it to, that is let me know when to pull back in my lane when passing.
I also have the hard wired back up cam that was an option with my Ford. It works OK but the picture doesn't really give you the depth perception you need to back into a space. Still use DW for that. I do like the TPMS that was in the same package.

Skypirate · 03-05-2020, 09:13 AM

Teri and I purchased the Furion back up camera at the fall rally last year and had Lippert install it...the used the wires from the center top driving light on the back of our Monty....just spliced into it! The monitor is "positional" at best but does show the back of the camera. Remember to have your driving lights "on" to power the camera. Hope this helps.

pinheadgraham02 · 03-05-2020, 09:14 AM

Our 2015 3610RL came with a "back-up" camera that I didn't try to use until after the warranty had expired as I saw no need. Then when I jumped through all the hoops, I found that the wiring through the "back-up" light connection was never made at the factory. So - I really wanted an observation camera for use when parked at a campground or on the road. I had the rig at the dealer and had them install a switch, pulling the power off a rear-wall mounted light switch. Now I can have the camera on when not hooked to the Freightliner; and when hooked up I can have the camera on while driving. It took a while for the techs to understand exactly what I wanted them to do, but they did get it right.

Donjamin · 03-05-2020, 02:02 PM

Our 2016 3160RL Legacy came with a Furrion camera that didn't work. I replaced it and used the existing wiring plug that the previous camera used. I found that the camera is on constantly when the 12 volt system is live. It was not wired to either my rear tail lights or side light markers. The only down side to this wiring setup is the camera is on and an electrical draw when boondocking. Next time I pull the trailer out of storage, I'm going to re-wire it to my running and tail lights. That way it is only on when I turn my parking or headlights on.

Don

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