Information about video cameras in place of outside mirrors

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Here's a decent looking 7" LCD monitor for decent money ($67):

Amazon.com: Pyle PLVHR75 7'' High Resolution TFT LCD Monitor w//Headrest Frame & Stand Bracket: Electronics

[stevet47]

I saw this on another forum.
Seems like a high quality camera (with IR for night driving) for a reasonable price. Just take off the shroud and mount and fiberlgass a molded-in mount for it.
CNB IR BULLET & DOME CAMERAS - CNB B1710N WEATHERPROOF IR CAMERA WITH 50FT NIGHT TIME RANGE

[Eddles]

$81 camera and a $67 screen for what? Maybe a $10 per year saving? How much improvement in FE would losing a mirror really gain?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

The same camera is available for ~$25. Read the earlier part of the thread (and/or the others) mirror drag is worth quite a bit -- maybe 10% of the total drag. Though some of us are also trying an $8 mirror...

[stevet47]

Originally Posted by Eddles

$81 camera and a $67 screen for what? Maybe a $10 per year saving? How much improvement in FE would losing a mirror really gain?

Yeah, you would have to want to do it for the bling factor as well. If it only cost a few hundred bucks to do a decent camera setup, I can definitely see it being worth while, even if the fuel payback is a long time.

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hi,

The same camera is available for ~$25.

Where? Hell I'll buy one just to play with at that price!

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

It's now $22:

REAR VIEW CAMERA NIGHT VISION WATERPROOF NEW FOR CARS

This is from a post by CoyoteX:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post97940

[stevet47]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hi,

It's now $22:

REAR VIEW CAMERA NIGHT VISION WATERPROOF NEW FOR CARS

This is from a post by CoyoteX:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post97940

Oh ok. I don't think it is the same camera, but it is hard to tell since they don't list any technical specs for it.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

If they are not identical, they are very similar: ~10 IR LED's, ~1 1/8" diameter, etc. CoyoteX has used the less expensive one in a car (see the link I posted) -- maybe he can pipe in here and tell us what the other specs are, and how it works.

[Eddles]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hi,

The same camera is available for ~$25. Read the earlier part of the thread (and/or the others) mirror drag is worth quite a bit -- maybe 10% of the total drag. Though some of us are also trying an $8 mirror...

Wasn't questioning the rationale of losing a wing mirror or two, just wondering whether it's worth to spend $150 on a camera set-up. I certainly wasn't questioning a $8 mirror, or a $20 camera! I'm planning a wing mirror delete myself - I just hope I can find a cover, if my car's model range were ever sold without a passenger mirror.

How much of a saving in fuel economy do 10% reduction in drag translate into? 1%?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Some folks who have (already) deleted a mirror (or two) can tell you, but if ~75% of the energy expended at highway speeds goes to aero losses, then I'd expect to see ~7% increase in mileage with a 10% improvement in drag.