Backup Camera - Switch On / Off

[Mick1]

Guys, I attempted to do the Backup Camera - Switch On / Off in my trail edition following the Sp8ball thread and using the Radio Shack SPDT switch.

My soldering skills were a bit weak, and my soldering iron was a big pistol grip dude that didn't make it easy. After several failed attempts I surmised that the radio shack switch was pretty flimsy. I investigated and saw many negative reviews of the switch on the RS website.

SPDT Paddle Switch : Paddle Switches | RadioShack.com

Several reviewers had to try 3 or more different switches before getting it right. I was on track to follow the same path, but decided to find something else after the second switch.

I purchased 3 different options from parts express. The switches arrived today.

Heavy Duty:
SPDT Heavy Duty Toggle Switch 060-088

Paddle:
SPDT Automotive Paddle Switch 060-732

Rocker:
SPDT Automotive Round Rocker Switch Black 060-778

I just finished wiring in the Heavy Duty switch and it went in easy with the screw terminals.

BUT I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM.

While in park: the switch will turn on the reverse lights and the reverse indicator on and off, but will not turn on the camera.

While in reverse: The camera comes on and the switch will turn it on and off.

:dammit::roadkill::smashputer::redbrick::wtf:

So basically I don't get it.

 

[Mick1]

I hope someone can give me some help on this because I just wired up the round rocker switch and it does the same thing that the heavy duty switch did. It turns the reverse indicator and reverse lights on and off while in park and while in reverse the camera turns on as normal, but the switch can turn it on and off.

I'm just wondering if I could have misunderstood and reversed the clip side / harness side terminology and if that would account for this.

My other thought is that somehow the voltage signal is poor or off due to the blue wire tap.

 

[Mick1]

Ok.

The nice thing about using male / female terminal connectors is that it is quick to change things up.

I just switched around my Green and black wires on the round rocker switch. These were posts 2 and 3.

It made the difference. Now the switch turns the camera on and off as it should. I don't think the reverse lights are engaging any more via the switch.

Now I just need to decide which switch I want to use....

 

[Mick1]

One more update.

The round rocker functions the camera as desired. So I will be opening up the hole in the switch blank a bit more to fit it in.

When wired in the same way as the round rocker, the heavy duty switch indicates the truck is in reverse and will switch the indication on and off, but does not operate the camera. Weird.

 

[limamike]

Sounds like you got it sorted. My recommendation would have been exactly what you did: use quick disconnect and move stuff around on the switch until it works. I've found more than once that the wiring diagrams that come with the switches are wrong. Also, you found that Radio Shack generally has ****ty switches.

 

[deekoi]

I followed antman's direction and he got me there with no problems.

I have a diagram of what I did on my sig.

Good luck!

Btw, you doing this for your nav? or rear view mirror cam?

 

[Antman]

Yeah- I tried my best with several PM's to help Mick1 out, looks like it's finally right.

Luckily you didn't throw any codes or light up the dash when you hooked the wires up wrong. Basically you can confuse the computer by making it think it's in reverse when it's in drive. The connections need to be in the correct order!

I bet that heavy duty switch isn't SPDT. Does it light up with 3 terminals? If so one is the ground for the light. Just a thought there...

BTW- I have never once had an issue with any Radio Shack switches, and that dates back to the ...1980's(!). Maybe they switched suppliers...

Glad it's working.

 

[limamike]

^^ I never used to have issues, but I bought a bunch of switches from Radio Shack this year and they were poor quality; two of them had incorrect wiring diagrams; and one was labeled incorrectly. Radio Shack is obviously not the same Radio Shack we had in the 80s and 90s (and they readily admit that, too), but I honestly didn't have any issues until this past year.

For some reason a lot of people haven't heard of these folks, but Spark Fun (sparkfun.com) is what Radio Shack used to be plus a whole lot more. You should get cracking on a home brew remote start for us, Antman!

 

[Mick1]

Oh it threw a code..... Nice thing about having a scan gauge is that I can erase them. :jump:

The HD switch isn't lighted and is described as SPDT. Anyway, the black round rocker seems to work, is low profile, and looks pretty stock.

 

[jangoforhire]

Luckily you didn't throw any codes or light up the dash when you hooked the wires up wrong. Basically you can confuse the computer by making it think it's in reverse when it's in drive. The connections need to be in the correct order!

Been there done that.