How Much Is It to Install a Backup Camera
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A rear-view camera is an excellent way of enhancing driving safety and convenience. It allows you to get a great view of what's behind you without the hassle of looking back nor asking someone else to guide you. While most modern cars are already fitted with a rear camera, old-fashioned ones lack this amenity. However, you can still perk up your vehicle by installing a backup camera. Here's a guide on how much to install backup camera and other things you need to know.
Cost of Rear Camera Installation
It's hard to tell how much to install backup camera in a glance. There are two things that you need to prepare money for, first, is the cost of the camera, and second is the cost of installation.
Camera Cost
To know how much to install backup camera, you need to count several factors. On top are the camera brand and type. The range for camera prices is $20 being the cheapest, with the high-end ones coming at around $700. Of course, you can't expect more economical products to go with the same features as the more expensive ones. These budget-friendly cameras are often single cameras and without a monitor. The more costly ones come with high-end multiple camera setups, a bigger monitor, and more advanced features such as a GPS tracker. There may also be a notable difference in the durability of the products offered at the extreme ends of this pricing scale.
Installation Cost
You should also consider the installation process when computing how much to install a backup camera. The installation will cost you around $75 to $200 depending on how complex the setup is. Remember that some car camera system includes multiple cameras and are therefore require more complex installations.
A rough estimate for the backup camera installation's overall cost would be $100 to $1000.
Installing a Rear Cam
After knowing how much to install backup camera, and you wish to forgo hiring a handyman to save up, you need to familiarize the steps in rear camera installation before pursuing the task head-on. Doing so will facilitate ease of completion and will save you time and resources. Here's your guide on how to install a rear cam.
Prepare Your Tools
- Buy the right device. When it comes to car cameras, it's still best to buy one that's produced specifically for your unit. Customizing may only lead to poor service. You can easily find what you're looking for at consumer electronics shops.
- Choose an external backup monitor. If you want to retain your old rear-view mirror, get a backup monitor that attaches onto the windshield instead of replacing the mirror entirely with a cam screen.
- Secure your materials. For most camera installation, you will need a camera and monitor splitter cords, connectors for video and power cables, and RCA video. Most products come with all the necessary wires, while others don't. It's best to ask your sales guy to be sure you have everything you need on the get-go. However, there are also wireless transmitters if you want to get rid of cables.
Wiring Installation
- Remove the rear license plate. With the use of a screwdriver, take off the license plate to give room for the camera.
- Remove the interior panel to expose rear wiring. The panel is located within your trunk, on the reverse side of the plate's mounting section. Take it off using a pry tool.
- Bore a tiny hole in the plate's mounting field. The hole should fit the camera's power and video wires snugly. Expect to use a drill bit with 1/8 and ¼ diameter.
- Secure the cables using a rubber grommet. Insert a rubber washer with the right size around the hole before slipping the cables to secure them. You can quickly get these rubber washers in home improvement shops.
- Wire the camera into the trunk. Draw the splitting end cable through the hole from the outside and into your car's trunk.
- Locate the two cables that connect to the reverse light. These wires link the tail lights to the dashboard and are usually located in your car's trunk.
- Link up the camera cables with the reverse light cables. Wrap them with electrical tape after to ensure safety.
- Direct the video wires to the front. Should there be a need, fuse the RCA cable to the cam's video connector. Then, span the wire where the fuse box is located, usually underneath the steering wheel.
Camera Installation
- Attach the monitors. The external monitor attaches to the anterior windshield and the internal monitor to the rear-view mirror. Internal monitor installation is easy as you will only need to clip the new device onto the mirror. But, external monitor installation can be tricky as you will need to attach the mount first and then affix the monitor onto it.
- Direct the camera screen's splitter wire to the fuse box.
- Connect the screen's cable to the RCA cable.
- Affix the screen's power cable to a fuse tap and plug it into the fuse box.
- Attach the rear camera to the power and video wires.
- Secure the camera to the front of the license plate. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions as to camera placement.
- See if it works. Perform the test in a safer area before bringing the car out in public roads, to give you time to adjust.
Conclusion
Installing a backup camera is a must as it promotes safe driving. Concerns about how much to install backup camera should come first when deciding to get one. With numerous rear cameras in the market at a friendly price range, you can surely find a device to suit your need and budget. Know more about backup cameras.
How Much Is It to Install a Backup Camera
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