How to Wire Camera to Clearance Lights in 2007 Coachman Mirada Motorhome

Updated 12/19/2016 | Published 12/17/2016

Question:

hi everyone happy holidays, you folks are the best. i have to replace a clearance light on motorhome top and can i tap 12volt power from the light to power camera. light removed one black,one white, and heavy #4 or 6 wite grrrn runs below. do i need to run special black gnd to metal cap. once again, u all are the best of the best and thank you

asked by: Richard R

Helpful Expert Reply:

A backup camera can be wired to any lighting circuit you want to deliver the 12V power to operate it. Many prefer to use a reverse light wire, which will activate the camera only when the vehicle is in reverse gear with its backup lights on. Other installations could use a switch to allow the camera to be turned on at will, while others may want to wire the camera to the running light circuit so that it operates any time the vehicle headlights are on.

Your clearance light can be used to power the camera; this circuit will activate only when you have the vehicle headlights on. If the light uses black and white wires for connection most likely the black wire carries +12V and the white wire is ground. You can ground the camera anywhere on the MH so long as there is a conductive surface, but using an existing ground point/ground wire will probably be easiest.

I have linked our main page for clearance lights. Most of the photos of your motorhome show round clearance lights at the rear so you can click on that shape to see suitable clearance light options like # MCL11AKB.

expert reply by: Adam R