That is bad ass!!!
Pm sent
That is bad ass!!!
Pm sent
So I've made some progress. I decided to do a 2 camera system, one for continuous rear view and one for the parking backup cam. I also modified the mount to include a pair of LED modules to act as an integrated 3rd brake light. I just got the second camera in the mail today, as well as the rear view mirror/monitor. I went a little overboard with a Brandmotion unit that will either display a wide 7" single screen or with will show a side by side pair of 3.5" screens for two simultaneous camera views. I have a few other camera ideas so I wanted the flexibility. Might be nice to have side view cams that come on with the turn signals or crawling cameras mounted inside the bumpers for spotting. The mirror will handle 3 inputs and the stock head unit with the Lockpick will scroll through another 5 (I think? 4?). That should be more than I'll ever need. I finished the revision of the part this morning and I'll start the print later tonight to be ready for tomorrow. I also made some other changes to include a rain shroud, diffuser lenses for the LEDs, new wiring channels and some more drainage friendly surfaces.
Unfortunately the jeep is out right now for a regear so I'll be sitting on this stuff for a few days. I can get all the goodies mounted up though and do a test run with the monitor, see if that shroud blocks the wide angle view at all. This is officially proof of concept #2, but hopefully everything is in order and I can save myself a revised prototype print. Then I can do a final with any minor tweaks in whatever material I end up choosing.
Started printing last night. You can tell he's jazzed to be on the show
Finished up this morning
Mounted the cameras. Apparently I had a moment during modeling and the buckets for the LEDs are too narrow, woops. I'll fix that on the next round. I knew the cameras would look staggered from the angle of the shroud but I left it so I could check to see how inset they could be before interfering with the wide angle camera view. I also had a rather elaborate plan for mounting the LED lenses, I have since abandoned that complexity due to printing constraints. I did a couple runs with clear copolyester making the lenses fit, you can see one test fit below.It will sit flush in the final version.
I rigged up the cameras temporarily off the motorcycle (jeep is still in the shop) to check the view. Dual camera view:
Single backup view with lines:
So my master plan here is to use the full wide screen for a rear view mirror. The backup (low angle) camera will come up on the head unit. I know I can shut the lines off on the mirror in full screen view, but the stretched aspect ratio concerns me. I don't know what I expected, but I'll have to see what it looks like mounted up. There are always options. Good news is, no apparent interference from the rain shroud either way.
Next up is another iteration of the camera mount to refine the LED buckets, lens mounting and I'm going to set the lower camera back in the shroud. I might screw around making the wire channels have a 'snap-in' effect to make mounting easier. Fun fun!
Unrelated, I saw this kick ass TJ when I went to check on my jeep today
I got it mostly installed yesterday. Everything takes time because I like to clean up wiring where I can so there's a lot of soldering and heat shrinking and connectors to do, plus I got sidetracked doing a neighbor's brakes. I got the 3rd brake light finished up and I have a plan for the camera wiring. I'll be splicing an extension into the camera harnesses to 1. pass cleanly through a rubber grommet and 2. keep the connectors inside. I prefer everything on the outside of the jeep to be dunk-me-in-the-river waterproof. Here it is mounted up
And last night in the dark with the brakes lit
I'm very happy with the result so far. Now I just have to get the cameras and rear view monitor done.
nice work
The third brake like brings it all together. This is awesome!
2013 Unlimited Rubicon
2014 Cherokee Trailhawk