I recently fitted a rear camera to camper van but noticed after a few days van battery was very low. Re done it and connected camera straight to leisure batteries via fuse box. Same problem. Why is this happening. I have to remove fuse from the circuit to stop it draining battery as even when it's not in use ie switched off if I leave it with fuse in it will drains leisure batteries. Driving me crazy.
The question is, is it truly turned off (that may imply wiring issues elsewhere!), or merely in standby mode! Flattening of batteries implies a significant current draw.
You don't mention the camera make/model, so we can't begin to guess how installed!
BOTH the camera and the screen will draw current, the camera may well 'go to sleep' when not required, and the screen may well 'go dark' when no camera feed, but that doesn't mean they are actually fully off as in drawing no current! They will spring to life with whatever input stimulates them! Is it a permanent rear view camera, or a reversing camera triggered by selecting reverse gear?
Many devices these days don't have true mechanical supply isolating switches, they have 'soft' electronic switches, that really only make them 'sleep' albeit it with some power consumption, which should be insignificantly small, but can be surprisingly high.
Simple solution if you cant sort the power drain, is put a mechanical on/off switch in the supply, then you are certain it's off.
Other option, is seek a supply connection that is ignition controlled and disconnects when the ignition turned off, of course that needs the device connecting back to vehicle, not leisure battery! Not necessarily so easy to do these days with Canbus wiring, so some caution urged as the modern Canbus system can be upset by ad hoc connections and misbehave, or even be damaged!
OK. Thanks. It's a wireless connection. That I have the camera connected to a 12v cable I found at rear of van. I think it's an old 12v supply for a cigarette type input. The socket didn't work but still had a live supply. The head unit or screen is powered bt a male cigarette type plug that plugs in female socket of the same kind on the dash there are no cables connecting screen to camera. 🤔
Some cameras have IR LED illuminators to improve night time vision, camera and illuminators (maybe dark sensing, maybe permanently lit!), and the radio transmitter could be a significant drain! Need a means of switching them off when not required.
Hi there the photos of rear light cluster panel. Is where I have taken 12v feed for camera. I ran new cable straight from fuse box via battery to camera. I didn't use old supply as previously mentioned. 🙄
Thanks for the help guys
I was thinking along the night time camera function too. Read it somewhere. Unplugging the screen doesn't seem to stop the drain. Only removing fuse on the battery to camera circuit seems to prevent it. But that's getting annoying plus fuse holder becoming slack with all the ins and outs. But really need the camera. 🙄🤔
It's a DIY job. It's also a well documented topic. I have done the whole build my self with my wife. Including all 12v and 240v systems including solar. 👍 Auto electrician at this stage would be pointless. I have alway recieved GOOD Solutions to resolve problems on this site. But thank you for your advice.
I wouldn't have thought a rear camera should be connected to the leisure battery anyway, as you only need it when driving. Its power supply should come from the accessory feed from the ignition switch.
Not sure what you mean Colin. It is connected to the the leisure battery. And you only using when reversing. You can connect it to any suitable 12v feed. Doesn't have to be ignition. Reverse light would be ideal but couldn't get any info on correct colour code for cable to connect there. So the problem remains seems to be the infra red kicks in automatically when dark. So drains battery. 😞
If it's connected to the leisure battery then there will be a permanent live feed which will of course drain the battery. That's why it's supposed to be connected up to the vehicle battery because when the ignition is switch off that will automatically isolate the power, not unless it's been wired up as a permanent live feed.
I get it. But when it was linked to van starter battery it drained that battery after 3 days. That why I switched it to leisure battery. Then at least the van would start. But I get your point as when it was connected to van battery it wasn't through the ignition. Probably was a constant live. But I thought the screen in the cab would have to be switched on in order to send wireless signal to camera in rear of van. But the screen is plugged in to the cigar lighter socket. That only turns the screen off but the camera has its own feed at rear of van which is fed from leisure battery. But this post has helped me. It needs to be on ignition or reverse light circuit.
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Topic: Rear camera draining leisure battery help
via mobile 20/5/2024 at 4:15pm
