Rear view cameras: questions and answers

We are asked a lot of questions about rear view cameras every day. Today we will answer in detail the most popular of them:

• Why are there cameras identical in body, but with different on the site??
• What kind of red wire comes out of a tulip?
• Is the AVEL camera compatible with an in-car monitor or head unit??
• Is it possible to replace a failed camera from another manufacturer with an AVEL rear view camera without changing the wiring?
• Why on cars of VAG, Mercedes and some other manufacturers the camera works with interference or does not turn on when the engine is running?
• What is the service life of AVEL rear view cameras and their warranty period??
• What problems related to rear-view cameras do they contact the service center most often??

The most popular question: I see 3 OEM cameras on my car, identical in appearance, but with different prices. What is the difference?

The main difference between rear view cameras is the image sensor, which provides image quality, and the lens, which provides the viewing angle. For comparison, let’s look at a screenshot showing simultaneous video capture from three camera models:

• AVS327CPR with CCD HD sensor and wide viewing angle provided by a wide angle glass lens,
• AVS315CPR with CMOS sensor and IR illumination,
• AVS112CPR. economical version of the camera with CMOS sensor and LED backlight.

The screenshot shows the differences in the image quality from cameras under different lighting conditions. Each car owner can choose the camera that suits his needs. If the viewing angle and high-quality picture in low light are important to you, then you should take a closer look at models with a CCD HD sensor. If you use the car exclusively during the day, then you can limit yourself to a cheaper camera. In addition, when parking in the evening, if the light from the rear running lights in the car is not very good, cameras with IR and LED illumination will ensure the visibility of objects behind the car.

Stand for simultaneous video capture from three rear-view cameras

CH1. AVS112CPR (CMOS LED), CH2. AVS315CPR (CMOS IR), CH3. AVS327CPR (CCD HD)

CH1. AVS112CPR (CMOS LED), CH2. AVS315CPR (CMOS IR), CH3. AVS327CPR (CCD HD)

The second most popular question: what kind of red wire comes out of the tulip in the wiring that comes with the AVEL rear-view camera?

• the first type switches to the mode of displaying the rear view camera by video signal,
• the second. using an activation wire

If you have a monitor of the second type, then it must have a wire to activate the display mode of the rear view camera. For the convenience of laying the cable, an additional wire is built into the wiring supplied with the camera, one end of which you connect to the activation wire of the monitor, the other to the “” of the reversing lamp. Thus, you do not need to pull a separate power cord to connect the monitor.

In cameras with an AVS327CPR HD sensor, the activation wire, which must be connected to the reversing light, is combined with the camera’s power supply and is hidden. Its separate connection is not required.

Let’s move on to question number three: is the AVEL rear view camera compatible with an already installed head unit or monitor??

If your car does not have factory equipment, but third-party equipment, regardless of whether it is a monitor or a head unit, then there should be no connection problems. To make sure of this, you must first familiarize yourself with the instructions from the monitor or ShGU. If you do not have instructions, then you can make sure that there is a video input for the camera visually, most often they are signed.

If you have original factory equipment installed, then you may need third-party equipment in the form of adapters, video interfaces, etc. There are also original head units that do not support connecting a rear view camera. In this case, we recommend that you consult with an installation specialist before purchasing the camera.

Is it possible to replace a failed camera from another manufacturer with an AVEL rear view camera without changing the wiring?

You can leave the old wiring only if you have 2 connectors on the old camera: a tulip and a power connector. In this case, we will help you choose a camera with the same connectors.

If a camera from another manufacturer with a pin connector was installed on the car, it is best to replace the wiring, since the pinout of the connectors and the voltage consumption on the cameras may differ, even if the connectors are the same.

Very often, the owners of VAG and Mercedes cars ask us the same question: why does the camera work with interference or does not turn on when the engine is running??

If the above problems are observed, it means that the reversing light in your car is powered through a PWM controller, which is necessary to adjust the brightness of the glow and diagnose the light bulb’s performance. Power supply 12V is connected and disconnected by a light bulb. The rear view camera is sensitive to changes in its power input.

To solve this problem, you need to connect a rear view camera through an additional normally open four-pin RELAY, you may also need a DIODE to remove noise. Connection diagrams can be found on popular automotive resources, but it is best to contact specialists.

The last two questions can be combined into one. Below we will tell you what is the average resource of AVEL car cameras, what is the warranty period and with what problems they most often contact our service center.

The statistics that we diligently collect over many years of work allow us to confidently state that the average life of a car rear view camera is 3-4 years. There are also long-livers among car cameras. So, one of our regular customers has had a camera on a car for 9 years. Most often, after 3-4 years, the car owner changes his car for a new one and comes to us for a different camera. However, we provide statistics on customers whose camera actually failed for one reason or another after the warranty period. They usually take the same camera model and it takes a few minutes to change the camera.

CCD vs CMOS cameras on rear view / reverse parking systems | Safety Dave Australia

Also, according to our statistics, the percentage of rejects per year is only 2-3%, depending on the model. We sell about 5000 rear-view cameras per year, while in the same year we replace about 130 cameras under warranty claims. It is worth noting here that the most common problem with which they contact us at the service center is the lack of an image. Diagnostics is carried out immediately at the client, and if the camera really does not work, it is replaced with a new one. After which the old camera is disassembled for a detailed study of the cause of the breakdown.

Thus, we have identified 2 main reasons for camera breakage:

The most common cause of failure of a rear view camera is water flooding, despite the declared IP67 degree of protection. After analyzing the situation, we came to the conclusion that often at car washes they hit the camera with a strong stream of water, bringing the nozzle of the gun directly to the camera.

Of course, this leads to a violation of the tightness, since a strong jet of water pushes the sealant through. We always go to meet our customers and change the camera to a new one without any questions. However, we warn you that the IP67 protection is protection against immersion in water, and not against high pressure washers. It is best if the pressure washer nozzle is at least 50 cm from the chamber itself.

The second reason for the breakdown is a factory defect: defects in the assembly of the camera or the failure of electronic components.

At the end of the article, we want to tell you about the most common non-warranty cases with which people turn to us. There are not so many of them, and most often they are the result of unprofessional connection / installation.

A person turns to a garage foreman or a foreman who does not understand the installation of additional equipment in the best way, and receives a low-quality service and broken cameras at the exit

So, the most common non-warranty case is a burnt out rear-view camera processor. A service center specialist immediately identifies such a problem, since it manifests itself during a visual inspection of the wiring.

The most common problem is the lack of a voltage step on the camera. It is cut off to make it easier to conduct the wiring, and is not put in place. Thus, a voltage higher than it should be applied to the camera (12 volts instead of 5 volts), and the camera burns out.

The second reason for refusing to replace under warranty is the cut wire, again to facilitate cable routing through the vehicle. The wire from the camera is cut, but they do not always understand how to connect them back, often confusing the power wires of the camera and the video signal wires. In this case, the camera breaks down instantly.

Of course, there are not so many non-warranty cases, but they do take place. Therefore, we urge you to be careful when installing yourself or contact proven installation centers.

Best Rear View Cameras of 2021

Top 10 rating according to KP version

Rear-view camera made in the format of a license plate frame. Rather, the camera itself is located at the top in the middle. This is convenient, because you do not need to embed anything in this form. we throw the “tulip” to the monitor and you’re done. Of course, the installation is best done by specialists so that there are no problems with the accuracy of marking the parking lines. The camera matrix is ​​made using CMOS technology, which means it is not very light-sensitive. Of course, the lights will illuminate, like the built-in LEDs, but this must be remembered. The final image resolution is 728 x 628 pixels. By the way, protection against moisture and dust according to the IP67 standard is declared here, so the camera should survive the road adversity.

Convenient format
Easy to install

This expensive rear-view camera justifies its price with the technology that is used in the matrix. CCD is now not so actively used in modern photo and video equipment, but in specialized devices like a rear-view camera it belongs. And the matter is in the increased photosensitivity. the picture at night turns out a little worse than in daylight (of course, when it comes to technical shooting). over, the resolution is as much as 960 by 496 pixels, which is quite a lot for this kind of devices. AVS has a metal body. The fastening is as follows: thanks to a special pin, the camera is simply inserted into the drilled hole and fixed with a nut on the other side. On the one hand, it is simple and quick, but some owners will not want to drill the body. The camera changes the lane markings based on the direction of movement of a particular vehicle.

Not afraid of the dark
Good picture
High protection against dust and moisture

Budgetary
Universal mount

A very budget option in case you want a camera, but just barely enough money. The budget here is expressed in the minimum photosensitivity of 2 lux. But then there is an automatic exposure adjustment. The matrix resolution is 733 by 493 pixels. Little consolation, but also good. The camera mount is overhead, so how to put it on your car. it is a matter of imagination and professionalism of the installer. Although IP68 waterproofing is declared here, the temperature regime is very narrow, from 46 to 10 ° C. The camera is connected, of course, “tulip”.

Very cheap
Automatic exposure adjustment

A fairly popular model of a rear view camera, the best place for which. above the registration number frame. Despite the CMOS sensor, work in the dark is tolerable here. One can complain that despite the declared viewing angle of 170 degrees, as users complain, it is somewhat narrower, and this is not very good for a parking camera. The resolution of the picture that comes from the camera to the display is 648 by 488 pixels. VC-208 is not afraid of frost, as well as moisture and dust. By the way, you can turn off parking lines in this camera in the settings.

Sturdy parking camera
Easy installation

Affordable in-car rearview camera. In the asset of this model, you can write infrared illumination, which, in theory, gives a gain in the dark. But the CMOS sensor, of course, has its own specifics. The picture resolution is not the highest. 640×480 pixels. The camera is connected to the monitor using the bundled wires for the video output. It claims IP67 water protection, but real users complain that the camera can suddenly die due to the fact that it missed water. Well, you have to think something about the installation. mortise camera, there is even a cutter in the kit. And hardly anyone wants to drill the body, so only into plastic fittings or a bumper.

IR illumination
Often served at a discount even cheaper

Specifically, this rear-view camera is suitable only for some models of cars of the Hyundai-Kia concern. For example, Solaris, very beloved by Russians. But you can choose a similar camera for your “horse”. the manufacturer has a wide range of products. VDC-097 is mounted in the room backlight, and in a regular place. This means that you don’t need to make any extra holes. However, if there shouldn’t be any problems with the installation, then such a “regularity” can turn into questions when connected to a monitor. The fact is that the video output here is composite, tailored for multimedia systems of “Koreans”. In other words, if you put a third-party “head” in your car, then you will have to tinker with an adapter for this camera. Otherwise, everything is standard: a CMOS sensor, a picture with a resolution of 648 by 488 pixels, a 170-degree view and protection from water by IP67.

Ideal for specific car models
Installation without drilling and sawing

Image quality

This very important parameter often turns out to be almost decisive when choosing a camera. Therefore, it is important to understand what exactly affects the clarity of the image on the monitor.

• Matrix type: currently there are 3. The most budgetary is CMOS, more expensive. CCD and HCCD. The latter are distinguished by high light sensitivity, and demonstrate a high-quality picture even in the dark, however, new generations of CMOS are actively “catching up”.
• Matrix resolution. It is clear that the higher the resolution, the better the picture. However, a rear-view camera does not shoot a movie, so you should not expect super results. For her, a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels is quite sufficient.
• Matrix size. The larger it is, the less distortion of the incoming signal.

Standard or universal
What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of cameras?

Established, or “native”, is good because it has a predetermined installation site. Usually it is mounted so that it cannot be seen; there is no need to drill the body or bumper, the installation is quick and “painless”. This is the main positive point. However, there are also disadvantages. not every car is initially equipped with it, it is not always possible to find the optics that suits your car model, and the price sometimes bites a lot.

The universal camera, as its name suggests, will fit any vehicle, but its setup isn’t always perfect. In order to disguise it (that is, hide it inside the car), external intervention will be required. Often, such equipment is installed in a pre-cut niche and fixed with screws. Alternatively, you can use double-sided tape, but you cannot guarantee that it will fix the camera well. It was the methods of fastening the optical device that became the basis for distinguishing their three main types:

– CCD vs CMOS cameras on rear view / reverse parking systems | Safety Dave Australia

• mortise;
• waybill;
• in license plate frame.

Subtleties of choice: rear view camera

When driving, it is very important that a spatial view is available. Usually, nothing interferes with this, the frontal and lateral view, due to human nature, does not raise questions. The situation with the rear view is completely different, and here the only way out is to install a rear-view camera. Usually such equipment is mounted on the rear bumper or body and provides comfortable parking.

Buying a rear view camera (for Skoda, Volkswagen) presupposes a clear understanding of what kind of equipment and for what purpose they are purchasing. So, you need to take into account that not every model is suitable for your car, that cameras are only part of the optical system, that some of them require installation work, and so on.

Connection type

Many optics manufacturers have long since switched to two alternative ways of displaying a signal on a monitor. Traditional. cable. Everything works directly, the signals arrive without failures and delays, but the installation is not the easiest process.

modern. wireless method. Here the signal is transmitted through radio waves, and since a lot depends on the presence or absence of interference, the image quality and the uniformity of the signal arrival can suffer. However, the installation of such a system is fast.

System

The camera is not everything. It comes with a monitor (or mirror-monitor), mounts, sometimes. parking sensors. In addition, it is possible to purchase a circular view system, in which case additional cameras (side, front) and a central control unit will be added to the list.

What else is worth paying attention to

In addition to all of the above, when choosing a rear view camera, you should pay attention to light sensitivity, viewing angle, dust function. and moisture protection, parking tips and even the presence of a remote control.