Rear facing camera

[Dave_R]

I haven't been lurking here long, a few weeks maybe, but I'm yet to see anyone with a rear facing camera on their bike.

My attempt at mounting a rear view camera is just a step above bodge level but I think it's worth showing off. I'm writing about it now because I had to pull it off before handing my ride over for a damage assessment following my latest spill. Unfortunately I neglected to take in-situ photos before I handed the bike over!

Anyway, the features;
- Records to micro SD card (16GB max)
- Max res 640x480 @ 60fps, res and fps can be changed in settings
- Starts recording when the key is turned to ON, automatically stops recording and shuts down when key is turned to OFF
- Records continuously in 30min blocks (~1GB each) and will overwrite oldest file when card is full
- Will record even with starter motor cranking (i.e. it's tolerant to voltage drops)
- Also records mono audio (with optional mic)
- Optional display output, e.g. could mount a monitor at the front for live rear view
- Consumes about 250mA @ 12V
- Costs about £45 in parts

https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/DSC00040Medium_zps2ce1159b.jpg?t=1362092775
- I have all of this (bar the cam of course) crammed in the service book compartment under the back seat, held in with cable ties and Velcro. Will update with in-situ pics when I get my bike back.
- The power comes from piggy backing off a sub fuse, doesn't take too much power, far less than the 2A fuse I've got the kit behind.
- The cable the camera came with was far too long so I cut it down and soldered on my own connectors.
- The mic is tiny and sits right at the end of the cable.
- Everything runs at 12V

I have the camera stuck 'upside down' under the tail light
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00045Medium_zpsfce03b97.jpg
Pic of the voltage regulator like the one in the box, this one has heatsinks but the one I used for this project doesn't.
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00042Medium_zps303816db.jpg
This is the only thing I need to 'fix', the camera I bought is sold as a rear view camera and as such it's mirrored and has distance markers! I'm going to upgrade it with a better cam that doesn't have markers or isn't mirrored soon!
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_CAM1_zpsa6bfb945.jpg
Still image of my latest spill
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_CAM2_zpsde073c04.jpg

So, what do you think?

[scarborough_lad]

And the point is?
____________________
'96 Suzuki GS500

[Dave_R]

[BTTD]

Looks like a pretty neat little set up for not much cash. Do you have a front camera too?

[bezzabsa]

a front mounted would be better for insurance....

[Dave_R]

Photo of parts now with annotations!

I forgot to mention, the rear view cam is supplementing my front facing helmet cam, it's a Contour ROAM if you wanna look it up. I'm actually using the Contour's footage for an on-going insurance claim right now.

I'm not going to upload the crash footage, yet, but here's a taster;
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/vlcsnap_zps71cf8bb3.png

[Irn-Bru]

Why wouldn't you upload it? One man's misfortune is anothers entertainment

The camera unit you have is exactly the same as the one I have on my dual-camera car DVR, mine has a stupidly long wire.
____________________
KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[BenZXR]

Looks quite cheap and cheerful, I was looking at getting a GoPro but they are crazy money.
____________________
CBT 03/10/12 | Theory 11/01/13 | Mod 1 16/01/13 | Mod 2 18/01/13
Current: Suzuki GSXR600 00'.
Old: Peugeot Speedfight 56', Kawasaki ZXR400 51'.

[P.]

[Copycat73]

a lot easier like this

https://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/copycat73/allsorts/Photo1086.jpg
____________________
Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Dave_R]

[DrDonnyBrago]

I've been looking to install something similar, but stealthily and front facing for insurance purposes, and purposes of not letting the pigs know it is there. The 30 min slots of recording then overwriting the oldest bits afterwards is EXACTLY what I am after.



This is something that has been brought up on numerous occasions by several people. I'm very interested in an elegant and discreet solution but far to busy (lazy) to experiment.


What DVR is it?
What cameras are suitable?

[Dave_R]

[DrDonnyBrago]

Thanks for that Dave .


Do you have an eBay link to the voltage regulator too?

[Dave_R]

The regulator I have is called a DC step up down regulator, there are quite a few on ebay;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=DC+step+up+down

The one I've got and many of the ones listed in the search above require at least a multimeter (or volt meter) to get going, because you need to monitor and adjust the output voltage to 12V. In my example the output voltage is adjusted by turning that tiny little brass screw on the blue component, called a 'trimpot', seen on the middle bottom of the board below.

Or you could get something that only outputs to 12V, but these are a bit more expensive.

https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/DSC00042Medium_zps303816db.jpg

[dansp1]

I have been thinking about a rear facing camera with a small screen to do away with mirrors, anybody done it? anyone know if it's legal?

[Copycat73]

[Gazza M]

Me likey.

I'm the same, might put something together on my bike too. I'm guessing you're running it off a relay? I have one already wired up for my heated grips, so could probably use that for the power supply too, and run another power cable up...
____________________
Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[Dave_R]

[DervMan]

I have a front & rear camera on my bike (because I can!).

Here's a link, the main unit isn't waterproof but I have it tucked behind the screen.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-0-LCD-HD-720P-Dual-Lens-Car-DVR-Camera-Vehicle-Video-Recorder-G-sensor-Motion-/321039486672?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

[/img]

[Irn-Bru]

[Dave_R]

I've finally got my bike back from the workshop, it's very shiny, almost every external facing bit of body has been replaced at the third party's insurers expense

As promised, the camera in-situ;

First I had to reattach the camera, was held by double sided tape before but now with black Velcro,
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00122_zps05b42a74.jpg

The brains under the back seat,
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00124_zps9f682c94.jpg
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00127_zps566fa2eb.jpg

The kit gets its power by piggy backing off a sub circuit fuse. Lots of silicone grease applied to keep the elements out now that the protective cap is off,
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00129_zpsa7121db6.jpg
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00132_zpsf5bbf9b7.jpg

The camera installed,
https://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Dave_343/th_DSC00139_zps9004621f.jpg

Inb4 stupid place for reflector, the dealer stuck it there when I asked for L-plates, got my licence now but it's stuck on there good so left it.

[Gazza M]

what box did you use for the regulator? i've bought myself the bits and pieces to do this but was a bit surprised when the regulator came just as the bare board!
____________________
Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[Dave_R]

[supZ]

tempted to rig up something like this on my trackbike. would save the hassle of setting up my camera and making sure its on/press record etc.. with gloves on

might need to find a better quality camera though
____________________
CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike