Item 35 since coming home mid March: The old Audit monitor had the fluid levels burnt in so bad I couldn't see behind the coach. So, being as it is an oldie I bought a 9" LCD 12 volt color monitor ($129.99), a 12 volt wired color camera with night vision ($44), ran the 60' of cable down the ceiling center-hidden by the trim strip. Obviously it doesn't have image reversing capability but it does do what I wanted and that is let me keep an eye on the toad.
TV--Fleet Farm Security Camera--Walmart
As long as I had the center trim down I pulled the drooping ceiling tight and stapled it behind the trim strip. When the deteriorated foam comes down it is real sticky but crumbly.
So I have the same problem with the fluid levels burned in. Rear camera is almost useless. A few questions...
1. Were you able to integrate fluid levels into the new monitor or did you keep the old one for fluid and new one for camera?
2. If the latter, where did you mount the new 9" monitor and where did you tie into 12V?
3. I looked quickly on the outside a few days ago and noticed the camera is fully sealed inside. I began to wonder how to access it until reading your post and realized it's probably accessed from inside somewhere in the back?
4. It sounds like you ran new cabling. I guess there was no way to tie into the original camera power at the back? I realize video would still need to be passed up to the front, but maybe not power?
I looked at the pics of your FOT and it looks CLEAN! I've been focused on the inside so much that I've had no time for the outside. I hope to give her a good washing soon and see if any of that bright white can come back!
Good morning,
I left the old monitor in place just for fluid levels. after lifting up the hinged dash I found (on the underside of the dash itself) four cig outlet module wired to an accessory switch on the dash. The 12V TV comes with the male cig plug. The camera is from Walmart and is what is labeled a wired color camera (made by GE) On the box-top right corner- is part #45231.
It comes with 60' of cable that have two plugs that plug into the AV ports on the TV and a single "K" male connector for power. Unfortunately it comes with a transformer adapter that has to be plugged into 120V AC. Output is 9V 400m A. I bought a cig plug with 9V output and "K" male plug from Radio Shack--$24.95. Works great.
Rear camera access: Center overhead cabinet in rear above bed- there is a wood-grained panel held in place with two screws. Remove panel and you will see camera in its housing. Unscrew the bolt on top of the steel tubing (it holds old b/w camera in place.) I removed the steel tube from inside (caulked in place) Shortened it up and made two cuts on the bottom so I could bend the created tab to enable aiming the camera (up/down). Drilled one hole and used a bolt and two nuts, along with the knurled nut that came with the camera to hold the camera in place. I had to drop the center moulding all the way to the front so I could run the camera cable out of sight. Also had to drill a hole at the very top of the bedroom cabinet to feed the cable end thru to the camera. Not visible unless you get up on the bed and push the center trim out of the way.
Nice! I've been digging into this topic on the forum and haven't quite decided what I'm going to do. I would like to have that factory finish look of just the one monitor, yet the cost of your mod is VERY attractive.
Kent Speers did a mod on the coach I have now. He installed new SeeLevel gauges in the old dash hole, and put a new 7" monitor on the left side of the drivers area on the flat area coming back left of the dash. Works great, as you can glance at the rear view mirror and then the monitor easily in just a second or two. Looking down at the right center dash take your eyes off the road I would think more. YIMV.
Dave, I agree wholeheartedly with you that the center mount is bad for the driver but the Dear Wife does the map, GPS, navigation instructions, and now will be keeping an eye on the rear monitor. I feel that the only time I will be looking at it is when we are stopped or if she starts screaming. After I hit my head and knocked the "heavy" fluid in the back of my left eye loose I prefer to keep the good eye on the road at all times.
It is kinda like when Sammy Davis got stopped for speeding. Dean Martin asked the cop if Sammy should be keeping his one eye on the road or the speedometer.
I had tried (very timidly) to use the new monitor for tank levels also but did not have much luck. BUT, my electrical knowledge consists of putting tape over the wall outlets to keep the electricity from running out on the floor. If I can't see it, taste it, touch it, or smell it I try to stay away from it. My worst experience was accidently grabbing a Weedburner equipped electric fence on the farm. Only did it once as I am a fast learner!!