Reverse camera illumination

Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 07:18
ThreadID: 143781 Views:5044 Replies:6 FollowUps:7
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Hello Gentlemen, I just bought the daughter a Colorado with fiberglass canopy after she killed the Xtrail. The Colorado is impossible to reverse safely because of lack of vision, so am fitting a reverse camera soon. Does anyone here have enough experience with camera illumination at night ? If I fit LED tail lights will the LED reverse light provide enough illumination or do I still need a flood light?

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Reply By: Rangiephil - Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 08:55

Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 08:55
Many reversing cameras have their own illumination.
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Reply By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 09:35

Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 09:35
It will depend upon the quality of the camera and

the size and quality of your monitor.

I have two monitors; one is an 8 inch and at first was adequate but now I have a 10 inch and it is like watching a TV screen.

I have two reversing lights set low in the bumper (normal globes) and they give a good spread of light.

LED lights will be really good.

bill
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Reply By: Member - Core420 - Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 10:24

Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 10:24
I have a permanent rear vision camera. For reversing I have two flood lights mounted below the rear bumper bar that gives me 180 degree illumination. The OEM reversing light is next to useless.
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Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 11:16

Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 11:16
Hi Boris,

No offence intended, but how do you think truck and van drivers get on reversing without a reversing camera? They do it by using the side mirrors, and knowing the length of their vehicle, perhaps this is something that you need to practice.

Having said that, a reversing camera does make it easier. As far as reversing at night, yes, LED flood/work lights are the way to go for illumination. I have a set of two mounted to the roof rack of my wagon, that are linked to the existing reversing lights, but can also be switched on manually and used as a work/flood light. I also added a set of supplemental brake/tail and indicator lights as well.



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Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Thursday, Jun 02, 2022 at 06:19

Thursday, Jun 02, 2022 at 06:19
Many trucks come fitted with a moveable wireless rear view camera now...technology catching up.
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Thursday, Jun 02, 2022 at 10:15

Thursday, Jun 02, 2022 at 10:15
Hi Bigfish,

Yes, fully aware of this. However, learning to reverse using side mirrors only is something that is good to be able to do, it really only takes practice. Reversing cameras are a relatively new idea. It is still a requirement for a driver of a heavy vehicle to be able to do as part of getting the heavy endorsement on their license.

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Follow Up By: Boris K - Thursday, Jun 02, 2022 at 11:26

Thursday, Jun 02, 2022 at 11:26
Cameras are great when in shopping centre carparks with other people doing silly unexpected things and also when out in bush offroading of which we do quite often with hunting and fishing. Cameras help keep repair costs and insurance premiums down that are already through the roof for P platers. The point of practicing reversing and side mirrors is not what I was asking about but thank you anyway for your reply
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 09:05

Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 09:05
Hi Boris,

Don’t get me wrong, I am a great believer in having additional aids such as cameras particularly for reversing. Thinking of the number of tragic accidents that occur in driveways or carparks where young children are concerned. I have reversing cameras for both the car and the caravan, and would not consider buying a caravan without one. However, my point is that we should not just rely on cameras. Being able to reverse a vehicle some distance using mirrors is something that should always be taught to learner drivers. Sadly it is not.

As for illumination, I think you will find that just replacing the tail lights and reversing lights with an LED equivalent will not really suffice. My experience is that you will need a stronger/larger light than those built into the standard taillight configuration.

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Reply By: Boris K - Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 16:14

Wednesday, Jun 01, 2022 at 16:14
Thank you everyone. Ill start by changing the tail lights to led and then see from there.
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Follow Up By: Member - Soft-Roader - Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 14:39

Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 14:39
Yes mate, this will be perfect. I used STEDI ones on my Navara and it's better than a flood light. To the point I too one out, and only used the RHS one, because I didn't want to make the neighbour's bedroom light up at 5am in the morning!
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Follow Up By: Boris K - Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 21:41

Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 21:41
Lachlan, my own Colorado dual cab came with two floodlights either side of the reverse camera. Its was too much light that lit up any dust and exhaust that you couldnt see past on the screen. I took those lights out and put a small flood light on the roof rack far away from the camera, which improved vision. I also added a yellow tint film to the light to reduce glare. Hence my question here whether just a pair of good LED tail lights will be enough.
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Saturday, Jun 04, 2022 at 08:26

Saturday, Jun 04, 2022 at 08:26
Some people say you can never have too much light, however as others have found, too much light can “flare” on the camera. It more about the positioning of the light relative to the camera. I have found lights mounted up high on the vehicle such as on the roof rack or canopy tend to not throw as much light onto a camera that is mounted low down on the rear bar or low down on the tailgate. Positioning the light so that the actual “throw” of light is angled in such a manner so as to miss the lens of the camera is the way to go.

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Reply By: AlbyNSW - Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 19:09

Friday, Jun 03, 2022 at 19:09
I would try it before adding any additional lights, I had a reversing Light with my last camera and it was great but my new camera the light blows out the image to make it useless and will need to look at fitting some form of hood on the camera so I can use it
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