Hello all,
Before this express that I just bought, I had a gmc safari. I joined the Astros safari forum and it was extremely helpful.
I found this forum for my express and decided to join.
I would like to keep my rear view camera on all the time. My lights are on all the time so if I could wire into them that would be good. Or whatever would be easier. I have a knapheide on my 2018 express cutaway. My rear view mirrors is useless except for the camera so if it was on all the time I could see cars hiding behind me on the highway. Would anyone know how to do this? I see wires on the back of the mirror and I was wondering if I could just jump one of them out.

Thanks
​​​​​​​Lafam1
​​

 

Yup. It's entirely possible and very easy if you study the electrical schematic for your year. You can find your way to that in my signature at GM Upfitters.

 

I did see the camera wiring on there. Could you look on page 182. Seems all I have to do is put constant power to pin 3. Would that be correct?
Thanks
Lafam1

 

I did put 12v to the green at the camera plug and got nothing. According to the manual the bmc puts 12v to the camera and that starts the ball rolling. Am I missing something?
​​​​​​​Thanks Lafam1
It's page 64 for the 2018 manual.

 

Solved.....
It was on the mirror. Just jump the pink from the ignition to the green and it works.
Thanks for the help.
LAFAM1

 

I wouldn't run it 100% of the time. I ran power to my cam, and it couldn't take being on all the time. The infrared LEDs are totally shot, and the camera itself is 50/50 at best. I'd put it on a toggle switch, and turn it on when you need it.

 

I was thinking about that. I might just do it.
thanks
lafam1

 

Probably the best would be a push button somewhere near the Drivers Window Switch panel. Probably just ahead of it, on the vertical plane out of sight. I was considering this a long time ago. This way you can just casually push a button if you want to see behind you while driving down the freeway, or parked waiting in a parking lot. Thanks for letting us know that there is a problem leaving it on all the time, but that does seem... nonsensical.

 

LEDs have expected lifetime. The harder you drive them, the sooner you'll get there.

 

True... but their life-expectancy is usually measured in the millions of hours no? I guess they have a 'half-life' and slowly dim.., something like that I think. The camera cannot really be any different than your CMOS camera used anywhere else though.