R-Class (W251) Produced 2006-2013: R320CDI, R350, R420CDI, R500

Tapping into the reverse lamp 12v

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Old 04-22-2010, 10:10 PM
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2007 r-350
Tapping into the reverse lamp 12v

I am trying to tap into the reverse lamp 12v line from the back of the car where the lamp actually is for my backup camera for a 2006 r-500 which doesnt come with a factory radio enabled camera input. When i opened the access door, i see a black 6 pin connector. Can someone help with the pin config. I tried to tap into 5 out of the 6 and it get 12v at all times(no matteri am in reverse or not), the sixth one is ground it looks like.

Thanks
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hereusethis (12-05-2018)
Old 04-23-2010, 07:50 PM
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Brown is ground.

You're just asking for trouble hacking into a Mercedes electrical system.
Old 04-23-2010, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by sivajenny1
I am trying to tap into the reverse lamp 12v line from the back of the car where the lamp actually is for my backup camera for a 2006 r-500 which doesnt come with a factory radio enabled camera input. When i opened the access door, i see a black 6 pin connector. Can someone help with the pin config. I tried to tap into 5 out of the 6 and it get 12v at all times(no matteri am in reverse or not), the sixth one is ground it looks like.

Thanks
I am not sure what color of the wire is for back up lamp.

My best suggestion solution is:
1) Remove one of the back up lamp socket and solder the positive wire of BU camera to the center contact.
2) Attach the ground wire of BU camera to any ground point of vehicle (brown color wires)

Everytime you reverse, the back up camera is turned on (BU Camera consumes very low current which you never overload the circuit)

Last edited by AsianR350; 04-23-2010 at 11:32 PM.
Old 04-25-2010, 01:10 PM
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Tried and it works, but one question.
The lamp output is around 9.75v when measured, the reverse cam trigger needs 12v. so the camera display is going on and off. Is there any way to get a full 12v only when transmission is on reverse?
thanks
Old 04-25-2010, 01:33 PM
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08 R350, 07 Acura RL, 1989 Honda Shadow VLX600 (10K miles)
Originally Posted by sivajenny1
Tried and it works, but one question.
The lamp output is around 9.75v when measured, the reverse cam trigger needs 12v. so the camera display is going on and off. Is there any way to get a full 12v only when transmission is on reverse?
thanks
How exactly did you connect to the back up light?
(What is the voltage drop between + and - of camera?). It seems the circuits are in series connection not parallel.

Measure the voltage of B/U lamp before and after. In parallel circuit, you should get the same voltage (V). (The current (I) will increase after connection only)

You can also solder the negative wire directly to the side contact of the socket instead of the vehicle ground point)
Attached Thumbnails Tapping into the reverse lamp 12v-prcirc1.gif  

Last edited by AsianR350; 04-25-2010 at 02:18 PM.
Old 04-25-2010, 03:40 PM
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As suggested by you, i connected the BU cam reverse lamp trigger wire to the center contact of the reverse lamp. Before and after the connection the reverse lamp voltage is at a constant 9.75v

As i have already run a single line from the reverse lamp all the way to the front console and have concealed the wire, its hard to run another ground wire again from back of the vehicle to the front.

I am planning to add a 9v relay that will work from the reverse lamp's 9.75v output and use an accessory out (12v) to be sent as the 12v trigger signal for the camera.

I am assuming this will work, any thoughts?

Thanks
Old 04-25-2010, 05:08 PM
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08 R350, 07 Acura RL, 1989 Honda Shadow VLX600 (10K miles)
Originally Posted by sivajenny1
As suggested by you, i connected the BU cam reverse lamp trigger wire to the center contact of the reverse lamp. Before and after the connection the reverse lamp voltage is at a constant 9.75v

As i have already run a single line from the reverse lamp all the way to the front console and have concealed the wire, its hard to run another ground wire again from back of the vehicle to the front.

I am planning to add a 9v relay that will work from the reverse lamp's 9.75v output and use an accessory out (12v) to be sent as the 12v trigger signal for the camera.

I am assuming this will work, any thoughts?

Thanks
That is a great ideal.

Try to measure voltage of other back up lamp to see what you get.(Almost 3 volts gone some where)

Can you post the pics. of your set up when finish?

Last edited by AsianR350; 04-25-2010 at 06:12 PM.
Old 06-12-2016, 05:34 PM
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I am replacing my 3rd rear camera (aftermarket) due to them dying after having permanent power connected.

I am wanting to run a similar relay set up so that my camera isn't powered 24/7.

Any tips is appreciated.
Old 06-25-2016, 08:50 AM
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08 R350, 07 Acura RL, 1989 Honda Shadow VLX600 (10K miles)
Originally Posted by GLO
I am replacing my 3rd rear camera (aftermarket) due to them dying after having permanent power connected.

I am wanting to run a similar relay set up so that my camera isn't powered 24/7.

Any tips is appreciated.

You can install a on-off toggle switch in between and turn off anytime you want.
Old 06-25-2016, 09:25 PM
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Thanks, but that isn't wife friendly.
Ideally I'm looking for an ACC power supply from the rear fusebox. It can even be off a relay as the relay is permanently on only on one side of it.

Do you think tapping into rear fuse #37 (assigned for rear camera) would power on only when the rear camera is activated by Comand unit?

Last edited by GLO; 06-25-2016 at 09:51 PM.
Old 06-25-2016, 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by GLO
Thanks, but that isn't wife friendly.
Ideally I'm looking for an ACC power supply from the rear fusebox. It can even be off a relay as the relay is permanently on only on one side of it.

Do you think tapping into rear fuse #37 (assigned for rear camera) would power on only when the rear camera is activated by Comand unit?
I would try that or there is a positive terminal cable at the fuse box, connect to that terminal with the relay to rear camera and signal from reverse light to turn on the camera when you put in the gear in reverse.
Old 04-01-2017, 06:04 PM
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FYI on passenger side reverse light is grey w/yellow stripe on my 2005 w211 e55 US spec.
Old 04-14-2017, 08:03 PM
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Hi guys,
thanks to this thread i found out why my reverse camera (rear view mirror android dashcam/reverse camera triggered setup) would not stay in the reverse picture consistantly when in reverse ... (kept flickering off / on back to normal front / back dashcam mode) due to the odd voltage < 12v as wanted by the reverse trigger.
Went to look for a relay as per the thread and found this instead which works perfectly and i don't have to run any additional lines to fuse boxes etc.
Amazon Amazon
for $6.50 and after hooking it directly to my reverse bulb (picture attached), now whenever i'm in reverse it sticks on the reverse view (with scale) ... i've added a couple of pics to help, sorry for the glare and fingerprints



tapped to pos and neg of reverse bulb fixture



the power filter



normal mode / D



Reverse engaged
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Bobenis (04-01-2021)
Old 12-05-2018, 01:42 AM
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@JonMac Awesome!

I have a quick question that may potentially be ridiculous.

I am going the route of installing a cheap mirror clip-on monitor and was thinking about wiring it to the trunk for power. Rather than tapping any fuses, would it be possible to tap power for BOTH the BU cam & the mirror from the same reverse light?

If not, where would you suggest me easily tapping into for the mirror?

Last edited by Brooklyn.W211; 12-05-2018 at 01:47 AM. Reason: typo
Old 12-05-2018, 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Brooklyn.W211
@JonMac Awesome!

I have a quick question that may potentially be ridiculous.

I am going the route of installing a cheap mirror clip-on monitor and was thinking about wiring it to the trunk for power. Rather than tapping any fuses, would it be possible to tap power for BOTH the BU cam & the mirror from the same reverse light?

If not, where would you suggest me easily tapping into for the mirror?
hi,

if tapping in from the trunk, you could only use the reverse light with a relay as a trigger but will still need a better power source for your BU Cam and Mirror. If you wired directly as the power source you will likely throw a CANBUS error.
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Brooklyn.W211 (12-06-2018)
Old 12-31-2018, 07:44 AM
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Thanks JohnMac you saved me from pulling what little hair I have out

Originally Posted by JonMac
Hi guys,
thanks to this thread i found out why my reverse camera (rear view mirror android dashcam/reverse camera triggered setup) would not stay in the reverse picture consistantly when in reverse ... (kept flickering off / on back to normal front / back dashcam mode) due to the odd voltage < 12v as wanted by the reverse trigger.
Went to look for a relay as per the thread and found this instead which works perfectly and i don't have to run any additional lines to fuse boxes etc. hey
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for $6.50 and after hooking it directly to my reverse bulb (picture attached), now whenever i'm in reverse it sticks on the reverse view (with scale) ... i've added a couple of pics to help, sorry for the glare and fingerprints



tapped to pos and neg of reverse bulb fixture



the power filter



normal mode / D



Reverse engaged
JohnMac... you saved me from losing it... the whole time I thought my wiring was screwed up and had my wife’s car pulled apart for three days trying to find the issue... found your post, ordered recommended device from amazon and installed it exactly as you showed in the pictures and BAM!!! Worked like a charm. Thanks again

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