Backup Camera cable with short red wires at the ends?

[redmed]

I'm getting ready to install a backup camera. The video cable that came with the camera has a short 6" red wire at each end in conjunction with the RCA video plugs. I assume the red wires are for providing power. Does anybody know if that red wire is separate inside the cable? Or does it piggyback on the shield or center pin?

[chazyouwin]

I don't understand the question (which should be answered by instructions) - you're talking about a red wire on the end of the third party rear camera cable which would be placed near the RCA inputs of the head unit? If it is the power wire, and it sounds like it is, then I think that this would probably connect to the same head unit wire which is connected to the "acc" source to give it power when the key is turned on. Here's a video, the relevant insight begins at about 10 minutes in: What is confusing me is that I don't know why you would need power at this end except when reversing - in a GV installation, I only tapped a backup power wire in the harness running under the door kick plate - that's also in the referenced video.

[chazyouwin]

Maybe the red wire is at that end so that it is simply an alternative source for the backup camera power at the rear end of the car. In that case, if you are powering the rear camera through the tail light wire, then you may not need the red near the head unit connected at all. In my Alpine head unit for the GV, the head unit is what needed to be strung to to the backup wire at that end, and I used the wire bundle under the door sill kickplate. I also have a wireless receiver back of the head unit which needed a source of power for the backup image, but I'm not discerning that you have the same.

[redmed]

I ended up powering the camera from the reverse lights. The monitor from a power source I already had for my radar detector. I did not use the red wires at the end of the RCA (video) wire because I don't know if that red wire piggybacks on the video wire shield or the center pin or is a separate wire. If it is connected to the video wire shield I did not want to take the chance that somewhere along the 18 foot cable the insulation may wear and have a 12v short to the car body. If the red wire is carried on the center video wire it may cause some distortion to the video signal. If I knew it was a separate wire throughout the entire cable I would have used it to carry power from the reverse lights. Then the monitor would not be powered continuously and only be a power draw when needed. I would still like to know how those red wires are carried thru the video wire. My suspicion is that the red wires are connected to the video shield.

[fasteddie]

Use an ohmmeter ( as inexpensive as 10-12 USD) to check for continuity between the various cable ends. Disconnect from power source and equipment before taking measurements.
Stir. Add ice. Enjoy.

[redmed]

Use an ohmmeter ( as inexpensive as 10-12 USD) to check for continuity between the various cable ends. Disconnect from power source and equipment before taking measurements.
Stir. Add ice. Enjoy.

Yeah, why didn't I think of that? So, Obvious. I was making things much more complicated than they are.