AUTO-VOX Wireless Reversing Camera for TW1, No Wiring
AUTO-VOX Wireless Reversing Camera for TW1, No Wiring Installation, Super Night Vision with Rechargable 3350Mah Battery …
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Dimensions: | 24.3 x 6.6 x 5.9 cm; 280 Grams |
Manufacture: | AUTO-VOX |
Dimensions: | 24.3 x 6.6 x 5.9 cm; 280 Grams |
Reference: | TW1-Cam-UK2-FBA |
Well this worked for seven months then the screen simply stopped working. So I made contact with the seller! What a great response. Sent a new one and so great to see good customer service . Highly recommended
Excellent service, I had a problem with the first purchase. So I returned. I received a full refund plus discount for inconvenience . A very good company to deal with. Worth the 5 stars.
I bought this camera for my motorhome. It stopped taking a charge, outside the warranty period. Contacted supplier via Amazon & they sent a replacement. Easy, fast communication. Very easy to fit and use. Would recommend
The camera is very easy to install and takes less than 10 minutes. Very happy with the quality and functionality. Would certainly recommend. The online support is also good and very timely in responding.
Attached camera to number plate and able to rotate it downwards to the tow bar on my campervan so avoiding expensive damage to back of van when reversing onto the boat trailer. This is not an option on other cameras that I checked out.
One of the cameras stopped working and I was immediately sent a replacement without any issues.Great after sales service.
Bought the auto- vox for my campervan, charged the camera but would not charge properly or connect to monitor contacted auto-vox who went through fault finding still couldn’t get it to work so they sent me a replacement camera. Would recommend Auto-vox just for their service
Very quick to setup the camera and pair with the screen – very handy for parking a campervan. Had an issue with the screen showing a white screen after a few uses, but the company was very quick to offer a solution and replace the whole set – screen with a new camera as well.
Well worth getting the solar charger adapter too.
Although my 2006 911 was crying out for a reversing camera (and for some reason Porsche haven’t produced one – not even as an option with the new PCCM Plus upgrade), I was hesitant at first as I didn’t want to take away from the originality of my car or start running new cables through it. But the Auto-Vox TW1 camera is unobtrusive and also a doddle to fit (and remove if necessary), and I couldn’t resist trying it out. It really couldn’t be better, with hardly any lag on startup and a clear image in the screen on the dash. Very highly recommended.
This product is very good and is easy to install but what I was most impressed with was, when I had a small issue the customer service was instant and the issue was addressed immediately. That is very hard to find these days.
This is just what I needed for my VW Transporter Van. No complicated wiring, it’s easy to install and does the job. I had one query ( how to change the view to upside down) my question was answered very quickly by Vicky. Would recommend.
A vast improvement on the old two piece camera/solar pack. It’s pre paired and easy to install. Very impressed with the night time view. The customer service is fantastic and Vicky provided fantastic customer service.
I have been looking for a good reversing camera for my T4 campervan & came across this one, I wanted one that I would not have to run wires all through the van.
I like to read a lot of reviews on products before I commit to purchasing them & the majority of the comments were positive on the camera & especially liked the ones that said the customer service was excellent.
I must say that I found it very easy to install & have found the image quality excellent.
So far, this camera has been installed for a week and I’m very happy with it. Incredibly easy to install with no drilling or wires involved for the camera itself. It communicates with the screen on your dash wirelessly and so far seemlessly, with excellent picture quality and a menu where you can make adjustments according to your preferences. I’ve not had to contact custome service about any problems with the item but I did contact them to make sure that I was covered by the 18 month warranty and their communication is excellent. So all those other reviews you read are true! It took me five minutes to install. I highly recommend.
My T6 has barn doors, so the camera image is slightly offset from central. This is fine. I’ve used it many times day and night and it has made reversing the van so much easier – I have no other sensors. I preferred a dashboard mount for the screen, to avoid removing it every time we camp and attach the thermal screen to the window. I was not sure how well the mount holder’s suction cup would stick to the dashboard surface, so I used a 3M dashboard pad mounting disk sourced from Amazon (‘Volport’). Seems okay, so far. This wireless reversing camera is convenient to fix and is working well. Vicky has been really helpful with the extended warranty too.
I’ve looked at a range of reversing cameras. Some are not wifi and need holes drilling into the car to get the camera lead into the hatchback, and a pain to route the cable through the car. Others are wifi but the camera still needs a power lead, so again drilling to get the wire through the hatch by the numberplate and then having to tap into the reversing light lead.
This is far simpler. The camera attaches with a very strong and well designed bracket to the numberplate. It has a rechargeable battery which I will recharge every few months on the car using a power bank. And the screen has a plug into the 12v socket with a USB socket to feed other devices and an easy access switch to switch it on.
In addition it is packaged very nicely, and the instruction book is very clear and easy to read, in excellent english.
Highly recommended it works well.
Easy to fit, genuinely took about 10 – 15 mins. Works really well delivering a clear image with no noticeable delay. I haven’t used it much at night to be able to give a verdict on that, but it’s worth the price and the solar panels keeps the battery topped up.
Chose this solar model for reversing the motorhome off our drive as we didn’t fancy running wires or messing with wiring looms. Super easy to install, worked straight out of the box. Quality of pictures adequate for our needs and good for the price.
You fit it to where you get the best image of path you are reversing into. This can be over top of number plate or at bottom . It is up to you where you locate it .No wiring at camera only connection from cigarette lighter to screen . No problem
This is positive feedback about customer service! Here we go: Auto Vox Solar 1 pro back up camera purchased by me in March/April this year and everything worked as expected after an initial charge. However power supply for the the camera suddenly failed in August for some reason. It could be water ingress, but I don’t know. I got in touch by email with Auto Vox via their website providing my Amazon purchase order number. Vicky from Auto Vox was super prompt in getting back to me and was really helpful with troubleshooting suggestions. She did not hesitate to send me a replacement camera unit because I still couldn’t make it work after a day of trying her suggestions. The monitor is fine, it’s just the camera that no longer switches on. Vicky was informative about when the new one would be sent out to me. My new solar camera has now arrived after just a few days. The fixing plate that holds the camera in place is still stuck to the back of my van and can stay there – no need to remove it, I just need to undo a tiny screw to allow me to slide out the old camera/solar unit from the metal plate. I’m charging up the replacement camera at the moment and I can then slide it onto the metal plate. They provide 2 screws in case one gets dropped during fitting and disappears! It also came with another allen key. Bottom line: when you have good customer service, problem solved.
After 6 months, I have not yet needed to recharge the battery. Picture is very clear and stable and the mount is sturdy. I have it on the rear number plate of my Land Rover Discovery and the camera part can be rotated to look down towards the rear bumper which ensures safe reversing in car parks. No visible wear or corrosion on the unit after 6 months either.
Hassle free but definitely doesn’t take 5 mins to install. You need to take your time.
Be mindful the camera is ultra low resolution at 420p but it’s grand for what you need it for which is parking. Cannot fault it!
I bought this camera in June, influenced by the fact that it was wireless.
The camera worked straight away giving a very clear display behind the car on the monitor. Unfortunately the camera stopped sending a signal to the monitor after ten weeks.
After contacting Customer Support and explaining the problem, within a few days Vicky had organised and sent a replacement camera.. This is now fitted and the system working perfectly again.
I have been impressed by both the product and the rapid after sales service by the Company, and Vicky in particular.
I like a few others have had problems after a few months with the monitor not receiving signal from the camera. After contacting customer service Vicky sorted out a replacement for me without any hassle at all. You really can be assured that if you have any problems the support you receive will be first class. Thank you Vicky once again.
Great product been using it now for 12 months on my Motorhome had a small problem and went through to Vicky in customer service and she was brilliant. Definitely recommend this camera east to install and operate.
A really useful device to help with reversing.
Does not require any interference with the cars wiring
Easy to fit and effective in use. Time will tell regarding the battery life
So far very pleased
The camera arrived quickly, nicely packaged and with clear installation instructions. Fixing the camera to the number plate is easy and no wires make it so simple. The picture quality is clear and the positioning lines really useful. Marked to 3 for night vision only because it relies on light from surroundings and reversing lights rather than infra red, but works perfectly. Very pleased with purchase.
Bought this camera for my van as I didn’t fancy running wires the entire length of the vehicle.
It’s very easy to install, the picture quality is good and it worked well for a few months – unfortunately then it died and the camera module wouldn’t turn on. On emailing the customer service address they confirmed it was defective and dispatched a new unit next day, with no quibbles – my customer service agent Vicky was excellent and communication was great.
The new unit was quickly received and I’m happy with the replacement – buy with confidence as the customer service is exemplary.
We have been using the camera for 8 months now and it has been working great. Last week we had an issue with the screen. We got into contact with the customer support and they were able to resolve the issue speedily. Great support, top marks! We have already recommended the camera to friends.
Always wanted reverse camera and followed reviews for this and it’s brilliant. 10 mins to set up and a few adjustments as in camera position and screen placement and it’s done. I have it about a month amd no sign of battery running low yet so solar panel working well.
Easily installed, and worked well for 11 months (actually it might not have, as it wasn’t used over the winter) However when coming to use it again, it wouldn’t work. Tried resetting, repairing etc, no avail. Battery wouldn’t seem to hold / take a charge. After contacting amazon technical (only option initially) they put me on to the manufacturer / supplier, who were fairly quick off the mark to correctly identify a dead camera / battery unit. A replacement camera was sent and arrived quickly. After fully charging it, I paired it up with the display, which was easy and immediate, then fitted to the caravan, and now all functional again!
Item was working okay for a little over a month, however not sure if a result of the recent hot weather or a fault the screen became intermittent in working and then from today, it has stopped working altogether. Tilting it, the screen almost looks as though the ink has leaked damaging the display panel.
Edit: supplier reached out to me and has kindly agreed to resolve the issue, which is fantastic customer service and am very pleased.
This camera can completely solve my problem. Installing wire parking camera is not a feasible option for my car. Wireless option is perfect for me. The quality of the camera is very good. The battery can last for long time after fully charge in winter time. In summer time, the battery is basically always full.
The customer service is excellent. They are always helpful since I purchased the camera. They ensured my first setup of camera was successful. Recently, my camera was not working after the car service. I emailed to customer service and they have quick reply. They provided a detailed troubleshooting steps for me to identify the problem cause. Finally they sent the new camera and battery to me in few days. So efficient! I can now enjoy the camera again.
Very speedy delivery. It is simple to fit. no wires to route anywhere awkward. The only wire to route is from the car power outlet socket to the screen. No wire from the camera to the inside of the car. Easy to align. Camera unit can be fitted above or below the number plate. Useful if your vehicle has a tailgate or boot lid with the number plate fixed to it….. see the pic of my tailgate. If it was fitted above in this configuration, it would have obstructed the tailgate release. Monitor picture is very clear. As it is not connected to the reversing lights, the camera can be switched on at ay time, as required. I thoroughly recommend this product. I took advantage of the offer to extend the warranty. This was fulfilled very speedily, and courteously, by a lady called Vicky. Thanks to all for excellent service.
I had a dated auto vox system on a campervan I purchased which stored working. After contacting service support, Vicky walked me through technical support which determined my unit had become faulty beyond repair. Even though I had no proof of purchase I was directed towards the upgrade and even offered it at a discounted price. The new unit is easy to install, comes pre connected and works a treat. Thanks Vicky, great support, great unit and an overall customer experience worth sharing (I’m not one for normally writing reviews ).
I bought this kit when my Mercedes Parktronic system failed and the cost of fixing it looked prohibitive. It arrived two days earlier than expected and was well packaged. The component parts had a solid feel to them and once fitted I was very pleased with the system. I tested the system by reversing towards my recycling bins which allowed me to determine at what distance I went into the red zone on the monitor. Before fitting the camera to the rear number plate I watched a YouTube video which said it was a five minute job. In 99% of cases I think this is a reasonably accurate statement but in my case two of my four number plate screws had seized and I had to drill them out and re-tap two new holes. Also, I agree with a previous review, which highlighted a minor problem of accessing the boot release catch. This is unlikely to be a problem on most cars. Just one other piece of advice: I could not get the monitor to stick to the facia as my facia is not totally smooth. I found a perfectly good position at the bottom right hand corner of my windscreen. If I really had to fix it on the facia some double sided sticky tape would have done the job. Please don’t take my last comments as criticisms, just advice. I am very happy with the system and have already recommended to a colleague.
Everything great apart from the solar panel slightly obscure a part of my Irish number plates where the name of the issuing county is in Irish at the top centre of the number plate, the registration number is not obscured so that’s not a problem.
Also my Skoda car boot lid opening is over the middle of the number plate so I can’t easily get my fingers in to open the boot. Luckily I can use my key fob to open it so not a problem.
In future I will move the camera lower on the number plate where I can then access the boot opening. I was keeping the camera as high up on the number plate so as not to obscure the County of origin name. It was totally my own fault, I’ll be wiser the next time
I mention that because I hadn’t foreseen these problems until I had the camera stuck onto the number plate.
Taking everything into account I’m very happy with my purchase, can’t comment on the longevity of the product as I’ve only been using it for a short while. I had photos I had taken myself of the issues in my initial review but the review was rejected so this time I haven’t included photos.
It took me around 5 minutes to set this up, excluding the time it took me to route a new power wire from my 12v hub to the screen inside my van. Other than that, it was really easy and I was immediately impressed with the picture quality given the price and the fact it is wireless. It isn’t HD but its bright with good contrast and the 4 stars for night vision is only because I’ve only been able to test it at dusk where there was still a small level of light outside – however the picture was still bright with excellent contrast.
You can email for an 18 month warranty and the customer comms from Vicky was excellent.
There’s only one fault with this product and it is the sticky protection cover on the screen that goes in the vehicle, I found it really difficult to get off, for fear of scratching the nice screen with my nails.
Great item, Easy to set up and works very well.
In an ideal world this would definitely be a 5 minute fit but unfortunately in my case it wasn’t
I had some number plates fitted a few weeks ago and the rear plate was stuck to my tailgate, the sticky pads were so good I could not remove the plate, so I found that there was a small section of plate at the bottom that gave me room to lever the plate up, therefore I had to modify the camera fixing plate and then fix it to the bottom of the number plate from behind it (I was going to fit it there anyway as there would not be enough space to reach the tailgate release handle if fitted at the top of the number plate)
All in all although a bit of a fuss to it looks good and works well.
I must also thank Vicky at Boscam customer service for her attention to my emails before purchasing and for the follow ups.
Dead easy to set up, takes 2 minutes tops. Monitor only supports one camera input but perfect if you just require a single general reversing camera. I installed this on my motorhome (6.4m long, range no problem) – used the sticky pads tucked securely behind the rear number plate. I installed upside down, and flipped the image with one click of the menu on the monitor. Easily adjustable camera angle to get the view you want. Product is well packaged and seems of a very good quality. Charge the camera via usb before first use (takes a couple of hours) – then install and all being well the inbuilt solar panel should keep it topped up! So far it has not dropped any charge (but it is summer). Monitor just connects to your 12v lighter socket on the dash and has a throughput USB socket so you can still charge your phone etc. Monitor and camera view turns on for a set time (adjustable) when you start the engine and then on-demand with a quick press of the button on the charger. It DOES NOT connect to the reversing lights so you have to manually turn it on. No problem for me but bear this in mind. Overall very happy and would recommend as an easy, no wiring, no drilling 5 minute install fix for any vehicle
We bought the older model of this reversing camera last year and it has proved to be invaluable. The picture is excellent, the fitting was easy. We are an older couple and sometimes find it hard to twist round. The camera was an absolute god send. I have been ill for a few months and the car has had little use.
However, yesterday the camera would not work. It showed something like ‘press the button on the camera’. That might not be exactly the right wording. ‘button, usb port we thought, whereabouts are they?
We found the instructions which we hadn’t read properly before (too excited to set up the camera!!) If we had read them we would have seen that there is a little flap underneath the battery which you have to prise off (easily done) and that shows a usb port for charging and also a button. We recharged the battery using the usb port, pressed the button…and …..voila!! It sprang back into life..
So the camera is back in excellent working condition. Lesson learned….read the instructions.
Works well and was easy to set up although I had to fight with a security screw on my original plate, so I’d advise buying a new set of plate screws before attempting this so they can be replaced with fresh ones. Night quality isn’t as clear as it is made out in the description and manual although I expected that, the quality is actually good enough at night. My car has very darkened rear passenger and rear windscreen windows and is essentially impossible to see through in the dark, the camera has basically solved that and also makes it easier to park large car in tighter spaces quickly which is useful when driving in a city when everything is a battle for parking.
I purchased this item just because the actual camera is wireless . I wanted a camera i could put in different locations . I have a reverse camera on the back of my vehicle but when i put an additional bike rack on the back it covers my vehicles camera.
This camera is really quick to gut up and running. An instruction book for easy set up. Pairing the camera to the screen was east as. I set up the camera time to 120 secs which is long enough . I first charged the camera battery over night before first use . On my first trip out i used the camera about 40 times or more and the battery indicator on the screen stayed on full the whole time.
I had no issues with flicking screen . Picture was nice and clear. You can have reverse lines showing on the screen , or not.
When i took of the bike rack off my vehicle and put it into my conservatory ( about 18 meters from my screen ) i started up my van to reverse a little back to fit onto my drive and believe it or not the camera turned on , unreal. No connection issues.
Customer care services are easy to get hold of via email.
I contacted them to set up my extended warranty .
They responded really quick and they were really helpful .
I read a review about the camera turning on each time the vehicle was started. This is correct but i didnt see that as an issue and its only on for the time you have set for it to stay on.
It would of been great if this had a remote control or you could have a remote switch instead of turning on by the power supply for the camera?
As like i mentioned i want to use it in different applications.
10/10 for everything so far. First camping trip no issues.
Oh and not forgetting , delivery was really quick too.
I bought this to go on a LWB Peugeot Boxer van. So here’s a few things worth considering; most of these points are clearly stated in the product description or in reviews. General points first, with a major gripe at the end!!!
This DOES NOT have the separate remote button that you can stick in a suitable location. It’s operated by pressing the top of the plug in charger. Fine for me, but check you can reach it safely when driving, as you can’t in all vehicles.
This system shows the display only after pressing the button, and then it’s on for 1 of 3 pre set times, 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 90 seconds. Then it switches off. This is because it’s a solar charged battery system. So it’s useful to switch on when completing an overtake in a long vehicle, or for reversing. But it can’t be set to show the rear display continuously. That suits my needs. But won’t suit everyone. It could be wired in if you have the auto DIY skills, but then it defeats the point of being wireless, which is to suit those who don’t want to start wiring things in.
The digital picture quality is good. Not the absolute clearest in the world, but it’s not the most expensive system in the world either, so certainly good enough for most peoples needs. There is a VERY SLIGHT TIME LAG, hardly noticeable, due to it being wireless. I really haven’t seen an issue with this, particularly as you should be using this in conjunction with the mirrors.
I didn’t want to use the sticky mount, as I wanted to make sure it wasn’t left in view when I wasn’t in the van, and I could see how the mount that’s supplied would not only leave visible marks but also start to lose it’s ‘stickiness’ if continuously removed and put back on. So I purchased a CD slot mount that’s uses magnetic fixings to attach the monitor and used this instead. For my vehicle this is in exactly the correct position and also keeps the wires neat and tidy.
The van is 6 metres long and so far I haven’t had any issues at all with the camera connecting with the monitor wirelessly.
The set up was easy. I followed the instructions to charge it fully before fitting it (using mains at home). It took about 4 hours then the small red indicator turned green. I haven’t seen any drop in the battery yet, and I can see this lasting a long time before needing a charge. If charging IS required then this has to be done in situ, using a powerbank or a long charging lead if you can get one.
BIG GRIPE TIME
If you have a number plate that’s screwed on, it really will take 5 mins to fit.
HOWEVER, my number plate is not only stuck on (by the lazy dealer who sold me the van who replaced the plates to get free advertising). It is also offset by being on the near side rear door. Taking the number plate off and cleaning the existing sticky pads off the van took an hour (plastic scraper, WD40, elbow grease and endless patience). I then realised that I couldn’t mount the camera at the end of the plate to centralise it, as the metal fixing plate and wire = approx 5mm thick and I didn’t want to leave a big gap for scroats to get their grubby thieving little fingers in and rip it off the sticky pads. So I had to centralise the camera on the plate; this means that the view on the display is definitely NOT CENTRAL (regardless of what some on here say). There’s no sideways adjustment on the camera angle. It’s okay and definitely better than no rear view camera,, but not 100% ideal.
I didn’t want to leave gaps around the number plate, so I chose to fasten it using a holder.
The reason for this long and laborious Aesops fable is a warning that if you are using sticky pads, you have one chance to get it right. The adhesive is really strong. When this camera is mounted it isn’t coming off. Same for the plate. The ideal situation is that you have a plate that’s screwed on. This way you can place the camera in position with the adhesive covers still in place, fasten the plate back on loosely, adjust everything until you’re happy with it, then mark it and fasten it in place.
All of that aside, this is a very clever piece of kit for the price. For a vehicle with centralised plates that are screwed on it is absolutely ideal. Centralised plates that are stuck on is still really good but there’s some work involved. Offset plates that are screwed on is good. Offset plates that are stuck on, are okay, and bring specific problems that need checking and testing before final fitting.
Finally, it’s worth noting that I had cause to contact customer service with a couple of questions and received almost immediate responses. I had read the reviews that suggested the customer services were quick to respond and help with and issues and complaints, so time will tell.
Summary: I’m really glad I bought this, I would buy another, but I would fit if differently. Recommended.
I decided to buy another reverse camera from Auto-Vox, because I saw some features that I liked more on this unit, compared to my previous model — the W2 (no longer available).
The W2 is wireless as is this one of course, but the camera requires to be connected to the reverse lights for power. No problem for me, but it’s not for everyone, especially if you don’t have any spare time.
As good as the W2 is (working faultlessly for the last 6 months), this solar one gives you a bigger screen and remote camera activation. That means that I can see behind me any time I like, whereas, with the W2 you have to put it in reverse to turn on the camera – not a good idea to do while driving!!
Yes, I could’ve put a separate switch if I wanted to, but that meant having to put more wiring in and having to hide it — which was the point of buying the (wireless) W2 in the first place so that wasn’t going to happen.
The solar wireless camera is really the best of all worlds! It provides no wiring whatsoever and gives me the opportunity to turn on the rear camera any time I want — even when driving!
So what’s the point of looking behind with a camera while driving when there’s a rear view mirror for that purpose?
The camera takes over from where the mirror ends — that is, you can see FROM the rear of the car and it does make all the difference.
For security reasons, if you’re parked and stationary (ie: car park waiting, etc), you can see if there is someone hiding, without having to put the car in reverse.
When you’re driving, you can check to see if there is smoke coming out of the exhaust for instance (as in burning oil during acceleration), or any other potential fault/problem. I’m sure there are many more possibilities.
All these features are my reasons for choosing this camera, however, the main reason most people would want to buy this model is the ease and speed of installation or is it speedy?
The camera is sold as a 5-minute job installation — and in theory, it is true — though probably more like 10 minutes because you’ll want to clean the rear of the boot lid, which will be extremely dirty from all the road grime collected.
But there is a condition to the “5-minute installation” and that is that as long as your plate is installed with 2 screws, you’ve got no problem. Unfortunately, that’s not everyone’s case — me being one of them!
You see, not all registration plates are put on with screws. A lot of cars in fact don’t use screws at all but rather, double-sided tape!
If this is your case, then you can forget spending 5 minutes or even 10 — it’ll never happen!
Sadly, there are more steps to go through in order to install this camera and it’s going to take you the better part of an hour, depending on how good you are with DIY.
It’s not at all difficult and anyone can do it, it’s just more time-consuming and I will now explain the steps I took.
1 – How to remove a glued-on number plate —
It’s possible to get your fingers behind the plate and pull it off, but that’s not always a solution, as in my case.
The best way is to get some dental floss (or fishing line) behind the plate and use a sawing motion going across the whole plate until it’s removed; if necessary, you can warm up the plate with a hairdryer but must not be hot or risk damaging the numbers. In my case I didn’t use a hairdryer, and even though the plate was very well stuck on, it only took about 5 minutes to remove. Be patient and it will come off without damage.
Now remove the old tape (both on the plate and the boot lid) with some WD40 and scrape with an old credit card, then prepare the painted surface by first washing it with some gentle or car soap, to remove the slippery WD40, so that the new tape will stick properly.
For simplicity, I used isopropyl alcohol — it’s safe for most surfaces and removed the WD40 perfectly.
Buy some double-sided tape —
Use a good quality foam-backed double-sided tape (make sure it is foam, not just tape), otherwise you risk losing your plate.
You can buy it in prepared strips, or a roll to be cut in strips (Halfords has a good selection of both and I recommend buying the roll).
Prepare as many strips as you like, depending on the size of plate. Mine is bigger than standard (see photo) so used a total of 6 strips (3 on each end).
Note that the middle is where the camera and battery are and these have tape already, which is why you don’t need to put anything in the middle of the plate.
Finally, carefully align your plate to get that perfect symmetry and press the plate into place for about 1 minute, to be sure the glue adheres properly.
2 – On to how the camera works.
Being solar, the battery needs the sun to keep them charged of course — but what about when there’s little sun or your car is kept in a garage most of the day?
As a side note, if you need to store the car for a long time (ie: while on holiday or extended business trip), the battery has an on/off switch, so you won’t lose any charge at all.
In all other circumstances, the lithium ion battery is impressively heavy (means that it has a large storage capacity). Auto-Vox says that the battery should last 60 days with zero sun and normal daily usage.
I have had this unit just a few days so cannot say for sure but knowing how electronics work and the little consumption while on standby, together with this high-capacity battery, I can see that 60 days is a fair estimate under normal conditions.
The big and bright (5″) screen displays the charge status constantly (a total of 3 bars), so you know how much charge you have left. Even when the level is on empty (red blinking battery symbol), you’re still good for another 12 days.
Although the sun is minimal in this country (especially winter months), I would guess you shouldn’t really run out of charge in between days with even little sun, but in case you do, the battery unit has a charge point.
If you have a smartphone, you’ll probably have a power bank (if not, get one — you need it!). Auto-Vox recommends using a power bank with at least a 4000mAH capacity (very cheap!).
Worst case, just buy a long USB cable extension and temporarily route it to the cigarette lighter for a charge, while you’re driving.
There is an LED on the battery and will turn green when fully charged, but with even just a few minutes charge, you’ll still get a few days use if necessary.
The power bank, aside using it for your phone, can easily be used with the solar battery and a full charge should take less than 2 hours is my best guess. And yes, the connector is the same used on most (Android) smartphones today.
3 – So was it all worth it?
For me it was because I gained a few features that I didn’t have with the previous model and if you have a plate like mine (stuck on), then the installation tips above will make the job painless, but certainly NOT 5 minutes. Having said that, I’m not disappointed nor unhappy and I knew beforehand what I was getting into in terms of time required.
For those that are looking to install a reverse camera but are not very good with DIY or have little time to spare, this is truly the only solution for you – and you’ll save on installation costs too.
The last thing I want to mention is the support that Auto-Vox give, and in one word it’s… impeccable!
I’ve not had a single problem yet (with this or the previous camera), but have had a few technical questions. Each time I ask support for help, I always get a reply back no later than the next day and sometimes even the same day.
They give me the impression they really care about their products and want to continually improve them too with each new product range.
No, they’re not cheapest to buy, nor the most expensive. If you take into account the quality of the product and service they give, I believe it’s good value.
Speaking of quality, I was surprised to learn that you get 18 months warranty instead of the usual 12 (as long as you register that is). This has changed from the previous model I bought.
Can’t ask for anything more really and can’t wait to see what new products they’ll come out with next — I’m definitely a fan now!
I hope this has been helpful for anyone in the market for an easy-to-install, reverse camera — feel free to ask me any question about the camera or the installation and will be happy to help.