What about backup cameras as rear view mirrors?

[FordFiestaS]

I can see the rear view / door mirror being replaced with standard off the shelf backup cameras. The displays just inside the windows so the visual familiarity is still there. Look left or right and in place of the actual mirror is an LCD display without all the wind drag inherent in current mirror configurations.

Although mildly inexpensive, I cannot yet see an ROI @ current prices.

Am I wrong?

Ideas, Thoughts, Suggestions?

[Daox]

A few members have done this.

Neil did it with his xA (huge thread): http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...mods-2969.html

Redneck did it with his Metro: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ors-29245.html

Probably more, but you get the idea.

[cowmeat]

I was thinking using the back up camera on the Turtle as my rear view mirror, but honestly it would be too much work to be worth it. I rarely even use the rear-view mirror since the car is so narrow in the rear.
I have no real plans for removing the side-view mirrors, and there really is almost no rear blind spot, so half the time I just leave my sun shade installed on the back window anyway.

[redneck]

cowmeat;
I was thinking using the back up camera on the Turtle as my rear view mirror, but honestly it would be too much work to be worth it.

Is a license plate bracket mounted camera too much work ??

Three wires to connect, power,ground and back up light. then plug in the a/v cable and clip the monitor to the existing rear view mirror.

$30 - $40

I have no real plans for removing the side-view mirrors

Here's a good reason to...

mirror drag is quantified at 3-6% of total vehicle drag for a modern car in a report called Contribution of different devices to the total drag (PDF):

Reflections on side mirrors: testing drag vs. MPG - MetroMPG.com

Metrompg found a increase of 3% per mirror.

Your 90 day average for the turtle is 66.28mpg.

If you where to gain as much as Metro for deleting two side mirrors (6%), your potential 90 day average could be 70.25mpg.

A 4mpg gain...

So, still not worth it...???

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[redpoint5]

I added a backup camera to my license plate for about $15. It's powered off of the rear tail light and plugs into the DVD nav in the trunk. Super easy install.

The problem is that a license plate mounted camera leaves more of a blind spot than normal mirrors.

Cameras are not legal replacements for mirrors in most states, so until the law is updated, it isn't a legit option.

[cowmeat]

Is a license plate bracket mounted camera too much work ??

Three wires to connect, power,ground and back up light. then plug in the a/v cable and clip the monitor to the existing rear view mirror.

I already installed one, if you look at Turtle's page you'll see the plate-mounted back-up camera is already on it. I don't know how to power it if I don't use the reverse light for power, though. If it's super easy to find a power source to tap into, I'd like to do it, but electrical is not my forte. I consider myself lucky to have hooked up the camera correctly in the first place.

If you where to gain as much as Metro for deleting two side mirrors (6%), your potential 90 day average could be 70.25mpg.

A 4mpg gain...

So, still not worth it...???

Nope! I am currently saving over 50 bucks a week by carpooling with my wife. I finally have a car she enjoys carpooling with me in. Should I decide to do a mirror delete, I'm pretty sure the honeymoon would be over, and she'd go back to driving her Explorer! Making a 4% gain in mpg a very negative investment!

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

I already installed one, if you look at Turtle's page you'll see the plate-mounted back-up camera is already on it. I don't know how to power it if I don't use the reverse light for power, though. If it's super easy to find a power source to tap into, I'd like to do it, but electrical is not my forte. I consider myself lucky to have hooked up the camera correctly in the first place.


Nope! I am currently saving over 50 bucks a week by carpooling with my wife. I finally have a car she enjoys carpooling with me in. Should I decide to do a mirror delete, I'm pretty sure the honeymoon would be over, and she'd go back to driving her Explorer! Making a 4% gain in mpg a very negative investment!

Your wife seems a lot like my dad. Extremely anti-hypermiler haha.

[redneck]

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Most fuse boxes have a extra accessory terminal. Disconnect the back up wire to the camera from the car harness. Then, just run a wire with a switch to the camera back up wire so you can turn it on and off as wanted. Or if you want, you can install a diode in the back up wire before the switch wire and leave it connected so that it will still turn on automatically when you put it in reverse or when you want it.

Nope! I am currently saving over 50 bucks a week by carpooling with my wife. I finally have a car she enjoys carpooling with me in. Should I decide to do a mirror delete, I'm pretty sure the honeymoon would be over, and she'd go back to driving her Explorer!

That's 99.9% of the battle...



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[cowmeat]

Your wife seems a lot like my dad. Extremely anti-hypermiler haha.

I tried to get her to pay attention to her instant mpg meter on the Explorer, and she just laughed! She is immune to hypermiling!

Most fuse boxes have a extra accessory terminal. Disconnect the back up wire to the camera from the car harness. Then, just run a wire with a switch to the camera back up wire so you can turn it on and off as wanted. Or if you want, you can install a diode in the back up wire before the switch wire and leave it connected so that it will still turn on automatically when you put it in reverse or when you want it.

Lol, I don't speak that language! It turns on automatically now when I put it in reverse and works great as a back-up camera, but I'd like it to function all the time so I could delete the rear view mirror. I know nothing about diodes, etc. . . . and I don't want to burn up my new toy

[redneck]

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Most fuse boxes have a extra accessory terminal. Then, just run a wire with a switch to the camera back up wire so you can turn it on and off as wanted.

Simple...



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