4+ channel triggered camera switcher (front, rear, left, right)

[jeegro]

Another day... another project.

I'm looking for product recommendations, particularly for the camera switch control unit. I picked up this unit http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-way-Monit...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Not expecting much, but in theory it has all the right wires (4 triggered wires, power wires for all cameras). I hooked it up with one camera, worked for a few minutes, then blew a fuse. Bypassed the fuse, tried again, nothing. The power wires were paper thin (maybe 28-32 awg) so I don't see how it was capable of powering cameras plus itself. Probably going to junk it and look for something higher quality.

I found this http://pac-audio.com/catalog/safety-camera-integration/vs41
which appears to be higher quality, but it doesn't have the remote or power wires for the cameras, which means i'd have to wire a relay bank (or jerry-rig a bunch of wiring) to power the right camera when the corresponding trigger wire is activated. Prefer something all in one.. and the manual switch would be nice.

For cameras I went with these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C58TW12/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G08MGCA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Q65JHM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and monitor
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045IIZKU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not very thrilled with the quality of any of the components I'm finding. Has anyone done something similar?

 

[Shadow503]

Can you just hardwire the cameras and let the switcher just handle video? I doubt they draw that much power.

I'm working on a similar setup, but I'm using a monitor that has 4 camera split screen. They make them for truckers. They tend to run around $70 on Amazon.

 

[jeegro]

Prefer not to, even if its 250 milliamps per camera, times 4, you have a 1A 24/7 draw. I found this unit http://www.brandmotion.com/360-vision/blind-spot/6-way-video-switcher-9002-6118.html

which looks the most promising so far, albeit expensive. Still no power wires for the cameras though.

I've also found this one, only 4-channel, but does power the cameras: http://www.qualitymobilevideo.com/vsmc-1000.html#.WV0DBRMrLMU

 

[wwddnnone]

I've been contemplating a similar setup. My thought was to combine the video output from each camera into a single video input at the monitor, then simply switch the power to each camera as needed depending on which one I would choose to view.
I was planning to use a rotatory switch to switch power to the cameras. The power draw is minimal, so the wire can be fairly small from the battery to the switch and to each camera easing wire routing.
Bear in mind, I don't know that this will actually work as I have not installed my yet.
I'm sure I'm missing some aspects to setting up these cameras, but the theory seems sound. At least on my mind.

Sent from my NS-P08A7100 using Tapatalk

 

[jeegro]

OK so I am leaning towards the BrandMotion unit for about $230. Knowing me I'll want to add more cameras later.

I want to add a manual switch, in addition to the automatic triggers. I can't find any sort of "radio button" style switch (web dev lingo) that would only allow one of the switches/buttons to output 12v at a time. Something like this: https://www.delcity.net/store/Toggle-Panel-!-6!Way/p_793799.h_793800

does anyone have any leads? I think I will also need to wire in a diode so that the reverse lights don't turn on when I switch to the rear camera manually.

 

[jeegro]

I received some more advice elsewhere and have come to the conclusion that adding a manual switch complicates it 9999%. Basically need to add a microcontroller and relay bank. i feel like this is a feature a video switcher should include, but I can't find anything like it anywhere. Could be a fun project to learn how to use microcontrollers and deal with all the crazy things like stepping up & down voltage.

 

[Shadow503]

Prefer not to, even if its 250 milliamps per camera, times 4, you have a 1A 24/7 draw. I found this unit http://www.brandmotion.com/360-vision/blind-spot/6-way-video-switcher-9002-6118.html

which looks the most promising so far, albeit expensive. Still no power wires for the cameras though.

I've also found this one, only 4-channel, but does power the cameras: http://www.qualitymobilevideo.com/vsmc-1000.html#.WV0DBRMrLMU

When I said hardwire, I didn't mean directly to the battery. Mine are powered through an add-a-fuse on a circuit that is only powered on ignition. Obviously draining 24AH a day will kill your starter battery pretty quick.
If you want to spend the money for a system that will save you 750mA of power, be my guest, but I doubt you'll notice it as long as load is only while the engine is running.

 

[jeegro]

When I said hardwire, I didn't mean directly to the battery. Mine are powered through an add-a-fuse on a circuit that is only powered on ignition. Obviously draining 24AH a day will kill your starter battery pretty quick.
If you want to spend the money for a system that will save you 750mA of power, be my guest, but I doubt you'll notice it as long as load is only while the engine is running.

Right... that makes sense. I already have a blue sea 12 circuit panel (6 are switched with ACC2) that would work. But I am still dealing with the problem of manually switching cameras. Ideally I would have a 7 button keypad (6 cameras, 1 button for 'auto'), that has 9 leads (+12v, ground, and 7 output wires where only one of the 7 wires can push +12v out at a time) but can't find a darn thing.

The only solution I can think of is 7 momentary push buttons, wired up to a custom programmed microcontroller and relay bank.