After upgrading my headunit from the factory REC navigation unit to a Pioneer, I figured I'd add a backup camera, too. I didn't like the look of some of the add-on cameras you normally see and I didn't want to cut holes that I might later regret. This one goes where the license plate light normally is and has both a camera and light for the plate.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260864374092
Very inexpensive ($26), ships from China but it's designed specifically to fit the Charger/Magnum/300.
Unpacked
Installation was fairly straightforward once I figured out how I wanted to wire it.
1. Remove the existing license plate light. It's held in with 2 screws.
2. The camera assembly has 3 connections: power for the camera, video from the camera, power for the license plate light. Using wire taps, I connected the power leads to the wires that feed the license plate light. I also removed the existing bulb from the socket and wrapped the socket in electrical tape to prevent water from getting in.
3. To get the camera wiring into the trunk, I did have to cut a hole from inside the trunk. Where the trunk latch is, there's a carpeted trim piece that is held in place with 4 retainers. The hole needs to be large enough to fit an RCA plug and the power cord so I used a hole saw. Since this is an externally exposed hole, I painted the cut edge with some touch-up paint to prevent rust. I know it's an ugly hole; my drill bit walked a little while I was cutting. I ended up putting some silicone in later after running the wires to help more with sealing it and prevent the wires from rubbing the sharp edges.
4. Fish the camera wiring through the hole where the light is and around through the hole you cut. Attach the power cable and the video extension cable then mount the camera in place.
5. Now on to the wiring. I chose to have the camera powered whenever the ignition is on. Fuse 18 is the front power outlet/cigarette lighter in the dash and mine's already configured to turn on with ignition (it's configurable to be always on or on with ignition). To tap into this circuit, I went to the cable bundle under the rear power distribution center. Fuse 18 is red/orange so I used a wire tap to connect there. The wire is already fused (20 amp) but I figured I'd put a small 5-amp in-line fuse on the camera. Ground for the camera power was easy to find; just add a wire to the ground bundle already there. NOTE: disconnect the battery when doing your wiring.
power
ground
6. Last step is getting the video to the head unit. The camera came with a video extension that was just long enough to go *straight* to the front of the car. Fortunately, it's not terribly difficult to run. Lift out the trunk floor panel and run the video cable along the bundle of cables already coming from the power distribution center. The back seat bottom just pops out (pull up on the front of the seat bottom, then pull forward). Remove the center console (http://www.custommagnums.com/forums/misc-mods/1282-how-remove-center-console.html). Now you have a direct path from the trunk to the head unit; you'll need to run the wire under the carpet across the "hump" to get from the back seat to the center console.
7. Before you reassemble everything, plug in and test! You don't want to have to disassemble everything again if there's a problem.
8. Now reassemble everything and you're done. Very discreet.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260864374092
Very inexpensive ($26), ships from China but it's designed specifically to fit the Charger/Magnum/300.
Unpacked
Installation was fairly straightforward once I figured out how I wanted to wire it.
1. Remove the existing license plate light. It's held in with 2 screws.
2. The camera assembly has 3 connections: power for the camera, video from the camera, power for the license plate light. Using wire taps, I connected the power leads to the wires that feed the license plate light. I also removed the existing bulb from the socket and wrapped the socket in electrical tape to prevent water from getting in.
3. To get the camera wiring into the trunk, I did have to cut a hole from inside the trunk. Where the trunk latch is, there's a carpeted trim piece that is held in place with 4 retainers. The hole needs to be large enough to fit an RCA plug and the power cord so I used a hole saw. Since this is an externally exposed hole, I painted the cut edge with some touch-up paint to prevent rust. I know it's an ugly hole; my drill bit walked a little while I was cutting. I ended up putting some silicone in later after running the wires to help more with sealing it and prevent the wires from rubbing the sharp edges.
4. Fish the camera wiring through the hole where the light is and around through the hole you cut. Attach the power cable and the video extension cable then mount the camera in place.
5. Now on to the wiring. I chose to have the camera powered whenever the ignition is on. Fuse 18 is the front power outlet/cigarette lighter in the dash and mine's already configured to turn on with ignition (it's configurable to be always on or on with ignition). To tap into this circuit, I went to the cable bundle under the rear power distribution center. Fuse 18 is red/orange so I used a wire tap to connect there. The wire is already fused (20 amp) but I figured I'd put a small 5-amp in-line fuse on the camera. Ground for the camera power was easy to find; just add a wire to the ground bundle already there. NOTE: disconnect the battery when doing your wiring.
power
ground
6. Last step is getting the video to the head unit. The camera came with a video extension that was just long enough to go *straight* to the front of the car. Fortunately, it's not terribly difficult to run. Lift out the trunk floor panel and run the video cable along the bundle of cables already coming from the power distribution center. The back seat bottom just pops out (pull up on the front of the seat bottom, then pull forward). Remove the center console (http://www.custommagnums.com/forums/misc-mods/1282-how-remove-center-console.html). Now you have a direct path from the trunk to the head unit; you'll need to run the wire under the carpet across the "hump" to get from the back seat to the center console.
7. Before you reassemble everything, plug in and test! You don't want to have to disassemble everything again if there's a problem.
8. Now reassemble everything and you're done. Very discreet.