| Author |
Message |
Dale Fleener (Dale_mc8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 9:47 pm: | |
I have been thinking about adding a second camera to my rear view set-up. This one would cover the right side and the door area. The camera I have been thinking about is a "dome" or security camera that is designed for wall or ceiling mount and has a wide angle lens. Have any of you used one of these? Got pluses and/or minuses to share?
Dale MC8 |
RJ Long (Rjlong)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 11:31 pm: | |
Dale -
If your outside mirrors are adjusted properly, along with a good 4 - 6 inch "fisheye" spot mirror, you shouldn't need a camera.
Instead, consider installing some "docking lights', for when you need to wiggle into a campsite after dark.
FWIW,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 12:00 am: | |
I too have been planning a curbside mirror mount camera. I got the idea from Jack Conrad a couple of years ago when I took the quarter tour of the Orange Blossom Special. He has one mounted on his curbside mirror.
I have been pondering the problem of lens cleaning and think you are right on with the dome camera, that would eliminate scratching the lens with constant cleaning.
As for camera angle, I figured on asking Jack what his is, and what the coverage is. I've seen 35 deg, 90 deg, and 120 deg. recently and figured that a 90 deg. would be about the best, but wanted to talk to somone with experience in the matter.
Jack is busy right now with Bussin '06 but I won't be needing mine till May or June '06 so I haven't asked yet. Maybe next week when things calm down he'll have enough time to shed some light on the subject.
Any one with any info would be greatly appreciated.
No rush but curious.
Ed Jewett |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 7:40 am: | |
If you use a camera for a typically rear view mirror it will need the reversed image just like the ones for the rear of the coach.
The waterproof wide angle cameras that have reversed images are available but I haven't seen one in the security dome style.
You could modify a small black & white monitor from one of those cheapie security systems by swapping two wires on the picture tube yoke inside, But I did that on a couple of monitors but the ratty design of those things make getting the brightness and contrast adjustment a pain. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 8:05 am: | |
RJ -
I often wondered how guys would manage to safely drive their
bus, having to refocus their eyes on all the monitors while driving...
The side "docking lights", and better back-up lights would be
a 100% better choice, as far as I'm concerned. The lack of
decent back-up lights was always a problem for bus drivers,
and using the 4-ways, or the turn signal for extra light while
night backing, was common practice. But cameras all over,
and a half dozen screens to watch? Man... it's so "RVish"..
(not that there's anything wrong with that) |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 8:31 am: | |
The best part of having dual cameras on the back of the coach is one is aimed at the trailer hitch. People are amazed when you back a 40 foot coach up and perfectly line up on that 2" ball the first try. Or better yet backing a 20 foot trailer through a fence opening without the usual screaming, yelling and 50 tries if someone is back there giving you all the wrong hand signals.
Are we having fun yet? |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 11:30 am: | |
What is wrong with being able to see the right lane without trying to figure out the distance to the car in the right lane? The convex mirrors are useless for judging distance.
One monitor, switchable to two cameras would not be overkill.
Trying to focus on a monitor isn't as hard as trying to study a convex mirror and try to figure out the distance to the distorted object in it.
Ed |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 11:45 am: | |
Probably right, Ed! Never having used any, I remain a
mirror aficionado. No complexities here! |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 12:10 pm: | |
Side "docking lights" in Californa are verbotten. Some Chippies are of the persuasion that simple installation of docking lights (a mere potential for use) constitutes a violation.
The Vehicle code does permit a light, ala some models of Cadillac, that operates a white light in conjunction with the turn signal. But a light to give you an idea of real wheel/curb clearance is a no-no.
Don't make sense to me! Seems overkill and they could simply cite the forgetful driver that leaves them on. (but a relay connected with the turn signal switch could automatically cancel) |
Dale Fleener (Dale_mc8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 1:18 pm: | |
Ed, yeah, that is what I am thinking of. One monitor, two cameras. The one over the entry door would not need to be reversed.
Mark, I haven't heard of the California ban on Docking Lights. I don't doubt you, but we sold a bunch of coaches with 'em at the dealership I worked at in Lodi with never a complaint that I heard. I think those were hooked up in conjunction with the back-up lights and couldn't be used while in "D".
John, you are probably right about the fish-eye mirror, but a camera just looks cool. I'm not above cluttering my dash with gauges, switches, screens, etc. that I may only use once in a while, if ever, just to look cool. Who knows, maybe they will actually be useful. [8-}
DaleMC8 |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 4:17 pm: | |
Dale, We're dealing with the same CHP office, off Cherokee, Stockton.
Admittedly, this is a low priority item with most law enforcement, but it a point of exposure if the Officer's had a bad day or you do something to convince him that you "flunked" the attitude test. |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 5:21 pm: | |
The 18 wheeler I drove years ago had a nice electric powered mirror on the right side, not convex, would pan quite a bit and made backing the trailer very easy. Don't know how this would fit onto a bus, hadn't thought about it because my 4104 isn't much of a problem.
From the memories of my younger days it seemes to me that just about every bus I rode had a spotlight that could be used for backing and they look really neat. I have one I got on ebay and may use it for a backup light, at least on the left side. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 12:04 am: | |
Instead of putting docking lights out there, just use infrared LEDs and then the cops can't gripe (or see them). Cameras see fine in I/R light. Many come with built in IR illuminators but there are also a lot of separate illuminators out there...
Interesting, I put a second camera aiming back into the coach so while I am driving I can switch from the rear camera to the inside one to watch my wife making sandwiches etc (comfort factor to know she didn't fall out the door or something)
Originally I put a reversing camera there, thought being that since it was looking backwards just like the rear camera, it oughta be reversed.
BUT since the only time I ever look back there with my head, the image is NOT reversed, having it reversed in the monitor is truly weird. Everything's on the wrong side!! So I changed it to a non-reversed camera and everything got a lot easier to look at and not go crazy! Strange how it works... |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 12:10 am: | |
I think they're called "voyeur lights", Gary. |
motorcoach1
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 8:17 pm: | |
check out www.scdlink.com for camera gear |
james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 04, 2006 - 2:06 am: | |
I have installed the right side camera twice. It works great. Or should I say "it worked great" before a tree branch snatched it away on a store parking lot. I like to use it to see the merging traffic from ON ramps and to make sure I don't slice a tire while making right turns. Make sure you mount it low 3-4 feet from the road surface. It works better for me that way.
PS
I also installed another in the engine compartment to keep an eye on the mechanical temp gauge. My dash board temp gage is 30-40 degrees off at times. |
motorcoach1
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 04, 2006 - 2:23 pm: | |
any one have an old ramco mirror , i'm playing with a cammera system that goes in the housing that is remote controled. it's located behind the mirror itself fullyinclosed . or any mirror might work i like to tinker with such foolishness |
Doug G
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 9:47 pm: | |
After turning down some little side street at night with parked cars on each side and seeing absolutely NOTHING in the dark, I added side lights. (A halogen driving light kit from Auto Zone complete with switch, circut breaker and wires) This really helps on tight turns in the dark. A camera would be even better. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 10:15 pm: | |
Ahh... That's where my outside mounted microphones come
into play.
"Turn the volume up, Honey... This is gonna' be tight"
"SkraaaaaaaapppppptttSkrunnnnnnchh" (oops) |