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Topic: rearview camera lens fogging (Read 786 times) previous topic - next topic

rearview camera lens fogging

I noticed as the weather got cold the vision of my rearview camera got blurry. I climbed up there and wiped the lens, as usual, but it didn't clear up the view. Closer examination revealed the glass lens covering the camera is fogged on the inside. I doubt I'm the first person to have this issue. What did you folks do to correct this? ...other than move to a warmer climate, which I'm about to do! :))
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #1 –
Replace the 20 year old camera. New cameras are dirt cheap!

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #2 –
...so that makes me even cheaper than dirt cuz I haven't replaced it? :P  ...hey, the camera still works! haha
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #3 –
I recently replaced my original '93 model rear camera.  The old camera is contained inside a welded steel or aluminum box.  The "back" end of the box, where the camera was inserted, is sealed with some kind of extremely hard potting material.  I don't see any way to get the camera out of the metal box without doing serious damage to it.  I think trying to clean or otherwise work on the camera lens or the inside of the glass "window" would be pretty difficult, if not impossible.  I agree - get a new camera.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #4 –
When I replaced my Camera with my new system. I removed the camera and cut it apart. my intent was to reuse the case that bolts to the oputside of the fiberglass mold. after i got it openned I thought this would work. my new camera would just about fit inside the case I had so it would need some work. I milled down the case to were the camera would stick out about a half inch and i had to mill the openning enough so this would happen. what I ended up with was a perfict fit and could use the same bolt patterrn that came with the Coach. I have attached a picture of the finished camera So it is not as close as i thought it was but you get the idea.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #5 –
Andy,

Looks PRO! Good idea to reuse the old box.

Scott, if you don't want to spring for the $60 wireless with monitor, here is just the camera we have on ours. A thousand times better than the OEM and only $20.15 delivered from the U.S. : New 18IR LED Night Vision Car Rear View Reverse Backup Parking Camera Waterproof

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #6 –
The quick cheap fix is the get an extension cord and use a blow dryer (not a heat gun!). The moisture was already in the camera, unless the case is leaking, so it has just condensed on the glass. Gentle heat with a hair dyer for a few minutes will disperse the moisture back into the atmosphere in the camera. This worked for me... Though my HD surveillance camera is sealed and IP66 water resistant, there is no heating element in it (some outdoor cameras include a heating element). However, turning on the 48 IR LED's at night will eventually defog it. I am going to install a 7.5 Watt Thermaheat 3" Elbow Pipe Heater from eBay and switch it from the dash. 7.5W should be enough to prevent or reverse condensation inside the camera barrel. Something similar might work with the original camera as well.
New RV camper Trailer Thermaheat 1 1 2 034 Elbow Pipe Heater Pad 12 Volt SL E38
Don
Quote from: RRadio –
I noticed as the weather got cold the vision of my rearview camera got blurry. I climbed up there and wiped the lens, as usual, but it didn't clear up the view. Closer examination revealed the glass lens covering the camera is fogged on the inside. I doubt I'm the first person to have this issue. What did you folks do to correct this? ...other than move to a warmer climate, which I'm about to do! :))
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #7 –
Scott,
I think you might want to pull the inside access panel off and make sure you don't have a leak in there around the camera.  I've been in some cold places and never had an issue with fogging.  The metal camera housing is sealed to the fiberglass and there is a round piece of glass on the inside of the metal camera housing that is sealed too.  Either could have a leak.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #8 –
It's the glass window that's fogged up, not the camera lens as far as I can see. I'm driving my coach to the Charlotte NC area next week, which should fix the fogging... for now... How do I get inside the window where the camera is? I didn't see any access panel inside the coach and there doesn't seem to be any obvious way to open the camera case from outside the coach. I haven't called Foretravel to ask them about it yet. I don't want to break the camera because it's still working. I can still see through the camera window, it's just cloudy because of the fogged glass.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #9 –
Radio, If yours is like mine there is a panel you remove in the cabinet right above the bed. Two screws and it should come off. Then you will see two 5/32 nuts take them off and then you have to go outside and remove the camera and hosing. There is no access to the camera it is sealed.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #10 –
Mine is a little different from Andy's.  The outside flange piece has a metal tube welded on the inside that the camera slides into.  A 1/2-20 screw with locknut goes through the tube wall and into the camera's tripod mount.  The flange/tube weldment has 5/32 studs welded on the inside that hold it to the fiberglass cap with the nuts Andy spoke of.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #11 –
I just discovered the access panel on the inside of the coach, which was well camouflaged. The camera is inside a metal tube. If I could figure out how to get the camera out of the tube without damaging it I could clean the window lens from the inside, which is all I'd really need to do. A small heating element inside the window to prevent fogging would also be nice for any future cold weather driving.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #12 –
Quote from: RRadio –
I just discovered the access panel on the inside of the coach, which was well camouflaged. The camera is inside a metal tube. If I could figure out how to get the camera out of the tube without damaging it I could clean the window lens from the inside, which is all I'd really need to do. A small heating element inside the window to prevent fogging would also be nice for any future cold weather driving.
Maby you could install a little 194 bulb socket in there and let it burn,the heat might keep the lens dry.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #13 –
I'd like to put an infrared bulb in there because supposedly all black & white TV cameras can see in infrared. I think I messed up the alignment of the camera when I was pulling on it trying to get it out of the tube yesterday. Now one side of the picture is obstructed by the inside of the tube. I'll see if I can realign it back the way it was. Eventually I'll figure out how to get the camera out of the tube without damaging it.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #14 –
Quote from: RRadio –
... If I could figure out how to get the camera out of the tube without damaging it I could clean the window lens from the inside, which is all I'd really need to do.
I guess my previous post wasn't clear.  You should see a screw on top of the tube.  It's not screwed in all the way and has a jam nut that contacts the tube.  The end of the screw is threaded into the side of the camera (I believe it's the tripod mount hole).  All you need to do is back off the jam nut and unthread the screw from the camera and it should slide right out of the tube.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho
 

Re: rearview camera lens fogging

Reply #15 –
I took the camera out of the tube this morning and immediately realized my fear of breaking it was unfounded. I forgot that TV cameras were very expensive in 1991 and built ruggedly. The camera is metal and kinda heavy. I was thinking of today's cheap plastic stuff that breaks easily. I cleaned the window with a paper towel and stuck the vacuum cleaner hose inside the metal tube to get 20+ years of dust and debris out. When I put the camera back in the tube I could see! :) ...then the window started fogging again immediately but hey, at least it's a clean fogged window now.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)