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Old 01-01-2017, 08:44 PM   #1
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Question when not hitched - getting ETI rearview camera to work.

Hi all

I have an unusual situation

I have a very narrow driveway at home, and so I use my Trailer Valet XL to push it up the driveway.

I'm *NOT* hitched to the tug for the whole procedure.

I'd like the ETI mounted backup camera to work, so I can see my wife doing the hand signals behind the trailer. She doesn't yell, and i'd like to see where I'm going... (I'll place the wireless backup camera receiver on the front cargo carrier)

The ETI camera only works when the tug's headlights are on….. but i won't be connected to the tug, so looks as If I need to buy a small 12v battery (or could I steal 12v power from my nearby 12v external cigarette style plug i had installed at the drivers front of our 21' Escape?)

and then go thru some wires, and then have those wires soldered to the correct pins on a 7-Way RV Blade Female Trailer Connector Socket I'd buy. (and plug into the male 7 way trailer's connector)

https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Conne.../dp/B01J2BKTQ2

then that will fool the 21' Escape in thinking the car's headlights are on, then the backup camera gets power.

I hope I explained that correctly.

Does anyone happen to know how I'd wire (what pins get what) on the 7-Way RV Blade Female Trailer Connector Socket to provide power back into the Escape, to (pretend) to get the headlights on (with no tow vehicle anywhere near) so then the backup camera works.

don't need turn signals… just a fake "headlights on" wiring.

Ideas?

thanks. :-)

John
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Old 01-01-2017, 09:19 PM   #2
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Hey John, If I understand you correctly, someone on this forum has rigged a 7-pin receptacle from their on-board battery so they could plug their camper into itself to run their clearance/marker lights on the camper while not connected to their tow vehicle. The same setup should work for running your camera. Now who am I talking about? Try searching for "cargo carrier 7-pin receiver" or "running camper clearance lights off battery" to see if you find the thread....
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Old 01-01-2017, 09:28 PM   #3
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Got it. Check out the cpaharley2008 (Jim) thread "Is it possible..." in the folder "Problem solving, owners helping each other". I wish I knew how to link that thread to this one for you. I know there is a way.... Dale
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Old 01-01-2017, 10:07 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by War Eagle View Post
... someone on this forum has rigged a 7-pin receptacle from their on-board battery so they could plug their camper into itself to run their clearance/marker lights on the camper while not connected to their tow vehicle. The same setup should work for running your camera.
That's a solution.
That thread is Is it possible....

One pin of the 7-way connector is connected to the battery, and another is connected to the tail light circuit which you need to power. You just need a jumper between them, either as a switch mounted on the trailer, or as a socket which you plug on to the end of the trailer's cable to the tug when you want the camera to come on. The attached illustration shows the back side of the vehicle-end connector in the standard RV 7-way connection used by Escape, taken from eTrailer's wiring page. In this case, the jumper would go from the pin labeled "12V Power" (black) and "Tail & Running Lights" (green), although there are not actually any colours on the terminals.

Of course, since the tail lights are not actually needed, you could find where the camera's power wire is connected to the tail light circuit, and add a switch to connect it to the battery instead when desired. That would require some digging to get to the wires, hopefully in a cabinet but possibly behind the wall/ceiling liner.
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Old 01-01-2017, 10:21 PM   #5
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Separate hookup

If I am not mistaken Jim Norman has a auxiliary hookup so he can run his running lights when not hooked to the tow. You might also be able to hook up to a booster pac battery too if you were concerned about puliling you trailer battery down. I carry one for a number of reasons as do others. Much lighter than a small deep discharge battery. I've also used a garden tractor battery too.
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Old 01-01-2017, 11:00 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
That's a solution.
That thread is Is it possible....

One pin of the 7-way connector is connected to the battery, and another is connected to the tail light circuit which you need to power. You just need a jumper between them, either as a switch mounted on the trailer, or as a socket which you plug on to the end of the trailer's cable to the tug when you want the camera to come on. The attached illustration shows the back side of the vehicle-end connector in the standard RV 7-way connection used by Escape, taken from eTrailer's wiring page. In this case, the jumper would go from the pin labeled "12V Power" (black) and "Tail & Running Lights" (green), although there are not actually any colours on the terminals.

Of course, since the tail lights are not actually needed, you could find where the camera's power wire is connected to the tail light circuit, and add a switch to connect it to the battery instead when desired. That would require some digging to get to the wires, hopefully in a cabinet but possibly behind the wall/ceiling liner.
Thanks Everyone for the great info.

As I will only need to use the backup camera for about 2 minutes at a time, it is ok if the running lights come on as well.

I guess I could wire it to steal the power from my adjacent 12 v exterior cigarette lighter (style) plug

That would be easy, once I figure out the correct wiring.
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Old 01-01-2017, 11:14 PM   #7
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I have a similar situation except it's a narrow door on a shop. What I found really useful for lining up the trailer with the opening was to take a couple of 10 ft pcs of pvc pipe and lay them on the ground as guides aligned with the door opening. If you get everything lined up with the pipes (before you reach the opening of the door) it's easy to tuck the trailer in the hole.

My propulsion is a John Deere tractor, but I am going backwards.
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Old 01-02-2017, 08:07 AM   #8
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John, It seems that if you simply get get two pieces of electrical wire and run: 1) one from the center contact (power) of your exterior power outlet to the running lights pin on your camper's power cord (green in the above diagram) and 2) the other wire from the outside contacts of your power outlet to the ground pin in your camper's power cord (white in the above diagram), I think that should work. If the running lights come on, you should be good to go with power to your rear camera. You'll still also need to power for your wireless monitor, though. Anything I'm missing in this?
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Old 01-02-2017, 08:19 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by War Eagle View Post
John, It seems that if you imply get get two pieces of electrical wire and run: 1) one from the center contact (power) of your power outlet to the running lights pin on your camper's power cord (green in the above diagram) and 2) the other wire from the outside contacts of your power outlet to the ground pin in your camper's power cord (white in the above diagram), I think that should work. If the running lights come on, you should be good to go with power to your rear camera. You'll still also need to power for your wireless monitor, though. Anything I'm missing in this?
Hey there

As far as I know that all sounds perfect, and it'll work. Thanks!

I have a 12v cigarette plug "splitter" (a "Y")

so the one 12v outlet on the driver front corner on the escape (that I had ETI add at build) can power both the wireless receiver, and also fool the trailer + power it's running lights, and thus the backup camera.
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Old 01-02-2017, 09:36 AM   #10
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I added the extra 7 pin female to my storage box to allow the clearance lights to be on while stopped, helps to be visible at night. The other item is a storage older for the 7 pin male.
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