Still a bit unclear on Furrion FOS48TA-BL Observation/Backup camera power

[tcamper]

After talking with Furrion technical help and Grand Design…….I’m even more confused on the power situation.

According to tech support at Furrion, they recommend that RV manufactures use a connection from the rear marker lights for the pre-wired plug. This way the camera would only have power when the running lights are being used. They said if the plug is directly connected to 12 volts, then the camera will always be on unless a 12 volt in-line switch is also installed.

GD confirmed that the pre-wired plug is directly connected to 12 volts.

So it sounds like the camera will always be on. That does not sound good to me.

What am I missing? What is the proper process here?

[jkib2238]

I thought I had read elsewhere that the power is coming from the running lights.

[joebrenda]

Following this one as I am also looking down the road to add a camera to our 380TH

[LCBoyer]

The backup camera on my Solitude is always powered on

[SWJewellTN]

Having emailed back and forth with GD about this, they told me that they wire it directly to the battery power so the battery disconnect switch doesn't even shut the power off. When I pointed out that it leaves the camera on to drain the battery they claimed that there was not enough draw to do so. I told them BS, my battery is draining down as to not work the auto-level, and they responded with the recommendation of having the battery on a 2 month old camper checked for a bad cell. It's clear to me that they can't/won't recognize the problem here.

[tcamper]

Ok, my confusion is cleared up after talking to Furrion Tech support, GD engineering and reading a hundred post on the subject.

The pre-wired plug is directly connected to 12 volts, although Furrion suggest to all manufacturing companies to tap into the marker/running lights.
That being said ….. yes the observation camera is on all the time.

Seems we can tap into the marker lights, pull the fuse when parking, or install a kill switch near the fuse ……. to power off the camera when in storage or not needed.

What have others done?

[bertschb]

I installed a Rear View Safety RVS-2CAM backup camera using the existing factory wiring. I cut off the Fusion plug and used the black and red wires on my camera. My camera has a red LED to show you it has power. When I disconnect shore power and flip the battery disconnect switch, it has no power.

[Jwlines]

Ok, my confusion is cleared up after talking to Furrion Tech support, GD engineering and reading a hundred post on the subject.

The pre-wired plug is directly connected to 12 volts, although Furrion suggest to all manufacturing companies to tap into the marker/running lights.
That being said ….. yes the observation camera is on all the time.

Seems we can tap into the marker lights, pull the fuse when parking, or install a kill switch near the fuse ……. to power off the camera when in storage or not needed.

What have others done?

I do not have the camera on mine yet but when I do add one I am going to look at how the power is delivered to the camera and take that wire to tap into my reverse light circuit rather than the suggested running lights. This was how I wired my old backup camera and it worked well, when you place the vehicle in reverse you just wait a moment for the camera to wake up and when you take your transmission out of reverse the camera goes off again. Since it is powered by the vehicle reverse circuit it doesn't drain your battery. For me I don't want the camera on at any other time than when I am reversing but I do understand that many people prefer to selectively turn the camera on and off with the running lights so they can use it as a rear view camera. Perhaps if I do see the added safety of a rear view camera I could wire out an auxiliary switch to the center pin instead of the reverse circuit this way I can be more selective but have the ability to turn it off when I am towing at night.

[tcamper]

Thanks guys,

I believe i favor a rocker switch, that way my anal self is not breaking a factory seal on a running light and then worrying about re-sealing properly, and this way I would have control to power on/off at any time and any situation. Juat a bit more flexability for me.

I'm thinking of a rocker switch near the auto level control center. Attached are 2 pics from very helpful guys over on the Facebook owners forum. One is the camera fuse and one is an example of a toggle switch installed.

[JCR GD]

Just FYI for those watching this thread and wanting to connect to the running lights instead of hot all the time, adding a switch or breaking into the sealed camera housing and running light.

In the picture above right next to the breaker cover (to the left) is the feed from the 7 way plug. If you dig into it a little you will find the running lights feed. On my Momentum I believe it was green. A crimp splice connector can be used to slice into it with the camera feed wire that goes under that cover. I just took the camera feed off of the breaker terminal, cut off the loop connector and then used the splice connector to the running lights. 5 minute job after I found the correct wires.