Replacing backup camera system [some pictures]

[Magister54]

In my motorhome I had an old Weldex backup system, a B&W camera and a B&W CRT monitor... the monitor was not working anymore, I temporarily used a small 7" LCD monitor using a homemade cable and a yellow RCA plug, but it was time to change the system!

To have 1080p video I could not used the old composite cable AFAIK, so I opted for a wireless camera, I bought a well reviewed one from amazon (link). I wanted it mounted in the place of the old one.

Old camera


When I removed the old one, I thought the old camera was screwed there and I had access to the old weldex cable and 6 pins plug, but no... it was mounted on a plexiglass square and the wire was attached somewhere some feet below and I had access to only a few inches, I cut it flush... I removed all the plexiglass by breaking it and cleaned what I can of the silicone (what you see on the borders here is alien tape I used to put the cover back for the night).



To reuse the old wire for the 12V, I soldered 3 of them as ground and the 3 others as +12V. I used the soldering station plugged on the generator. Not an easy task.. I soldered the (provided with the new cam) DC plug.




Then I cut a piece of plexiglass and mount the camera on it, using loctite for the nuts, tuck the wire inside, using some tie-wraps to secure it. I also put a drop of loctite on the antenna nut. I used silicone for the plexiglass on the hole and caulked it.



Put back the cover, I had to dremel it a little bit to open the space, then caulked it.



Inside part, I removed the central console, removed the old CRT monitor. Using the old weldex 6 pins cable I soldered the 3 wires for ground and 3 wires for 12V going to the camera, and made a cable for taking power from accessories to power the new monitor and the camera, adding a main switch. I mounted the monitor on black coroplast. It works




All in all it took me 5 hours... I'm glad I didn't need to pay some tech $120/h to do all of this...

[MrMark52]

Thank You for the detailed write up - I need to replace our current wireless system which was originally a Weldex (PO bought it and just wedged the monitor into the opening where the Weldex monitor that remained installed but non-working).

I may jump on one of these as I had been looking at the AMTIFO. I like the 4 camera option so I can put one on either rear corner of our coach as well - to aid in lane changing to insure clearing of our toad, and to help me line up with the gas pump when we stop for fuel (right now, the Ms. does this, and her “location skills” can be questionable at times (I didn’t just say that, did I?).

I may put one forward looking out the windshield. Need to look at the spec’s, I hope it can record!

Edit to add: currently available from a different vendor with a $40 coupon -

Camera/monitor does record if MicroSD card installed.

[Magister54]

Yes I installed a microSD card in the monitor so it can record. Also I'm waiting for their H11 cam to be back in stock and I will installed it front facing, to record like a dashcam!


My gas opening is on the driver side so I slide my window and align more or less with the pump, good enough


We love our helper, aren't we

[MrMark52]

Yeah, I would like to do the same on locating the gas pump (open window and look), but due to some fixation in my neck after a car wreck (fusing C3-C6), hard to turn my head far enough.
Our gas fill is on the driver side, right at the rear side end of the coach ~25 feet away from me. Most pump islands today require that I pull the coach up into the perpendicular drive to the pumps area, and I not dare let the coach roll forward while looking backward the way people drive today.

Of course, as soon as I buy and put in the dash am - I’ll have a recording of the wreck.