Place to tap power inside rear hatch?

[dsieber]

Hi all,

So I’m just installing a rear view camera in my truck. Managed to fish the video cable through to inside the rear hatch - that was fun. But I’m now looking for somewhere I can tap for switched power for the camera power. I don’t really care if it’s on all the time while the truck is running - I just want somewhere inside the back hatch that is switched so it won’t stay on while the truck is off. Any suggestions?

Seems most people have run extra wiring back into the truck to the backup lights, but I’m hoping to avoid fishing another wire through.

Thanks!

 

[Seymore Butts]

The 12v outlet and the cargo dome light are both convenient sources of power.

 

[Bumbo]

+1 on the Accessory outlet in the rear.

For a low drain device like that, it seems like the obvious and most convenient choice.

 

[dsieber]

The 12v outlet and the cargo dome light are both convenient sources of power.

Thanks - but I was literally looking for something in the hatch door itself so I don’t have to run another wire back through the connectors from the hatch into the truck.

 

[Seymore Butts]

I think that none of the circuits inside the door shell are hot unless they're in use. Power window, defroster, door lock, windshield wiper, license plate illumination, and upper brake light... Am I forgetting anything?

 

[dsieber]

Ah well - was worth a try. Guess I’m running another wire...

 

[fayewong]

Ah well - was worth a try. Guess I’m running another wire...

i actually ran another wire with the camera wire to the front and tapped it from there. Much easier for me since I was already running the wires to the front anyways.

 

[theoutbackdream]

I think that none of the circuits inside the door shell are hot unless they're in use. Power window, defroster, door lock, windshield wiper, license plate illumination, and upper brake light... Am I forgetting anything?

I believe I was using a multimeter when my rear window suddenly stopped working and one of the wires in the door shell is actually hot. I can't remember if it was in the door shell or not though... But I do remember it was 12v with the keys in the ignition on ACC and engine off..

OP, try getting a multimeter and checking!

 

[robaroni]

I went off of the power to the license plate light for my camera.

 

[Bumbo]

I am not the biggest fan of tapping off factory circuits but tapping off the rear licence plate lighting circuit is probably fine too. I know its a low drain device, but OEM system are already sized conservatively.

My only word of caution when tapping existing circuits for power is to actually do your due diligence and make sure that whatever load you want to add is actually going to fit on that circuit.

Use a meter and measure the circuit from the fuse panel and see what the load is under normal working conditions, add the measured draw from the camera, and make sure its under the fuse rating with perhaps at least 10-15% for overhead.