A while back I posed the question about using a visor monitor to watch myself pull into the garage so I don't hit the wall in front of me (very little room in front and in back to the garage door).

Most people thought I should just go with a tennis ball hanging from the ceiling. However I was looking for a little more high tech answer to the problem. So I installed the visor monitor. Here are some pics.

Here is the monitor itself

 

Here is a picture of the receiver. I mounted it under the console arm rest.

 

There is an a/v cord running through the center console, up the dash, and up the passenger side window post to the monitor. The power is tied into the stereo constant power wire. So it will work even when the car is off. The receiver unit is powered by a 9-volt battery. If I tied this into the car it would be on all the time. There is no on/off switch on the receiver. Since I only need it when I approach the house, I just open the console and plug in the 9-volt and turn on the monitor. And if I want to add a DVD later, I can.

Here is the last pic. It is the camera that sits above the front of the car on a shelf.

 

Defenetlly a HI-TEC solution.. but my question is how dose that look when it's fliped up? It looks like a flat visor. Just curious how that looks in a T-top car. What about the drivers side visor, are you keeping the old one, or getting a flat one to match that new one? Why not mount that little camera on the back of the car so you can see you'r parking room anywhere you go( I don't know how it gets its power?). Last question, how well can you see the screen from the drivers side. Do you have to lean way over to see it?

The only thing I don't really like is the idea of stoping to plug in the 9 volt, if you did all this work you'r self, why not wire up a switch on the dash to turn it off.

Other than that, its a neat idea.

 

low tech high tech bahhh

why not install the camera in nose of the car and make it usable....
Then you could see a cool moving shot down the road.... and hey if you can't park in the garage maybe you need it at the store or parking lot as well or any other time you park the car

Just seems like a waste to do all that work and only be able to use it in the garage.

 

Looks nice Bill.

 

It doesn't look too bad when flipped up. And I will keep the driver side visor stock.

As far as seeing it from the drivers side, I can see it just fine. No problem. And the 9-volt battery is already on a little adapter that just plugs right into the receiver. I can do it while driving without even looking. The reason I did not wire up a switch is that I am not real good at wiring and electrical and I have a phobia about drilling any wholes in my car.

I thought about the idea of placing the camera on the front or back but I did not like the idea. I thought I would need a wider viewing area than that would allow. As far as using it for other applications, realistically, I would not use it.

 

Pretty cool looking.....

Mind sharing where you picked up those visor monitors at? Or any info on them?

 

Not trying to get into a fight here, but Way to much $$$ that a tennis ball and string could solve. But to each his own.

Kevin

 

I got the monitor off of ebay. The camera and receiver I got off a robotics website. The camera is what they use for the robots eyes. I liked it because it was wireless and small. It's only about the size of a quarter.


As far a cost, I hate the tennis ball haning from my garage. And I had the $$$ to spend on the project. So I did.

 

Just went out to the garage and turned on the monitor and it's not getting a signal. Dang!!!! It was working last night. Gonna have to take it apart for the 12th time now. Oh well.

 

what is the distance on the wireless camera? i'm looking to add something to the rear of my trailer in that style but i have roughly 40' between my cab and the rear of my trailer....

nice idea, i'd like to see close up pics of the visor though to see how you mounted it!

 

Problem with them wireless camera is metal seams to get in the way of the signal. Buddy jump on them 900mhz wireless camera's a while back. They do work good but not all the time. One day it great, next they act flaky. Even worse with more than one.


You talk about view and what you need a a small bug eye / wide angle camera. Mounted center of the nose you should be able to see well past each side. x10.com is a good place.

It is neat but Id put it on the drivers side and add a rear view one too. Which would be legal to use.

 

For the trailer, I would use a hard wired system. That would eliminate the signal problem. One less thing to worry about.

 

Kandied,

I agree, with the trailer I would go with hard wired. But if you want to try it, the distance is supposed to be @ 100'.

You can get some that work further, but they are more money.

I got the camera from

www.superdroidrobots.com

go to the wireless camera section.

 

this makes me want to install something kind of like that to be able to see out my back window at night... the only drawback to tinting your back window!

 

Kandied i would agree with a hard wired one for that the wireless arent that grat. You could run the wire on the unercarraige of the trailer and make a connector like the lights butt for the camera. But whatever you wish.

 

never thought about running it under the trailer...the whole idea of the long wire and the wholes i'd have to drill just didn't sound to fun if wireless would work.

would towing in excess of 100+ make a difference on reception?

 

Have you seen them tint strips for the top or side of your window? They look shiny chrome and come in colors? They work so darn well. I got the blue one for my windshield. You can see through it just fine but no light gets in. You do not even need a sun visor anymore. You can still see and your not blinded.

They need to make it in big rolls for window tint. It would work great on a back window. You could still see through it great but them bright rays keep out. Form what I can tell it had some optic thing to it. Its see through but light is broken up. Looking through it at a stop light. Make the light look like a fly eyy the way it spread the lgiht around but yoy could still see.

 

if those were in the same darkness as the equal tint layer it wouldn't be that way...

it has to be pretty sunny out for me to see through mine..

 

Kandied,

I haven't forgotten about you, I will get you a close up pic of the visor mount. Been tryin' to get the taxes done. I'll post one for ya.

Bill

 

no problem sounds good...just got mine out last night myself.

 

are you talking about dotmatrix film? that stuff's awesome i have it on the headlight of my bike to make it blend into the rest of the paint scheme

i dont have any idea where to get a big size roll of it though

 

Yep yep yep, it breaks up the light but you don't lose much of any visability. Neat stuff. I need to do it to my side windows now. That stupid stock visor doesn't even do anything compare and they arnt see through.

it is some trick stuff. When to goto apply it it looks even stranger. Has a mirror finish that look like it would blind you if anything. But once in place its amazing stuff. I can drive head on into the sun and it doesn't even affect me.


I need some for my motorcycle too. Don't know how much driving I do blind but have only one eye peaked open in bright light. Id have to have a tinted shield and glasses to get the same effect as that flim but I would not be able to see.