Rearview Camera - License Plate Type

Oooo, you can't just leave us hanging with that! :lol:

I didn't do a license plate cam, but I did put mine in the knokout just beside the plate. It is possible the issues you are having are something I saw, too.

 

Pkg 3 comes with a rear view camera. Can I assume then that you are talking about a Prius without Pkg 3?

Quit frankly I don't see a great value in the rear view camera other than to take a last scan of the area before you go into reverse. By that time something could come into view..besides we rely on our rearview and side mirrors, don't we?

 

Mine is an '05. Up until '06, no Prius model in the US had a rear view camera from the factory. Anyone who wants one on the earlier models has to locate and install the parts themselves.

I actually find the camera very helpfull. Yes, primary data is gathered from the mirrors, but it is very reasuring to have that one extra check. Also, my prius has extra tint, so at night the mirrors don't show me as much as I'd like. Backing out of a garage in the dark, my r/v mirror is basicaly useless, due to the lighting change from garage to outside. The camera can see very well under these conditions and lets me know if there is anything out there.

Above anything else, though, the camera is one more great geek toy in my very geeky car. B)

 

Well, barring shelling out the money to buy Coastal's, I would suggest trying to invert the frame so the camera is below the plate. That will only work if you can turn the camera 180 in the frame along its viewing axis. It also assumes the camera can be re-aimed to acount for the lower position. If it is just like coastal's, there should be two plugs in the lower part that can be moved to the camera's side so the screw hole are in the right spot.

Alternitively, that camera looks to be very close in size to the Eclipse camera that matches up with the JDM OEM. You may be able to remove the camera from the frame and mount it in the stock knockout. You would need to devise a way to secure it to the hatch under the trim. It looks like it has its own mount that is secured to the plate frame. You may be able to directly bolt , glue, or tape that to the metal of the hatch. I used 3-m tape on the base of mine. It has staid very secure like that. If you drill, pull the trim on the inside of the hatch first to comfirm clearance.

 

Where did you get it and who makes it? I am working towards getting a camera and you have put fear in me. I was thinking about getting a license plate camera. How did or do you intend to run the wires? Do you have pictures?

 

According to coastaletech...
>>> We have reviewed several options with careful consideration to quality, ease of installation, and price. A camera integrated into the license plate frame was found to incorporate all of these requirements and is an attractive addition to your Prius. The unit we are offering is complete with cables for installation. It is very solidly constructed of chrome plated metal and attached with special security bolts. <<<

It sounds like they have tested it and it is the BEST choice among ALL. Apparently, according to you, there is a big problem in installation. I am glad I did not buy it. Can you show a picture of your current installation? Maybe we can also chip in to crank out some ideas.

 

Well it does and it does not. Check this out

-CAM - 30° ultra wide angle CCD color camera. Designed for vehicles which license plate location is centered and above the level of the rear bumper. Reverse imaging means objects on the right of the vehicle appear on the right when looking at the monitor. In chrome or matte black. 1/3" CCD sensor / Pixels: NTSC 512x492, 330TVL / Video Output: 1.0 V P-P Composite (75 Ohm load) / Dim: 12.5" (W) x 7" (H) x 1.8" (D) / Power: DC 12V 180mA / Lux: 1.0 Rated Check it out on http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/autodax/backupcamera.php under iCam . Look at the CostalETech page the connector is different http://www.coastaletech.com/License%20Plate%20Camera.JPG . I don't think they are the same. Could it be this one : FrameCAM - FrameCAM installs seamlessly into any vehicle using the existing license plate mounting holes, giving it true original equipment functionality. It features a water-proof Sony 1/3" color Super HAD CCD camera, protected by a rugged aluminum housing. The 2.9mm lens provides a panoramic view, and the camera angle is adjustable for optimum viewing on any vehicle. It works day & night, thanks to an automatic low-light feature that provides excellent picture quality down to 1 lux. FrameCAM was designed to withstand the wear-and-tear of bad weather and real-life driving conditions over the long haul. Designed & manufactured in the USA. Signa Automotive does not show the connector but this one come in Chrome and Black and looks like the Costal E Tech camera. I will ask both about it. The prices are the similar.

 

I bought one from japandirect. It's not the license plate version, its the actual one they use on the Lexus and Toyota Limited Edition packages. Goes right next to the license plate lights and hides pretty well. Lot of work but looks cleaner.

If anyone wants one, let me know.

Ryan

 

Could you provide a picture?

 

This is the one I used.
http://www.savv.com/rearcamera.html (VAC-2000NC)
wide angle, 2lux, CCD about $150
It fits under the garnish knockout space OK, but tightly .

 

It's a TOYOTA (ECLIPSE OEM) 08634-00120 backup camera. I bought it from JapanDirect.com for $250 + $25 shipping +$12 credit card fees, but I guess you can have mine for $199 plus shipping. Otherwise email [email protected] for an estimate.

It installs in the little pocket just to the left of your license plate light. Fits exactly, as this is the model used on the Japanese Prius, (see the pic of "frenchie's" installation below.)

You will need a video input to your MFD as it does not just plug in to US models. I have one of those too if you need it.

Ryan

 

Sorry I don't have any specs written here. It's all in japanese.

Basically, its a 9V color camera. Chop off the connector and attach an standard yellow NTSC video female connector.

 

No. 9V. You just add a tiny voltage regulator, which I bought for a couple bucks which I will provide.

Not free. It cost me $289. I think $199 plus reasonable shipping is fair.

Keep in mind...there is some assembly. You have to be comfortable taking your car apart to wire the cable through and you have to cut the plug off to put your own connector on. It's easy but not plug and play.

I have the docs at home that show the installation, if you need it.

 

Hello,
I helped a friend to install last saturday a cam in a prius 2005 (the 4th in europe).
this time, we used a cam eclipse bec105g.
this cam has a bigger angle of vision .
it is exactly the same as what you get with the toy OEM, only missing part is the rubber gromett.

difference between bec105g & bec105 is:
with the bec105g you get a power supply (6 v). I bought it through a friend in japan, total cost was around 250 usd.
you can compare the result here , goto to the bottom of the topic and you will see 2 big pictures :
http://prius-touring-club.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=29

the color of the blueish picture is (happily) not the real one, in fact , the colors are similars for 2 cams.
we had no real troubles during installation, but after, we spent 2 hours to debug a bad image.
the problem was coming from the powersupply of the mobile phone generating a lot of interferences on the screen...