Reverse light wire to power a backup camera

[svho]

Looking to get one of those cheap Amazon backup camera and place on the dash. Two options to wire them are 1) cigarette 2) reverse light wire.

Will the x5 have enough power or issue with powering such camera?

TT.

[argento]

FWIW here’s how I wired mine…

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=24282047

[svho]

Ok your level is beyond my knowledge even though I know how to wire electricity in the house and install car audio in many cars. Never used a relay. But can you confirm.

Since I am wiring the lights for the tow hitch this weekend, I decided to buy one those cheap backup cameras that sits on the dash board. I bought this relay from Amazon :

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

Can you confirm. All I need is to tap into the reverse light wire and connect to the positive source trigger (using the positive trigger source)? Then the camera connects to terminal #87 (not 87A).

Product notes:
SPDT relay: it has both normally open and normally closed terminals, terminal 87A is powered when the relay is inactive and switches the power to terminal 87 when the relay is activated

[JellyStyle]

Yes and put #30 to a positive 12V constant too..

[svho]

Originally Posted by jajja

Yes and put #30 to a positive 12V constant too..

Got it. Similar concept with remote wire for amp. Just have to go through my head. Thanks.

[JellyStyle]

Originally Posted by svho

Got it. Similar concept with remote wire for amp. Just have to go through my head. Thanks.

I really don't think you need a relay to power a small backup camera, you can literally use the reverse wire on your taillights to do it. THe current draw on a small backup camera is like 300mA or less, so you do not need this relay approach, its overkill (electrically, i am a EE).. Just wire the camera to ground and the wire that controls your reverse light bulbs.. Problem solved...

[Muckman25]

Does anybody know the color of the wire that controls the reverse bulb?

[svho]

Originally Posted by jajja

I really don't think you need a relay to power a small backup camera, you can literally use the reverse wire on your taillights to do it. THe current draw on a small backup camera is like 300mA or less, so you do not need this relay approach, its overkill (electrically, i am a EE).. Just wire the camera to ground and the wire that controls your reverse light bulbs.. Problem solved...

I will give your suggestion a try and report back tomorrow. Hopefully it will give out a good 12v.

Muckman25, I will let you know tomorrow..

[JellyStyle]

Originally Posted by Muckman25

Does anybody know the color of the wire that controls the reverse bulb?

here you go

[Muckman25]

Thanks Svho and Jajja.

Svho, let me know how your install goes if you tackle it tomorrow. I’ve had my camera mounted for a couple months. I just wasn’t sure about wiring it up.

[svho]

Tapping into the reverse light wire didn't work despite it having 10ish voltage. I did it twice, the pic came up and disappeared. I used a 9v battery and it worked fine (shaking my head). Using the relay works!

The rear reverse wire is #6 (brown color) on the rear driver side. The numbers are labeled at the plug.
Here is the link to my camera.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKPQ6YZ...roduct_details

TT

[argento]

Did you pick a solid ground?

[JellyStyle]

Originally Posted by svho

Tapping into the reverse light wire didn't work despite it having 10ish voltage. I did it twice, the pic came up and disappeared. I used a 9v battery and it worked fine (shaking my head). Using the relay works!

The rear reverse wire is #6 (brown color) on the rear driver side. The numbers are labeled at the plug.
Here is the link to my camera.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKPQ6YZ...roduct_details

TT

Brown is Ground in a BMW, the wire is Yellow/Brown is the wire or Blue/Brown... not solid brown, that is ground..

[svho]

Originally Posted by jajja

Brown is Ground in a BMW, the wire is Yellow/Brown is the wire or Blue/Brown... not solid brown, that is ground..

Yes, old eyes. Yes, solid ground (other ground wires connect to it-relay and camera).