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2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
did you test the camera peering through the grill? I would do this before fabricating a mount to be sure that the grill isn't badly vignetting your image.
did you test the camera peering through the grill? I would do this before fabricating a mount to be sure that the grill isn't badly vignetting your image.
I did some preliminary tests aiming through the grill. I could not get my hand down there, so I had to use a pole extension, which made precisely pointing the camera impossible. However, I had roughly an 80% clear view... enough to proceed.
Thinking about where to find power at the bumper, I am wondering if I can install power for this in series (spliced into) my illuminated grille star... Thoughts?
DFWD, I do not have an illuminated star (hood ornament) as a reference to look at. I don't exactly know that circuit to definitely help here. One can guess a SAM box is involved.
The camera unit you have likely needs around say 750mA to 1200mA.... I'd definitely give it a shot.
I've just realized the star is likely illuminated at night only (test!) and you need a daytime power....
PLAN B's....:
How comfortable would you be to splice your headlights harness?
Perhaps the horn circuit has a solid +12 near numper if controlled by a GND.
Tap both (+) and GND or test bumper frame for GND.
DFWD, I do not have an illuminated star (hood ornament) as a reference to look at. I don't exactly know that circuit to definitely help here. One can guess a SAM box is involved.
The camera unit you have likely needs around say 750mA to 1200mA.... I'd definitely give it a shot.
I've just realized the star is likely illuminated at night only (test!) and you need a daytime power....
PLAN B's....:
How comfortable would you be to splice your headlights harness?
Perhaps the horn circuit has a solid +12 near numper if controlled by a GND.
Tap both (+) and GND or test bumper frame for GND.
Hope this help your awesome project...
😎
As discussed earlier in this thread, I have ruled out installing the camera as part of the car's standard wiring systems (such as headlights, horn, etc).
I have an aftermarket (non OEM) Illuminated Star. It does not interface with the car's electrical system until the positive lead is installed in a fuse tap at fuse #9. It is lighted all the time, but visible only when dark.
The camera has been added to this same fuse tap. So it will have power anytime the car is on. But I think the camera will only be "on" when I start the app on my smart phone.
The car is on jack stands, the gravel shield removed (and emptied of gravel), and I am checking camera view and possible mounting locations.
Won’t the camera be on all the time once your car is on? Your phone is simply accessing it through the app to view what it sees. Or do I have that wrong and the phone app can actually turn it off and on.
My home security cameras are on 24/7 and my phone/computer app just accesses them to see live views or motion recordings.
Won’t the camera be on all the time once your car is on? Your phone is simply accessing it through the app to view what it sees. Or do I have that wrong and the phone app can actually turn it off and on.
My home security cameras are on 24/7 and my phone/computer app just accesses them to see live views or motion recordings.
You're probably right, Keith. Just wishful thinking on my part.
So, I was able to park the car deep enough in the garage to avoid most of the rain. I hiked up the front and placed the suspension on jack stands, left and right. This allowed me to remove the TWELVE 8mm bolts holding the splash shield in place. And voila, the area is visible underneath.
After considerable fiddling, I constructed a flat bracket of 1/4" black lexan, and attached the camera to it. The attachment point became the rear vertical surface of the aluminum metal bumper. There's no real room to get a drill in there horizontally, and I couldn't see what I was doing if I did. Soooo, the bracket is held in place with sturdy Gorilla Tape. The pliable plastic in the thick tape should afford some vibration damping, too.
Getting a bracket close enough for the camera to peer through a single facet in the grille isn't possible, because the gray strip you see (with the blue dot) is porous, expanded foam not rigidly held in place (it just flops around), so no chance for accurate camera aiming. So I went with the attachment further back instead. I remind myself that the purpose of this camera is to show the approaching concrete wheel stop as I approach it, so I decided that peering through the larger face of the grill will give a workable view. The camera face is about 4" behind the grillwork, so I should be able to reach through the grates with a VCR cleaning sponge when the camera gets dirty.
The car is still on jack stands until tomorrow (had to quit at dusk), so I don't have any views to show until the car is on level ground.
This camera works a peach for seeing concrete parking blocks and stopping in time. The motion, seen through the grille is more than sufficient to judge when to stop.
Some reviews of this product say that some have problems connecting the WIFI camera to the Smart Phone in a reasonable time. But I had no such issues once I'm on the street or in a parking lot where other WIFI signals aren't present. 5-10 seconds at most and your're viewing ahead.
Pay attention to the motion of the approaching parking stop, and the grates in the grille are not that noticeable.
I tried the camera this evening after dark. The car headlights seem to provide more contrast (a good thing) on the concrete blocks than during daylight.
One can also use the camera to park in a lined parking stall (no concrete block, just a stop line as in many parking lots).
Cyber Monday price is $41.99 til midnight, so I ordered another for my wife's car. It will have an unobstructed view on her Sonata.
Here is a better view of what this camera can do, this time mounted under the bumper of my wife's Hyundai Sonata. Much easier installation, and no obstructed view...
I really like what you've done. The concrete wheel stops aren't a big deal for me as there are none at work nor most places I take the E550 (thankfully).
I think it's a great idea, I went a different direction; I made a donation to the college and asked them to remove the parking bumper in my wife's parking spot. My Mother, Daughter and about five other relatives are Alumni, so I had some influence.
I think it's a great idea, I went a different direction; I made a donation to the college and asked them to remove the parking bumper in my wife's parking spot. My Mother, Daughter and about five other relatives are Alumni, so I had some influence.
So, who do you know to get the bumper stop removed at the local grocery store? Or do you have delivery, instead?
Actually, yes! I do have groceries delivered mostly, but my wife still goes once a week, there are no parking bumpers in the handicap spots! So I went out and looked under my luxury, no marks, but my sport is hammered, I just paint it with the touch-up paint, on my third little bottle so the camera would be cheaper! Damn DFW, now I'm painting it today, I do think your on to something, it would be awesome to have that camera come on the screen when the car goes into parking mode, with the parking package,
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Dec 12, 2021 at 09:35 AM.
Actually, yes! I do have groceries delivered mostly, but my wife still goes once a week, there are no parking bumpers in the handicap spots! So I went out and looked under my luxury, no marks, but my sport is hammered, I just paint it with the touch-up paint, on my third little bottle so the camera would be cheaper! Damn DFW, now I'm painting it today, I do think your on to something, it would be awesome to have that camera come on the screen when the car goes into parking mode, with the parking package,
Interesting. Here in Texas, every handicapped parking spot is crowned with an ugly, concrete bumper stop, I guess to keep we handicapped and old folks from hitting the GO pedal instead of the STOP pedal.
As far as convenience, it's a simple matter of turning on the app after you leave street traffic and enter the parking lot. The camera display appears quickly, well before you approach your parking slot. Yesterday in the wife's car, the display was active within 2 seconds of starting the app, some 30 seconds before entering a parking spot.
You have to manually select/start the Casoda app, like any other app on your Smartphone... Good out-of-the-box thinking, PJ, but I don't think there is any way to make the car's parking mode wirelessly trigger the app.
Thought about this mod when you were working out the details...
After reading your original posts for few days I decided to look at what the underside of my chin spoiler looked like...
It was not easy to get my fat head under there to see any scratches...I had a few but nothing that made me cringe.
I find the car's front camara and parking distance warning lights tend to be good enough for me to judge if I will clear or not
and I turn radio down to listen for the start of any scraping.
the one I hate is when they do not have these stops but just a foot high sidewalk.
I think we just need a country wide standard on how tall these things can be so you either clear, scrape or hit hard.... and then you know...
I like your the solution but it is just not a big issue for me as something I cannot see.
Just not anything I would put on my to do list right now.
Thought about this mod when you were working out the details...
After reading your original posts for few days I decided to look at what the underside of my chin spoiler looked like...
It was not easy to get my fat head under there to see any scratches...I had a few but nothing that made me cringe.
I find the car's front camara and parking distance warning lights tend to be good enough for me to judge if I will clear or not
and I turn radio down to listen for the start of any scraping.
the one I hate is when they do not have these stops but just a foot high sidewalk.
I think we just need a country wide standard on how tall these things can be so you either clear, scrape or hit hard.... and then you know...
I like your the solution but it is just not a big issue for me as something I cannot see.
Just not anything I would put on my to do list right now.
All good points. But prior to installing the camera, I found myself head-in parking with 2-3 feet of space (sometimes up to 5 feet LOL) in front to avoid obstacles (bumper stops, curbs, sign poles, etc.) This leaves the rear of the car exposed to 25-foot long P/U trucks and SUVs whose drivers are too incompetent to park safely in adjoining parking spots...
Here in "Pick-up-Ville" Texas, cars are a vanishing species, and I have watched with hilarity many a tiny person struggling 5 minutes (or more) to wedge one of these beasts into a standard parking space. So, for me, it's best to pull as far as possible into designated spaces without running into/over obstacles in front. This is where the camera helps as an added self-defense benefit...
This leaves the rear of the car exposed to 25-foot long P/U trucks and SUVs whose drivers are too incompetent to park safely in adjoining parking spots...
Dang. Yeah, I saw/read about this on corvetteforum.
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
Originally Posted by DFWdude
All good points. But prior to installing the camera, I found myself head-in parking with 2-3 feet of space (sometimes up to 5 feet LOL) in front to avoid obstacles (bumper stops, curbs, sign poles, etc.) This leaves the rear of the car exposed to 25-foot long P/U trucks and SUVs whose drivers are too incompetent to park safely in adjoining parking spots...
Here in "Pick-up-Ville" Texas, cars are a vanishing species, and I have watched with hilarity many a tiny person struggling 5 minutes (or more) to wedge one of these beasts into a standard parking space. So, for me, it's best to pull as far as possible into designated spaces without running into/over obstacles in front. This is where the camera helps as an added self-defense benefit...
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My Mother, Daughter and about five other relatives are Alumni, so I had some influence.
I do think your on to something, it would be awesome to have that camera come on the screen when the car goes into parking mode, with the parking package,
