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Topic ClosedInstallation of rear camera - Event Date: 24 Jun 2017

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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Installation of rear camera
    Posted: 24 Mar 2019 at 11:29am
If you look at the IV characteristics of the LED's in GlueGuy's reference link you can see why control circuits or at least current limting resistors are needed. The IV curves go nearly vertical, meaning a miniscule voltage change causes a huge change in current. You also can have a thermal runaway effect. The voltage drop through a diode goes down and the currents go up when it gets hot, so once you turn on the LED's and they get warm, the currents go up, making them hotter yet, and so on. 

I'm getting more curious how the LED lights in our trailers are driven, going to go take a look when I get the chance.
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2019 at 7:11pm
Originally posted by offgrid

I
I'm getting more curious how the LED lights in our trailers are driven, going to go take a look when I get the chance.


I believe at least the interior LED lighting are integrated LED bulbs with their own driver built in to maintain constant current flow but don't quote me on it! Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 11:00am
I would think the circuit would have to be very simple. This article shows a few simple circuits that would do the trick. If the voltage is in a relatively narrow range (like on a vehicle or RV), then I would expect something like one of the ones explained here.
bp
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 4:33pm
I like that circuit GlueGuy, its using the transistors in linear or active mode, so they're not switching. In that state they should not be creating rf noise, but they will experience voltage drops and therefore heating. OTOH, if the transistors are used in switch mode as in a pwm solar controller for example, they will produce noise. Switch mode is going to be more efficient though so it might be that the drivers in our led circuits are of that type. I guess someone needs to take a look at the driver circuits and see.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 6:44pm
Originally posted by offgrid

I guess someone needs to take a look at the driver circuits and see.
I have an old HP O-scope in the garage that could probably tell if it's switching or not.
bp
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 7:44pm
Originally posted by GlueGuy

Originally posted by offgrid

I guess someone needs to take a look at the driver circuits and see.
I have an old HP O-scope in the garage that could probably tell if it's switching or not.



I bet the OP of this thread is now saying to themselves oh my since we have gone off on a bit of a tangent. LOL

The nerd in me is curious too to find out what type of driver circuit they are using and I'm betting on its built into the LED light or in the fixture a switching circuit. The reason why I'm thinking its a switching driver supply is because of the interference one of the posters on this thread had when they hooked up their wifi camera to the spoiler LED light string.

I have a couple Tek O'scopes but there is no way I'm dragging one of them out to the camper. I'll just wait on your findings GlueGuy....... Wink
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2019 at 1:08pm
Question for VoisJ...Did you do a simple wire tap into that spoiler pos. and grd. wires ?  What size of wire taps did you end up using?  Looks like the perfect place for a camera ... I have a 14-16 guage tap but it looks like 18-20???  was it easy to access the lighting wires inside the spoiler...is there ample wire in the spoiler or did you find yourself really having to use more camera cable inside that spoiler to reach the spoiler wires...Getting ready to do this and hope I have no surprises....thanks for any help....Terry.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 May 2019 at 8:09am
Terry,
Yes a simple wire tap, I used a 14-16 (Blue). ample wire under the spoiler.
I actually had to shorten the wire on the camera,it was 3' long.
I just bought a new 180 pod and will be putting the camera on it next month, I'll do a how to with pictures when I do.
John


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2020 at 10:29am
How and where did you mount the QuickVu camera? I just received it a few days ago and looking for some tips...

Thanks
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DonC View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2020 at 10:30am
How and where did you mount the QuickVu camera. Just received it a few days ago. Any help and pictures if possible would be great!
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