Nightmare Install, Sony XAV-AV100, 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe

Same switch, wired as follows. Center leg of switch to camera power and the reverse wire of the radio. Reverse wire from bcm to one of the outer legs of the switch. Ignition power to the other outer leg of switch. Camera will only be lit when in reverse or when you flip the switch.

jimbanville wrote: If I powered the camera the from the red wire I’d have a group of bright white LEDs shining in the face of whomever is following behind me. Not good.

To avoid this issue, it is always best to run a dedicated wire from the dash to the camera instead of powering the camera by tying to the reverse lamps at the rear of the vehicle. The dedicated wire leaves you with options like forcing the camera on while not in reverse gear. I actually turn mine on while I am signaling a turn - it shows vehicles that you may not have seen in your blindspots.

The user interface of the radio is a little confusing. It has a camera icon that you can tap to go to the camera (if the camera has power). Problem is that if I keep power to camera at all times car is running, (a) the eight LEDs will be shining at whoever is behind me at night and (b) the radio wants to go straight to the camera when you start the car and are still in PARK gear. I really only need the camera to make sure nothing is behind me prior to backing. It's a tahoe so there is plenty of room for a child to be standing there and not be seen.

But where’s the logic in the camera icon (switch) on the radio? It’s presumably to turn on the camera when not in reverse but ask said if the camera has power whenever car is on, the radio switches to the camera irregardless of gear positioning. Just trying to figure that out. I get the whole separate switch thing u r suggesting.

Some cameras do not have 8 LEDs. It is OK to power them off ignition and then use the button on the radio if you want to view.

Right. But unless I’m mistaken, it appears that this particular radio goes straight to the camera when u start car if camera is constantly powered. I can’t imagine anyone wanting that. On a side note I also noticed on this radio that the camera blanks out for a second while backing about 10-11 seconds once u go into reverse. Noticed it on mine and in a couple YouTube videos. This thing takes quite a while to “boot” and start playing source. It seems that the blanking out coincides with the source strating to play.

So my question is...based on the sony’s User interface that is supposed to turn on camera when the car is in reverse and to turn on the camera whenu press the camera icon, how should that work without gains for cobble together some additional switching if the radio goes straight to camera if the camera is powered at all times? Seems like radio would need a dedicated wire output that sent power out to camera when you pressed the camera icon (switch) In addition to being triggered by the reverse wire thank you

If you power the camera off of ignition, you would still need to use the reverse wire of the deck to tell it to come on, but only when you put it in reverse. If you use a rocker or toggle switch it will come on when you put it in reverse or when you flip the switch to the other position. The only time the camera will be powered is when in reverse, or when you flip the switch. It will not come on as soon as you turn on the key.

Yes, yes. I’m clear on all that extra switch stuff. I’m trying to understand the logic involved in the radio’s own on-screen camera icon (switch). In therory it will display the camera’s view any time the icon/switch is pressed in addition to when the car is in reverse but the problem I’m runnjng in to is that that scenario would ideally only send power to the camera under those two instances....when car is in reverse or when camera icon is pressed. With the camera powered at all times, the radio displays the image as soon as u turn on the car. I don’t thnki thats how it is supposed to work. Seems to me the radio should have both a reverse sensing input, which it does, and a 12v power output to the camera to turn it on only when radio senses that the car is in reverse or when the camera icon is pressed. There shouldn’t b any need for extraneous switches involved. Car goes in reverse>sends signal to radio>radio sends power to camera to power on>interior display shows camera view. Car goes out of reverse> reverse signal is cut to radio> radio cuts power to camera> interior display goes back to whatever screen it was previously showing. Driver press camera icon>radio sends power to camera to turn it on>interior display shows cameras view. Driver presses icon a second time>radio cuts power going to camera.>interior display goes back to showing whatever it was previously showing.