new back up camera keeps blowing a fuse

[Jc12]

Hey guys - I recently installed a new deck and back up camera. The camera was working flawlessly for about 3 or 4 tries then all of a sudden started blowing my 'gauge fuse' (10 amp and powered my cluster and heating controls). Ill detail my install - if anyone could let me know where I went wrong it would be much appreciated

The rear view camera came with the video cable, power and ground cable and the deck came with a power cable meant to be connected to the reverse light.

I grounded the back up camera to a bolt where several other wires were grounded at the rear cargo area (behind the panel) - looks like they came from the taillight.

I tapped into the reverse wire right before it enters the taillight housing and connected both the deck power wire and the camera power wire to it

I connected the s video cable from the camera to the deck (self explanatory)

I know it was wired semi properly because it worked temporarily but it must be shorting out somewhere or I put too big of a load on that reverse wire, I look forward to hearing some feedback, thanks!

 

[ConstantFix]

I had the same thing happen when I lengthened the wires for my reverse camera. My problem was simply all the wires shorting out together. Someone forgot to separate em and heat shrink em. Blowing a fuse is simply a result of shorting out somewhere.

 

[MasonT4R]

I tapped into the reverse wire right before it enters the taillight housing and connected both the deck power wire and the camera power wire to it

I think this portion is your issue. I think the reverse light circuit alone should power the camera. Unless you mean the sensor wire from the deck and not the power going to the deck.

I haven't finished mine yet but ran the wiring and played with it this weekend. My head unit has a sensor cable that flips the deck to the camera image when power is applied (so it will tap in the power supplied to the camera).

Connecting the power from the deck and the power from the reverse lights to the same circuit will cause issues because they are different fused circuits.

If you meant the sensor wire then it is likely you simply have a short somewhere.

 

[Jc12]

thanks for the replies - you are right I meant the sensor for the deck. So I ran a wire to the taillight and tapped into the reverse light then ran that wire to both the sensor for the deck and the power for the camera - all 3 wires are tied together. I checked all connections and they were all secure with those twist caps and electrical tape. I couldn't find any exposed wire to cause a short. Would it be a bad idea to try running the camera power wire to a different circuit that would have it powered the whole time the car was running then try running the deck sensor wire to the taillight?

 

[MasonT4R]

thanks for the replies - you are right I meant the sensor for the deck. So I ran a wire to the taillight and tapped into the reverse light then ran that wire to both the sensor for the deck and the power for the camera - all 3 wires are tied together. I checked all connections and they were all secure with those twist caps and electrical tape. I couldn't find any exposed wire to cause a short. Would it be a bad idea to try running the camera power wire to a different circuit that would have it powered the whole time the car was running then try running the deck sensor wire to the taillight?

That should work.

How did you run the wire from the front to the rear? I've been running my wire along the driver side underneath the plastic trim piece that screws down (I'm drawing a blank on what it is called). I wasn't careful and drove a screw thru my wire. Might check to make sure you didn't do that (if that's how you ran your wire).

For future electrical projects I would suggest picking the proper connectors. I bought a kit with misc ends and butt spices as well as a bunch of heat shrink of different sizes for like $20 on amazon. It becomes a much more reliable system when the connections are properly protected and neatly terminated. Of course I do low voltage wiring for a living and am a bit picky about it. :blah:

 

[Jc12]

That should work.

How did you run the wire from the front to the rear? I've been running my wire along the driver side underneath the plastic trim piece that screws down (I'm drawing a blank on what it is called). I wasn't careful and drove a screw thru my wire. Might check to make sure you didn't do that (if that's how you ran your wire).

For future electrical projects I would suggest picking the proper connectors. I bought a kit with misc ends and butt spices as well as a bunch of heat shrink of different sizes for like $20 on amazon. It becomes a much more reliable system when the connections are properly protected and neatly terminated. Of course I do low voltage wiring for a living and am a bit picky about it. :blah:

haha yes 100% agreed, better to do it once and never touch it again.. wiring can be a fickle beast. Okay good point I will check the wiring as I did run the sensor wire for the deck all the way to the back where the taillight is so I will check it out!

 

[MasonT4R]

If you've got a meter you can test your wire for a short without having to pull all your paneling back off again. Discconect it from both side and check for continuity from the wire to ground. If there is none the issue isn't in that portion. Connect each side one at a time to hopefully narrow down where the short is.

Good luck!

 

[kingin]

I just installed a rear view camera on my 4runner on a pioneer head unit. Camera wire red and black connect to reverse lights black to black red to red. Then tap another wire from the head unit (on my pioneer it's the purple with white stripe) to red wire on reverse light. If you messed up any wires with connection of rearview camera you should blow the tailight fuse not a heater fuse might want to look at your head unit wiring for a short.