side-cameras?

[MazdaMatt]

I suppose if i put a small mirror inside my driver's side window, like against the A-pillar, then it would comply enough to tell a cop to go away... I'll keep it in mind. I think mirrors should be mounted more forward like old sportscars, so if i did a cam setup, it would be in my fenders above the wheels. No more blidspot

BTW, Coyote, nice work! I wouldn't put hte screen on the other side of the car though, seems pointless. I suppose it gets your head turning to check your blindspot, though. Should have installed it in the fender!

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by trikkonceptz

Remember these laws were put into place long before the technology came about. I would take the chance and if stopped then take the data to the courts explaining the benefits to the technology. Not the aero-side, but the advantages of eliminating blind spots, better visibility, etc..

Eventually these laws will be updated, some one however has to be the sacrificial lamb.

I totally agree with that. The fine for such an infraction must not be all that high. In which case it would be worthwhile to get one an challenge it just to raise awareness on the shortcomings of the current law.

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by Red

IC is not the greatest place to look for mods. Its great for bragging about MPG though

I never did it due to funds, but the model I checked into was a RoadMaster VR3 back up camera. The newest one comes with a 3.5" color LCD screen. You won't be able to count the paint chips on the car next to you but you'll be able to tell its there. Lens is a fish eye setup and its integral to the cam. I didn't see it as too much of a down side as I use my mirrors to get an overall view of my surroundings not as blind spot checking. Its got an RF range of around 20ft and is capable of transmitting over a couple of channels so you could run two at once. The LCD plugs into your 12v and the cam you splice into your back up lights or some 12v source. Since the receiver is mounted in the LCD and the cams are going to be used as mirrors, you are talking about a receiver-transmitter distance of 8ft tops, so the signal should be more than strong enough.

Legally out here in Cali you need your rear view and your driver side mirror. Never really been bothered about it in the Jeep and from what I have heard, you just need them where they should be, whether they are actually functional isn't that big of a deal.

I think the original post was deleted from IC. The owner claims to want to run it as a nice site for insight drivers but all I ever here is how he deletes stuff and bans people,

[azraelswrd]

Roll the dice and sack the mirrors or play it low key and still have them in spirit. Wow... that is pretty detailed for just mirrors!

from California

Mirrors
26709. (a) Every motor vehicle registered in a foreign jurisdiction and every motorcycle subject to registration in this state shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle.

Every motor vehicle subject to registration in this state, except a motorcycle, shall be equipped with not less than two such mirrors, including one affixed to the left-hand side.

(b) The following described types of motor vehicles, of a type subject to registration, shall be equipped with mirrors on both the left-and right-hand sides of the vehicle so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle:

(1) A motor vehicle so constructed or loaded as to obstruct the driver's view to the rear.

(2) A motor vehicle towing a vehicle and the towed vehicle or load thereon obstructs the driver's view to the rear.

(3) A bus or trolley coach.

(c) The provisions of subdivision (b) shall not apply to a passenger vehicle when the load obstructing the driver's view consists of passengers.

Amended Ch. 74, Stats. 1970. Effective November 23, 1970.

[i_am_socket]

Jersey law is driver's side and rear-view mandatory, passenger side if the rear-view is blocked. I've gotten no problems from my passenger delete (though it really just looks like accident carnage at the moment).

An internal mirror would serve the same purpose, but I'd prefer the outside view and position adjustment that could come from an external video mount. Heck, if I could hook up the existing electric controls to change viewing angle...

Found this site for a rather convenient argument for video over mirrors (at least for those who prefer to allow computers to think for them): LINK

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

Jersey law is driver's side and rear-view mandatory, passenger side if the rear-view is blocked. I've gotten no problems from my passenger delete (though it really just looks like accident carnage at the moment).

An internal mirror would serve the same purpose, but I'd prefer the outside view and position adjustment that could come from an external video mount. Heck, if I could hook up the existing electric controls to change viewing angle...

Found this site for a rather convenient argument for video over mirrors (at least for those who prefer to allow computers to think for them): LINK

Thanks for this bit of info. I'm deleting my passenger side for the drive home.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Originally Posted by Coyote X

Mine was pretty cheap, $25 for the camera and the 3.5" screen for $53

I did it by cutting off the base of the stock mirror then using a tube that the cameras fit inside to fiberglass into the base. After the fiberglass was strong enough I filled and smoothed it with lightweight body filler before painting it. They work pretty good and give a lot wider range than a normal mirror. The passenger side screen is a bit small but it gets the job done. Drivers side works great. Only bad thing is I have only managed to put 125 miles on the car since putting them on I need to get out and drive some more

That's awesome stuff -- almost exactly what I was thinking of.

How wide a view does the camera have? How is it at night (with the IR LED's)? Can you move the righthand screen closer to the driver, so you can see it better?

[pasadena_commut]

Originally Posted by Coyote X

Can you please post a picture showing what the monitors look like from the driver's position? In the pictures above it looks like the passenger side screen is recessed into the glove box, and that can't be the way it is since you couldn't see the screen while driving.

How does the camera do when the sun is setting directly behind the car? That's a problem with normal side mirrors (causing a blinding reflection), here, might it damage the camera?

[MazdaMatt]

Good question. Also, how does it fair at night and in the rain, or rain AT night?

[Coyote X]

The angle is way better than a normal mirror. The angle it is sitting at shows the side of the car pretty much up to the angle you see out the window while looking at the screen so it gives great coverage. The IR things are all but useless at night. They can show stuff about 15ft away at best. The limited use I have had at night with them it isn't an issue because you can always see the marker lights or headlights just fine. Haven't had the sun shining directly at them since the sun doesn't do that around here but it really doesn't hurt a ccd sensor to point it at the sun other than it just washes out the image. So the screen would probably just show solid white but that will be a lot less glare than a mirror.

I have replaced the dash vents and put the screens in the openings. The glove box is under that panel. The cables that come with it are pretty long, like 20' so it could be mounted anywhere. Somewhere closer to the driver would be much better but a metro has a very small dash and I didn't have anywhere else I could put it