Installing a modern multimedia system in a car opens up great opportunities for improving comfort, but without a high-quality view from behind, this process cannot be considered complete. Connecting rear view cameras to an Android head unit is not just a whim, but a necessity for safe parking and maneuvering in confined spaces. Unlike standard systems, Chinese 2 din radios offer flexible settings, but require a careful approach to the electrical part.
The installation process may seem complicated to a beginner due to the abundance of wires and connectors, but if you follow the basic rules of electrical installation, the problem can be solved in a couple of hours. The main difficulty lies not in the physical installation of the lens in the trunk, but in the correct organization of power supply and transmission of the video signal throughout the cabin. Incorrect switching often leads to noise on the screen or a complete lack of signal when reverse gear is engaged.
In this guide we will go through all the steps: from choosing the installation location to fine-tuning the parking lines in the system menu. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes when working with RCA cables and why it is important to use high-quality contact insulation. The article will help you do the work yourself, saving a significant amount on car service costs.
Selection of equipment and preparation for installation
Before starting work, you need to make sure the compatibility of the selected components. Most modern Chinese 2 din radios are equipped with a universal video input type AV-IN or CAM-IN, which accepts an analog signal in CVBS format. However, there are models that support high-resolution AHD cameras that require specific settings in the software.
When choosing a camera, pay attention to the viewing angle and the presence of infrared illumination. For nighttime use, the presence of IR diodes is critical, although their effectiveness is highly dependent on the condition of the rear window and the presence of contamination. It is also worth checking the package for the presence of extension wires, since standard cables are often not enough for medium and large sedans.
- 📷 Matrix type: CCD matrices provide better picture quality in the dark, but are more expensive than CMOS counterparts.
- 🌧️ Degree of protection: Look for IP67 or IP68 markings for reliable operation in the rain and when washing the body.
- 📏 Parking lines: Decide in advance whether you need static lines on the screen or dynamic ones (depending on the turn of the steering wheel).
To connect you will need a standard set of tools: set screwdrivers, plastic trim pullers, electrical tape or heat shrink tubing, and a multimeter to test power circuits. It will not be superfluous to purchase an additional four-wire wire if the distance from the trunk to the front panel exceeds the standard 5-6 meters.
Connection diagram and pinout of connectors
The most critical stage is the correct switching of wires according to the electrical diagram of your car and radio. An incorrect polarity may cause a fuse to blow or the head unit's video input to fail. The standard camera connection diagram includes three main contacts: positive power, negative power (ground) and a video signal.
On the back panel of the 2 din radio there is usually a connector labeled BACK, CAM-IN or REVERSE. In most cases, a yellow tulip (RCA) is used to transmit the video signal and a separate wire to control the turn on. This control wire should receive +12 Volts only when reverse gear is engaged, which serves as a trigger for automatic screen switching.
⚠️ Attention: Never supply constant +12V power to the control input of the radio if you want the camera to turn on only when parking. Otherwise, the screen will constantly show the image from the camera, blocking the navigation and media player.
| Contact on the radio | Wire color (standard) | Purpose | Where to connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video In (RCA) | Yellow | Video signal | Yellow camera output |
| Reverse / Back | Pink or Green | Control (+12V) | Tar light plus travel |
| GND (Weight) | Black | General minus | Car body |
| Power In (Camera) | Red | Camera power supply | Plus reversing light |
If your radio supports AHD cameras, the connection via the RCA connector remains the same, but you must manually select the correct signal format in the system settings. An attempt to output an AHD signal to an input configured for CVBS will result in a black and white image with ripples or no image at all.
Routing cables through the vehicle interior
The route of wiring from the trunk to the front panel depends on the type of car body. In sedans, the cable is most often pulled along the sills, removing the plastic trim. In hatchbacks and station wagons, you can use standard corrugation between the body and the trunk door, but this place is subject to constant bending and requires special attention to the integrity of the insulation.
To pass the wire from the passenger compartment to the trunk, you often have to use rubber seals in the area of the hood or trunk hinge. It is difficult to push a rigid wire through such holes, so many craftsmen use steel wire as a broach. It is important to avoid places where the cable can be pinched by window lift mechanisms or door locks.
☑️ Checking the cable routing
It is strictly not recommended to lay the video cable in close proximity to the power wires of the amplifier or speaker systems. Electromagnetic interference can cause serious interference in the image in the form of stripes or ripples. If the intersection cannot be avoided, do it at a right angle (90 degrees).
Installing the camera in the trunk or license plate
Installing the camera itself requires care so as not to damage the paintwork of the body. The most aesthetic option is to mount it into the trunk lid, but it requires drilling a hole with a diameter of about 20 mm. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to use a universal license plate frame with a built-in camera mount.
When drilling the body, be sure to use a step drill and remove metal shavings before installing the camera so that they do not get inside the focusing mechanism. After installation, the junction of the camera and the body must be treated with sealant to prevent moisture from entering. This is especially true for regions with frequent rain and high-pressure washing.
How to remove the trunk trim without damage
Most plastic clips are held in place by friction. Use a special plastic puller, prying the clip in the center or by the edge. Do not pull the casing by force, if you feel resistance - check whether you forgot to unscrew the screws around the perimeter or in the handles. Broken clips can be easily replaced with new ones, but it is better to keep the original ones.
The angle of the camera plays an important role. If it looks too high, you won't see the curbs near the wheels; if it’s too low, the main part of the screen will be occupied by asphalt. The optimal position is when the horizon line is in the upper third of the screen, and the bumper is visible at the very bottom.
Setting up the image and parking lines
After the physical connection and check of functionality, you need to proceed to the software setup. In Android radios, this is usually the responsibility of the factory application Car Settings or a section in the general system settings. Here you can calibrate the image and activate auxiliary elements.
Parking lines help you navigate the dimensions of the car. In budget cameras, they are drawn by the device itself and are static - they do not change their trajectory when the steering wheel is turned. More advanced systems allow you to apply dynamic lines using the radio processor, but this requires connecting a wire CAN buses or a steering angle sensor, which is rare in universal solutions.
- 🔄 Mirror reflection: If the image is flipped vertically or horizontally, look for a checkmark Mirror or Flip in the camera settings.
- 🎨 Color balance: Adjust brightness and contrast if the picture seems too dark or overexposed.
- ⏱️ Shutdown time: Set a delay for turning off the camera after switching gears in order to complete the maneuver in time.
⚠️ Attention: On some radio models, the camera settings are hidden in the engineering menu. To enter, you may need a password (often 8878, 1234 or 0000), which can be found in the instructions for the specific model of the head unit.
If the parking lines block important objects, try changing their color in the settings to a more contrasting one or turning them off completely, based only on the image from the camera.
Diagnosing problems and eliminating interference
Even with proper connection, technical problems may occur. The most common problem is image flickering or black horizontal stripes. This almost always indicates poor ground contact or interference from the generator and ignition system.
If the camera does not turn on automatically when reverse gear is engaged, check for + 12V on the control wire of the radio using a multimeter. Often the problem lies in a blown fuse for the reverse lights or in poor contact in the license plate light connector, where power is usually taken from.
In cases where there is an image, but it is black and white, check the compatibility of signal standards. Perhaps the camera outputs AHD, and the radio is waiting for CVBS, or vice versa. Switching the mode is usually available in the menu Factory Settings in the item Backcar Video Format.
The quality of the picture depends 90% on the quality of the mass connection. Clean the contact until the metal shines and use terminals rather than simple twisting.
Sometimes there is a problem with audio and video desynchronization if the camera has a built-in microphone. In such cases, it is better to turn off the sound from the camera in the radio settings to avoid echoes from the main acoustics of the car.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to connect two cameras (rear and front) to one radio?
Yes, many 2 din radios have a separate input FRONT-CAM or AUX-IN. Switching between them usually requires an additional physical switch or setting up triggers in the system. The front camera is often connected through a separate button in the cabin.
Why does the camera display the image with a delay of 2-3 seconds?
The delay may be caused by slow signal processing by the radio processor or Android energy saving settings. Try disabling the "quick start" option for the camera application or updating the head unit firmware to the latest version.
How to connect a camera if the radio does not have a separate control wire (Reverse)?
In this case, you can use a video detector that sends a signal to the radio input when a video signal appears. However, it is most reliable to extend a separate control wire from the reversing light directly to any free programmable input (GPIO), if the firmware allows you to reassign the functions of the buttons on the steering wheel.
Does the length of the cable affect the image quality?
For an analog CVBS signal, the critical length is considered to be 10-15 meters. With a longer length, the signal fades and noise appears. If you need to lay a longer cable, use shielded wire of higher quality or consider the option of transmitting the signal through twisted pair using converters.