Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 27, 2025 ...

Rear Monitor Wiring

October 08, 2013, 06:05:00 pm

After some exhaust issues my rear Panasonic camera ceased to function. With Tim's help/advise (RVCAMS), I determined that the problem is in the wiring from the camera to the monitor. I plugged the camera directly into the adapter to get the signal out via RCA plug and it worked fine.

The wiring is 8 pin from the rear of the coach to the adapter under the dash.

I checked the wiring from the camera to the entrance into the side upper rail  going towards the front of the coach and it appeared to be ok.

Has anyone replaced the wiring from the rear camera to the front dash/monitor? If so can you just attach to one of the spares and use as a pull wire?

Any suggestions or advise is always greatly appreciated.


jack

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #1 – October 08, 2013, 07:06:00 pm

Easiest way to pull a new wire front to back at ceiling level is in the top corner beam-- open all the way. 

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #2 – October 08, 2013, 08:33:10 pm

That's great to know. Seems like my best option.

Thanks for the help,


jack

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #3 – October 08, 2013, 09:35:14 pm

Doubtful the problem is far from one of the ends. Would check wiring close to the connections. A camera only needs + 12v, a ground and the coax to make it work. Ground should be local.  Check for +12V using a good ground at the back, check ground. Coax is tough stuff but it could have corrosion at the center copper conductor at either end but would check rear first. Will have a white or green look to the normally bright copper color or may be seen on the surrounding white foam/plastic insulation.

Pierce

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #4 – October 08, 2013, 09:39:41 pm

I agree.  Would definitely do some work on existing wiring before running all new ones.

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #5 – October 08, 2013, 10:39:17 pm

The wiring is 8 conductor with a din connector. The camera has a pigtail hardwired (about 18" pigtail) and then a male to female 8 pin din connectors. All these connections looked ok. No corrosion visible here or at the termination point under the dash (goes into a metal enclosure that adapts to a RCA connector that goes to monitor). The insulation around the 8 conductors does not appear as tough as coax.


jack

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #6 – October 08, 2013, 11:37:06 pm

A bad ground has been the cause of many problems in vehicle electrical systems. Make sure you have a good ground at the camera in the rear. Doubt if the ground goes from the front to the back but possible.

Pierce

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #7 – October 09, 2013, 09:32:53 am

A poor ground would be my guess also. This could be at either end. I can't imagine that the wire itself is the problem being in such a protected environment.

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #8 – October 09, 2013, 10:03:14 am

My rear camera monitor problem was at the DIN connectors of the camera wire pigtail. The delicate solder joints had broken from vibration. I used a 'very small, pointed' solder pencil to make the repair. Perhaps you have an electronics friend to help with this type of repair. Great fun working in the cabinet above the bed!

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Re: Rear Monitor Wiring

Reply #9 – October 09, 2013, 10:32:16 am

I assume that one of the 8 wires is a ground wire, one is power, etc.?

I agree that it seems unlikely that the problem wire would be between the front and rear of the coach. I did have some heat in the end cap from the end of the tail pipe breaking off. It was enough to cause the taillight lens above the exhaust
to deform but did not affect any of the wiring or tail lights to that side of the rear coach. 

JIm

If the camera works fine at the box under the dash, is it safe to assume that if a connector was bad it would be the female connector on the end of the wire that the camera pigtail plugs into? When you did your repairs, did you cut the rubber from around the din connectors to verify a loose or bad connection and did you just repair or replace the din connector?



jack

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