Where and How to Install Back Up Camera For Car?

Do you wish to have a better view of what's behind your car while reversing the car? Installing a back up camera to your car can dramatically increase your rear vision and safety while backing up and parking.

Where to install back up camera?

A rear view camera is a special designed camera which is mounted to the rear of the car, usually near your license plate at back. Some rear view cameras should be installed by replacing one of the car license plate lights, don't worry, the new back up camera can be made with LED light for better night vision. Some back up cameras installed where the trunk handle is. Others can be installed in the reserved hole near the license plate light.

You will also need a monitor to work with the backup camera so the rear view video can be displayed at front when in reverse, unfornately nearly all original screen monitor from the car does not come with a RCA connector which the aftermarket camera used for connection, so you can also buy a small monitor which can be stuck on the top dashboard or an aftermarket head unit with large screen monitor to replace the old radio unit.

Here are some useful tips to help you select which back up camera and what type of model is right for your car.

Firstly you can check the back of the vehicle, especially for the position near the license plate light, is there a reversed hole for the camera? If yes, you can measure the dimensions in mm and tell it to the back up camera supplier so they can know which model is right for your car. You can also try to replace one of the car license plate lights and install the new back up camera, that's also clean looking and easy installation.

For instance, i have a BMW 325i and want to install a back up camera, what's my choice?

The best way is upgrading the factory radio head unit with an aftermarket Android BMW E46 head unit and adding an aftermarket back up camera with RCA connector. Why? The aftermarket Android head unit provides you multiple modern features including GPS navigation, Bluetooth, WiFi, DVD player and more, and it works well with the back up camera, which replaces the vehicle license plate light for installation, so it looks like OEM. Besides, the aftermarket back up camera works well with the head unit, and you don't need to buy another monitor to display the camera videos, by the way, if you are looking for a back up camera for BMW 3 series e46, e90, f30, BMW X5, BMW X6, you can check this license plate light camera:

How to install back up camera?

Well, that depends on the position where you need to install the back up camera, the most used position is the car license plate light, remove it, then install the camera.

Some people prefer wireless back up camera because it's easier for installation, however, if you want the camera installed in your car to last long you should choose the wired camera instead because the wireless camera is not so stable compared with the wired one. Besides, after a long time the signal from the wireless camera may be weak, then you would need to replace it and install a new one. Installation for the wires camera is a little complicated as you need to run the long video cable from the front dash to the back of the vehicle, but that's really worth to do that if you want a stable and long-lasting back up camera.

Follow these easy steps to install a backup camera.

1. Find out the position where the backup camera will be installed, let's take license plate light for example
2. Remove the car license plate light, unplug it. It will be replaced
3. Run the 6m long camera video cable from the front to the back
4. Find your reverse light, the camera should be powered with 12V reverse light, one red wire to positive, and black wire to negative.
5. Connect the video cable with the monitor, it's a yellow RCA plug, so just plug and play, for this step, you may need to connect a trigger line from the head unit which usually named BACK with one red wire from the long camera video cable, if there's one such wire from the head unit, then connect it, from the other end of the long video cable, there's another loose red wire, it should connect with 12V+ reverse light power.
6. Connect the power for the camera with your reverse light.
7. Insert the car key, put in reverse gear, and check if the monitor automatically switches to back up video, if not, check the trigger wire and see if it's well connected.

The installation instructions for back up camera are more or less the same for nearly all car models. The most difficult part should be running the long video cable because it takes much time. For those who want to install a back up camera for their vehicles you can find one special for your vehicle here:

https://www.dvdgpsnav.com/backup-cameras

DVDGPSNAV provides aftermarket head units with back up cameras for all cars available.