T5 Caravelle T5.1 RVC

[malwcal]

Thought I would post a new thread rather than continue adding to the thread about RCD510 and RNS510 retrofits.

I plan on buying a RNS510 RSN (Real Soon Now!).

I do want to add a reverse camera. My previous van had one, and my second van has one. I even find myself looking for one each time I reverse. I am the father of small children, and I understand that a (if not the) major cause of motor vehicle death in kids is being reversed over in their own driveway. IMHO there is some case to be made that maybe cameras or sensors should be manditory. But I digress.

In my previous posts I asked about this and was told that rvc retrofit is a big job. My question is why?

Is it just the effort of removing the trim amd running all the cables? Or is there more too it?

Also, what options are available? Is it possible to buy a OEM camera? I assume on my vehicle that would install next to the numberplate lights. The issue is I have not seen many posts here or elsewhere indicating that people have done this.

Or is it better to buy one of the T5 cameras on eBay, which are just PAL/NTSC cameras and which I assume would need to be connected to the RNS510 via a kufatec IMA. I see a lot of people on the net complaining about the reliability of the kufatec IMA, but are the criticisims still valid, or has newer firmware, coding or such meant this is no longer an issue?

Hope someone can help!

[Transporter]

There is also this that I would consider. eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

[Sunny43.5]

Here we go again CAN bus related problems it states may occur , as I have stated before I just dont get this CAN bus thing its so complicated with so many unforseen problems when you want to add something extra , give me the good old days when you could easily wire something up with either a relay or direct to a main circuit and the car would not have a heart attack when it was switched on . We have 2 T5,s with aftermarket head units and reverse cameras so simple to wire and setup . The main thing is if your camera is hard wired to the main unit you will have to feed the wiring loom through the roof cavity then out the grommett at the rear tailgate crossover and then route the wire to the camera mounting point . Howard

This is my camera [IMG]
My other van camera[/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG]
My head unit view[/IMG]

[malwcal]

There is also this that I would consider. eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

Yes, it looks like an option. But have you actually tried the unit? Does it automatically switch the unit over to camera when reverse is engaged.

[malwcal]

Well Sunny43.5, regardless of your opinion on CAN vs non CAN, this camera needs to connect to a RNS510, so CAN it is.

[Transporter]

Yes, it looks like an option. But have you actually tried the unit? Does it automatically switch the unit over to camera when reverse is engaged.

The description says it connects to canbus, so it should automatically switch ON when in reverse. You can always contact the seller and ask.

I didn't try the unit.

[Transporter]

Here we go again CAN bus related problems it states may occur , as I have stated before I just dont get this CAN bus thing its so complicated with so many unforseen problems when you want to add something extra , give me the good old days when you could easily wire something up with either a relay or direct to a main circuit and the car would not have a heart attack when it was switched on . We have 2 T5,s with aftermarket head units and reverse cameras so simple to wire and setup . The main thing is if your camera is hard wired to the main unit you will have to feed the wiring loom through the roof cavity then out the grommett at the rear tailgate crossover and then route the wire to the camera mounting point . Howard

Nice to see you got around it. What unit is that and what camera did you use?

[Sunny43.5]

Okay here is where I fess up that I am not a trained auto elec but I have been in the car industry for over 40 years I am a Motor Trimmer by trade but I have always had a facination with car electronics and accessories . I bought the very first component Pioneer Car Stereo system that was sold here in Qld back in 1975 . after that I was hooked on audio and the likes , when I started my own business on the Gold Coast in 1980 I quickly realised the market for aftermarket accessories . Sunroofs / central locking /alarms/ remote upgrades/ immobilzers/ remote starter systems /cruise control and stereos . So Can Bus has never been a friend of mine manufactureres can bleat all they like about the benefits but I have seen too many examples of Can Bus failures and heart attacks . From my own point of view I don,t see any benefit to me as driver with having can bus , it is complicated and suceptible to hiccups causing breakdowns . Now with my T5,s they were the very first T5,s 2005 and I don,t recall any issues with hooking up our aftermarket headunits . All the neccesary wires with the required signals were there in the plugs , a test meter confirmed 12v constant 12 volt acc 12 volt lights and earth plus speakers etc so we had absolutly no issues fitting the head units as for the camera all I did was run the video cable from the head unit to the camera then a wire was connected to the reverse light at the rear this went to the camera another wire from the same spot was connected to the head unit , when reverse was selected the 12v signal that illuminated the reverse lights sent a signal to the headunit which would automaticly switch to the camera view and activate the camera simultaneously[sorry if its spelt wrong] So I admit that Can Bus is something we have to accept but if you nut it out you can work around some issues as I said before this was not a problem before Cbus. Howard PS as for the head unit it is a Chinese import and I am still very happy with the unit and price $380 delivered here.
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