4 Important Things You Wish You Knew about the Reversing Camera

These days, it is quite common for families with kids to have a minivan or an SUV. These vehicles have lots of interior space, which is perfect if you want your children to be more comfortable when travelling. However, such vehicles are also notorious for having blind spots and many of them are also involved in driveway accidents. If you have kids at home and you want to ensure their safety, having a reversing camera in your vehicle will certainly help.

Reversing Camera Facts and Info

As with any other car accessory, you should equip yourself with proper knowledge before buying and installing a camera system in your car. This way, you can be sure that the camera you have purchased will provide you with the driving assistance that you require. Here are some key information you need to know about camera kits.

1. How it works

The best reversing camera kits typically include a camera that you place at the rear of your vehicle and a monitor that you mount on your dashboard. When you put the camera on reverse, the monitor powers up, showing you what's behind your car.

2. Reversing safely

Take note that the reversing camera is not a magic device that will make your car immune to all accidents. Having common sense is still the best and most effective way to prevent an accident. Therefore, make sure that you always drive safely and follow precautionary measures even when there's a reversing camera fitted in your car.

3. What to look for

As with any other car accessory, there are important things you should consider when buying a reversing camera in Australia. Here are some of them:

• Angle – A camera's ability to capture images can be affected by its viewing angle. As such, it would be wise to look for one with a wide viewing angle. While wide angle cameras usually have lower picture quality, they do excel at allowing you to see obstructions behind your car.

• Camera type – To ensure optimum performance, look for a camera that offers flexibility and is easy to install.

•  Monitor – The larger the monitor, the easier it will be to see obstructions behind your car.

• Automatic start – Most camera kits start when you put your car on reverse. To avoid inconvenience, avoid those that don't.

4. Installation

Most camera systems are easy to install. But if you're not comfortable with your DIY skills, it will help to have your reverse camera system installed by a professional. This will ensure that the wires are properly connected and installation is tidy and neat.

Be Sure to Check Out These Features When Shopping for a Reversing Camera

When shopping for reversing camera, there are certain qualities you should look for to ensure that you're buying the camera system that meets your requirements. Aside from the type of camera included in the kit, the size of the monitor, and the type of connection, here are a few things you should take into consideration when choosing a specific camera for your vehicle.

1. Automatically switches on

It can be quite an inconvenience if you are to turn on your camera system every time you are reversing. Therefore, to save time and effort, choose a camera system that automatically switches on when the vehicle is put on reverse. Such camera systems usually has a trigger wire connected to the car's reinforcement light circuit that sends a signal to the camera that the car is reversing, thus, automatically bringing the system into life.

2. Wide field of view or angle perspective

If your vehicle has many blind spots, you should consider a reversing camera with a large picture sensor. Such reversing camera kits have the capacity to show a wide field of view, which allows you to better see the sides of your vehicle. Experts recommend cameras with 90 to 120 degrees field of view. Anything lower or higher than that can be a problem.

3. IR night vision

Another important factor to consider is the camera's capability to be used in low light conditions. To fulfil this key requirement, make sure to choose a reversing camera with an infrared or IR night vision. Otherwise, your camera won't be usable when you drive your car at night.

4. Mirror image capacity

Check the camera's mirror image capacity to ensure that the images being captured by the camera and the one showed on your monitor are reflected properly and not reversed. More often than not, the best reverse camera system has this feature as it enables users to see images on the screen as if they are looking at their car's rear view mirrors. As a result, they are able to respond properly when they are about to hit an object when reversing their cars.

5. Weather resistant factor

Remember, the camera will be placed outside your car. As such, it will be subject to harsh driving conditions and will be exposed to the elements all of its life. Therefore, to make sure that your reversing camera for caravan will last a very long time, see to it that the camera has a sturdy and tightly sealed casing. Also, check its IP rating to gauge its capability to guard against water and dust.

4 Types of Reversing Cameras Popular Today

Car owners these days are quite lucky because when it comes to reversing cameras, there are a lot of options they can choose from. Unlike from a few years ago, today's market has been saturated with many types of camera systems featuring unique designs, features, and functionality. No matter what your specific needs and requirements are, you can be sure that you will find a camera system that can make your car much easier to handle and safer to drive, especially when reversing from your driveway or getting out of those tight parking spaces.

Types of Camera to Choose From

There are many camera options available today. Here are some of the most common ones.

1. Butterfly camera

The butterfly camera is the most common camera type today and it is often included in a reversing camera kit or those sold with a matching monitor. Its relatively smaller size makes it perfect for cars, UTEs, and other light commercial vehicles. One of the best things about this type of camera is its versatility. You can install it in different locations, including under the boot lid and even under UTE trays. You can also adjust it to obtain the best viewing angle.

2. Bumper camera

As the name implies, the bumper camera is installed flush in the bumper of your car. Suited for cars, vans, and UTEs with plastic bumpers, it is ideal for car owners who want their cameras to remain inconspicuous after installation. It can also be used with IR technology. A downside, however, is that because it is inserted into the bumper, you cannot adjust the angle of view. You may not also be able to use your bumper as a reference point.

3. Number plate camera

The number plate camera is basically installed in the car's number or licence plate. With its universal design, it can be fitted no matter what kind of vehicle you drive or own is. This is why it is a favourite among car owners who love to take on Do It Yourself or DIY projects. Another advantage is that it is relatively cheaper than the average rearview reverse camera system.

4. Heavy duty camera

Of course, commercial and industrial vehicles also need reversing cameras and this is where the heavy duty camera comes in. This type of camera is designed to survive in tough environments and it is usually waterproof and shockproof. Some units are even fitted with microphones, allowing the driver to pick up sounds from outside his vehicle. A disadvantage, however, is that its bigger size makes installation a bit challenging.

If you're having a hard time choosing which camera type is for you, you should consider reading car reversing camera reviews to determine which of these camera systems can match your expectations.

Why Are People Installing a Reversing Camera in Their Car?

Are you considering buying an accessory for your vehicle? If you are, you might want to take a look at the reversing camera. This electronic device adds a layer of safety for your vehicle as it gives you a better view of the objects surrounding your car. This is one of the reasons this car accessory is one of the most popular and most sought-after today. In fact, in the United States, new car owners will be required to install such a device in their vehicle in the next three years. But why exactly are people installing reversing cameras in their car?

Common Reasons for Installing Cameras

Car owners have different reasons for investing in a camera system for their respective vehicles. Below are some of the most common ones.

1. To ensure children's safety.

Studies have shown that dozens of small children in Australia are being killed or seriously injured every year because of driveway accidents. What's devastating about these accidents is that it is their own parents or loved ones who are at fault. As you may know, it is unthinkable for any sane and caring parent to hurt or worse, kill his or her own child. This is why many car owners who have small kids find it prudent to install CCD or CMOS reversing cameras in their cars to help keep their children safe and prevent driveway accidents.

2. To avoid accidents.

If you are in an industry where you are required to drive large vehicles and go in and out of other people's driveways, like in the domestic service industry for example, you certainly don't want to be in an accident that will cause liabilities to your company. You don't want to accidentally hurt children or damage your customer's property because that will potentially cause you to lose your job. To prevent such a dreadful scenario, many drivers install camera systems in their vehicles.

3. To make reversing in and out of parking lots much easier.

Perhaps the simplest reason why many people buy a car reversing camera kit is to make their vehicles more manoeuvrable. With a reversing camera, you can easily go in and out of tight parking spots. It also makes camping and towing easy as it provides coverage for your vehicle's blind spots.

If you want to improve the safety feature of your car, installing a reverse camera system will certainly do the trick. With this electronic device, not only can you prevent damage to your car, you can also avoid accidents and any unfortunate situation.

Key Technical Terms You Need to Understand to Find the Best Reversing Camera

Today, there's a wide range of camera systems you can purchase if you are inclined to add a safety feature to your car. But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which reversing camera is the best? If this is your first time buying a rear view camera for your car, here are technical terms you should understand and be aware of to help you find the camera system that's right for you.

CCD

CCD stands for charge-coupled device. It is one of the two types of image sensors present in all types of cameras. One of the notable qualities of cameras with CCD image sensors is that they are more capable of producing better images. They are also more sensitive to light, which is a huge help when driving at night.

CMOS

CMOS is the other type of image sensor present in reversing camera kits. It basically stands for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. Its light sensitivity tends to be lower than the light sensitivity of a CCD camera. In addition, it is more susceptible to noise. But on the brighter side, a CMOS camera generally has longer battery life as it consumes less power as compared to a CCD camera.

RCA

Sometimes called a phono connector or cinch connector, an RCA connector is what the camera system uses to transfer the audio and video signals being captured by the reversing camera to the monitor. It is basically composed of a plug and a jack designed for use with coaxial cable.

4PIN

Like the RCA connector, the 4PIN cable allows the monitor to render the images being captured by the reversing cameras for cars. But the difference between the two is that the 4PIN cable is more durable and can be exposed to the elements. What's more, it allows the monitor to power up the camera on its own so you don't have to connect the latter to a power source.

AV Input

AV input is basically the camera system's capability to receive AV (audio-video) signals from a device. The more the AV inputs the system has, the more cameras you can connect to the monitor.

12v/24v

This signifies the camera's operating voltage.

IR Night Vision

As the name implies, IR (infrared) night vision if a key feature that allows the reverse camera to capture and render images even during low light conditions. This is a huge help if you need to drive at night.

Male/Female Connector

A male connector has one or more exposed, unshielded electrical terminal or pins. It is constructed in a way that it can be inserted snugly into a jack or receptacle. A female connector, on the other hand, has recessed holes with its electrical terminals inside. It is built in a way that allows a plug with exposed pins or conductors to be inserted securely.

Share these key terms with your friends, for them to better understand too those technical terms in finding the right reversing camera.