olympic Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) I searched the forums but couldn't find any matches. Has anyone installed the Brandmotion FLTW-7636 backup camera kit? I could only find two reviews on the product. One said instructions were lacking on how to hook up the power and ground for the camera. The other said it went pretty well but that if you mount camera in the stock location it shows up off center in the display. So I was curious if anyone here on the forums had installed this kit and could share any feedback. I'm looking to install it in a 2013 Legacy Limited that has the Harman Kardon system but without nav or backup camera. The head unit in the car is PE658U1. Thanks in advance. Edited January 6, 2020 by olympic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchwarzeEwigkt Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I’ve not installed that camera (or any yet!), but I have read extensively on the subject. For that exact configuration, in fact! The short of it is that our cars definitely lack the wiring on the trunk harness for the camera. They *may* have the wiring in the intermediate harness and the harness going to the head unit. You’ve gotta pull it out and look. Complicating things, the factory camera is powered by the head unit itself and runs in 6V. If you want to use an aftermarket camera, you’ll need to wire a certain pin to ground (8? I forget.) to enable the camera display when you put it in reverse. Then, you’ll need to get an adapter to change the weird Toyota/Subaru plug to a composite. Metra and others sell a gizmo that does this. I hear that it’s common to pull power for the camera from the reverse lights supply as most cameras use 12V and you generally only want the camera active when the car’s in reverse. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympic Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 Thanks for that info SchwarzeEwigkt. This kit from brandmotion supposedly contains the full sets of wires such that you pull out the head unit, remove the 28 pin factory connector, plug in the supplied brandmotion 28 pin connector, then plug the factory 28 pin connector into the supplied brandmotion harness. The new harness has a video input rca jack for the camera feed. It then looks like you wire the camera into the back area and run wires all the way to the front to connect the video feed cable into that rca jack that is part of the brandmotion harness. The issue is where to pull ignition power and ground for the camera. Splicing into the truck harness would seem an option. I don't know though if the brandmotion camera needs power all the time or if it's sufficient to just give it power when the car is in reverse. This kit supposedly solves the pin 8 issue etc by supplying all the needed wiring for this conversion. It would be great to confirm that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frock_You Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 You can pull 12v ignition switched power right from the radio harness or from the cigarette lighter Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brunzo Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) I think this camera is same cheap chinese product plus additional wiring for x6 price. It uses standard rca video input connector which plugs to the h/u via male-female converson cable. As i understand from their homepage, camera power may connect to acc. Update: Edited January 8, 2020 by Brunzo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brunzo Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 I think this camera is same cheap chinese product plus additional wiring for x6 price. It uses standard rca video input connector which plugs to the h/u via male-female converson cable. As i understand from their homepage, camera power may connect to acc. Update: More convenient to use PC for this reply and can share details. No need to purchase expensive aftermarket camera kits, if they do not support any unique functionality like in this case. Harman Kardon Navi device looks same as my EU headunit, both manufactured by Fujitsu. These headunits use NTSC cameras powered with 6v from headunit (but possible to install 12v camera as well). It works this way: headunit runs backup cam start up diagnostics each time when you start the car - it powers camera, checks video signal presence and enables camera in case of video signal detection. If no video signal - it considers there is no camera installed. I have installed 12v camera to my car, but was too lazy for additional power wire and powered it from backup light in the trunk. So my camera works only if I switch reverse gear when start up the car. If any other gear or neutral is set during start up of car - the headunit does not detect the camera and does not switch it on later on. I just need to move camera power to any ACC wire, most probably i can use wiper motor acc wire in the trunk lid. I will do it when it will be warmer - now it's too cold. You can use any camera with following conditions: 1. Video signal support: NTSC 2. Power voltage: - 5 or 6 volts if you want to use original power connection from headunit - 12 volts if you want to use any other ACC wire. 3. Form factor: any, can be license plate light or as genuine installation. 4. Optional: dynamic parking lines. Some cameras have dynamic parking lines, which work with g sensor integrated to camera. These cameras are more expensive (around 30 usd) but these lines may be messy on the screen if native headunit lines cannot be switched off (i don't remember if headunit can or can't switch off native lines) 5. Parking lines: you have to find camera without (if want to use headunit lines) or with switchable parking lines if want to use dynamic lines. You will also need long video wire (usually comes with camera). If your car has no 16pin connector you may purchase it for 1.5 USD on aliexpress (look for: "16 pin adapter cable toyota" and it's a white 16 pin cable with one yellow RCA connector on other side). You need to connect following wires: headunit 28pin connector: pin 2 - reverse gear light. headunit 16 pin connector: pin 7 - camera power +6volt from headunit pin 8 - camera video signal V+ pin 15 - camera ground pin 16 - camera video signal V- Please let me know if you have any questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympic Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Thanks Brunzo for that detailed writeup! I've held off on purchasing the Brandmotion kit waiting for more feedback so this is helpful. The attractive part about the kit is that for $100 it includes the camera and all the wiring connections to include the 28 pin harness for the head unit. Now perhaps that isn't such a deal based on what you described. I'm trying to make certain I understand what I need for connections at the head unit. You mention pin 2 on the 28 pin harness is for the reverse gear. If I'm wiring my own camera in, do I splice into that so that it detects a camera is present? Need a little bit of guidance there. I recall seeing another thread about wiring so I can check that. For the 16 pin connector, I will look for that on aliexpress. Do you know if the non navi head unit comes without this 16 pin connector harness in place since no camera is wired in? Or do you know if it's generally present and serves other purposes? If present does the factory one carry that RCA style jack for the video input? Just curious if I will simply plug it in and then connect up the 7, 8, 15 and 16 wires as mentioned to the appropriate camera wires as well as the rca video feed. For some reason I had in my head that the RCA plug was part of the 28 pin harness based on what I saw looking at the installation instructions found here: https://www.brandmotion.com/docs/FLTW-7636II1.pdf . Granted that is a replacement 28 pin harness but it indicates that the rca plug is part of that hence my question about whether the RCA is part of the 28 or 16 pin harness. I understand what you are saying about 6v vs 12v for the camera. Can power it from the headunit but would need to be 6v, or off an accessory wire but it would then need to be 12v. It does look like with the brandmotion kit that they are instructing you to connect the camera to an acc 12v source. Thanks again for the assistance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympic Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 As a followup, in looking for that "16 pin adapter cable toyota" I see the 16 pin connector and it has the female rca plug coming out and just one other wire, a blue one. I can't see from the pics what pin that blue wire is associated with. Does anyone know what that blue wire connects with? If I go this route, do I need to find a way to pin into that 16 pin harness or if I'm able to just connect the rca jack? I wasn't sure if the rca jack is connected if I no longer have to worry about the other pins/connections in the 16 pin connector and just power the camera to 12v acc and ground the camera to a good chassis ground. Thanks again for any assistance that can be provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brunzo Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 As a followup, in looking for that "16 pin adapter cable toyota" I see the 16 pin connector and it has the female rca plug coming out and just one other wire, a blue one. I can't see from the pics what pin that blue wire is associated with. Does anyone know what that blue wire connects with? If I go this route, do I need to find a way to pin into that 16 pin harness or if I'm able to just connect the rca jack? I wasn't sure if the rca jack is connected if I no longer have to worry about the other pins/connections in the 16 pin connector and just power the camera to 12v acc and ground the camera to a good chassis ground. Thanks again for any assistance that can be provided. Blue wire in connextor on ali is used for camera power. By the way i forgot to tell - you should have 16 pin connector on your harness already as it has some other wiresfor headunit. Perhaps you could purchase same toyota adaptor cable and move the rca wire to your connector. I am going to repower my cam on weekend to windshield motor acc wire as explained previously to make sure i consult you right thing. And reply back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brunzo Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Today i reconnected my camera. Camera power connected to rear wiper motor green wire, ita acc +12volt. All is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeuEmMaiMai Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I installed a camera on my '14 legacy I ran the wire through the trunk grommet along the passenger side and over to the head unit. I tapped the reverse lights for power since the camera only needs to be on when backing up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympic Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Today i reconnected my camera. Camera power connected to rear wiper motor green wire, ita acc +12volt. All is fine. Thanks Brunzo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympic Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 I installed a camera on my '14 legacy I ran the wire through the trunk grommet along the passenger side and over to the head unit. I tapped the reverse lights for power since the camera only needs to be on when backing up. I'm curious how did you hook up to the head unit? Did you buy an aftermarket wiring kit or did you pin into the 28 pin and 16 pin connectors? Also curious what camera you went with and which position did you mount it in (stock offset from the plate or centered over the plate)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brunzo Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) sorry guys please clarify what h/k headunit manufacturer you have? Please show picture and if possible - rear side of it as well. I'm referring to facelift unit with big screen and navigation, manufactured by Fujitsu. For unit with small screen (without navi) may be enough to power the cam from backup light inside the lid. PS: i checked rear side pics of h/k with small screen (without navi) - uses same 16 pin connector. I'm not sure does this unit test the camera during car start up or not, but if not - the powering from tail light should be enough. Edited January 15, 2020 by Brunzo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olympic Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 sorry guys please clarify what h/k headunit manufacturer you have? Please show picture and if possible - rear side of it as well. I'm referring to facelift unit with big screen and navigation, manufactured by Fujitsu. For unit with small screen (without navi) may be enough to power the cam from backup light inside the lid. PS: i checked rear side pics of h/k with small screen (without navi) - uses same 16 pin connector. I'm not sure does this unit test the camera during car start up or not, but if not - the powering from tail light should be enough. My head unit is the smaller H/K without nav. It shows on the lower right front of the unit: PE658U1 I've read that on some cars the wiring harness to the trunk on the passenger side -might- be connected to the head unit such that you could just connect the camera up at the trunk and not have to run wires all the way up the side and pull the head unit. I don't know if that's actually the case or not so am planning to run wiring all the way to the head unit but IF it really was stubbed out to the trunk such that I would just need to wire the camera into the existing harness at the trunk that would be awesome. Anyone have any insights into that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeuEmMaiMai Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 I'm curious how did you hook up to the head unit? Did you buy an aftermarket wiring kit or did you pin into the 28 pin and 16 pin connectors? Also curious what camera you went with and which position did you mount it in (stock offset from the plate or centered over the plate)? my setup is aftermarket. and I used the stock location as the center of the trunk is indented for your hand to open it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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