I recently ordered a caravan to be custom built. I have a 17 year old utility truck that I
intend to use as the tow-vehicle for the Caravan. Because the truck is so old, it does not have a
rear-view camera system - which these days comes standard in new vehicles. When towing a caravan,
it is important to have rear-view cameras at the rear of the tow-vehicle, as well as at the rear of
the Caravan. So last week, I bought this rear-view camera system from the company called SafetyDave.
So, I have a SafetyDave 6-inch monitor which handles 2 channels for 2 cameras. I also bought
a SafetyDave Square camera, & in addition, I bought a WOZA 1-channel connecting cable which
comes with adapters for 1-channel camera. This allows me to connect between the tow-vehicle, &
the Caravan - via a coil. The WOZA coil is also called a SUZI coil. It is important to assemble
the complete circuit before installing to the tow-vehicle, & the Caravan. So join me in this video
as I set up my test-bench, unbox the products, & assemble the system - to show you how I connect them.
Let's start with the SafetyDave car AHD rear-view dash-monitor SDAHD6. Features are, AHD (that's analog
high-definition). Operating temperatures between +70 degrees Celsius to -20 degrees Celsius.
Power source can be 12 VDC or 24 VDC. Specifications for this monitor are IPS screen.
The display resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels. So it is not full high-definition. The brightness
400 candela per m2. Aspect ratio 16:9. There is an on-screen display menu. The
system is PAL & NTSC compatible, & has a speaker. The video input it takes is 2-way 1080P,
or 720P, or CVBS, or mixed camera input. So now let's unbox it, & see what is inside. A black
bag containing a user-manual for the 6-inch HD monitor SDAHD6. This monitor takes in a maximum of
2 video-channel (V1 & V2). The menu explains what's provided. Unfortunately, the user manual is very
simple. Doesn't explain how you actually operate the control buttons, & what you see when you
press them. Other items in that bag. Bonus-offer for the SD_CM _10, which is a camera system to sit
above a license plate. There's also a brochure on how to set up the bench test for the system before
installation. There is a pamphlet offering a 10% discount when buying the WOZA coil kit. SafetyDave
also sells the SAFE-T-TYRE monitor system. Just a simple card, repeating again the discounts available
on the tire-pressure monitor system; & on an additional rear-vision camera. SafetyDave
also sells the HeartSine Defibrillator. There's a brochure providing a scan-code to provide
feedback. Two marketing magnets. What else is in the box? A cable-loom to connect to a battery power
supply; as well as to connect the 2 separate video cameras. These look like 4-pin Aviation connectors.
There is also a 9-pin connector plug which joins to the monitor screen. There is a 7.5 metre
4-pin video extension cable. The cable is terminated with 4-pin Aviation connector. There is
the SDAHD6 display monitor screen itself. It says the system is compatible to PAL or NTSC.
Power supply 12 to 24 volt. Made in China. Manufacture date 2022-11. I guess that means November.
V1 & V2 video channels selection. Power button. That plastic button there is non-functional.
At the back, this looks like perforation holes for 2 speakers. There is a suction-cup mounting to mount
the display monitor to the car windscreen. There is a mount with adhesive base. And I slot the back of
the monitor to the Mount. There is also a connector-cover. This can be used to cover the connector
if required. There's nothing else in the box. This is the SafetyDave Square camera. Some
features are night-vision capability 10 to 15 metres. You can choose between 3 models (45 degree
field-of-view, 92 degree field-of-view, or 120 degree field-of-view). It has 5.9
G-Shock rating. You can select to mirror the image. The camera sensor is 700TVL.
2 year warranty. It has Smart infrared IR-cut. Anti-glare. IP69K. And has audio capability.
Let's see what's inside. That's the camera. There are 4 infrared emitters for night-vision.
The mounting bracket, & the sun shade.
And the video cable coil is also a 4-pin Aviation connector. I bought a second 7.5 metre
4-pin video extension cable. This is a single WOZA kit. It contains 1 WOZA cable.
Also known as the SUZI coil. And at both ends of the WOZA cable, are 5-pin connectors. I also
have 2 adapter cables. These adapter cables have an oval-mount to enable the adapter to be mounted
there is a 4-pin Aviation socket. On the other WOZA adapter cable ,
there is a 4-pin adapter plug. In the box, there are also 2 galvanized mounting brackets. Let's
start with mounting the monitor to the stand. On the back of the monitor, there is a slot. And on
the stand, there is a nut. Just loosen the nut slightly, & then slide the nut into the slot.
Tighten the nut a little. Loosen the tilt, & tighten it at angle you want.
And we have the monitor on the stand. Now we need the power-loom to connect to the
monitor. One end has the 9-pin connector. Just make sure the slots are aligned correctly. If I
hold the connectors correctly, you'll see that on the 4-o'clock, & at the 8 o'clock,
there are 2 grooves. This will mate to the 2 on the opposite connector.
Do not force it. Screw the knurled nut to lock it in. That's now joined. In the first test-bench setup,
I will assume that I'm setting up to install 1 camera at the rear of my tow-vehicle. This means
I'll need a 7.5 metre 4-pin extension cable. And this extension cable will run inside the car; under
the car; to the back of the car. And assume that the camera on the tow-vehicle will be on channel 1
instead of Channel 2. Make sure I align the slots correctly. Push gently, & they will mate.
When I actually install this on the vehicle, after this is joined, I can slide the rubber sleeve over
to protect it from water & dust. Now this assumes that this extension coil is running under the tow-vehicle.
And that this end comes out where the rear of the tow-vehicle is - near the tow-bar.
In which case, I will have this SafetyDave Square camera mounted to the rear my tow-vehicle. And I
will need to connect the 4-pin Aviation plug on this end to the socket on this end. Again line
them up correctly. Push gently. And when they mate, screw them in. And if I was installing
it on the actual vehicle, I'll slide the rubber protection over. Now this is all connected for my
tow-vehicle. I just need power supply. I'll use a 12 volt motorcycle battery. Black is negative.
Connect to the negative on the battery. I use my alligator-clip. And just so I don't short
anything - because the other end is an alligator clip - I'll clip to the other end of the negative terminal.
This is the positive input cable. I'll use a alligator-clip, connect to the positive of
the battery. And connect the other end of the alligator to the battery positive - to avoid a short.
So now, all the video cables are connected. With the test-bench setup completed, I will now
provide power to the monitor, & the camera. Push the power-button here. You'll see that the
camera is capturing the image that I'm pointing at. And the monitor is displaying the camera view.
Now let me show you how to operate the menu. Push menu once. You get image settings screen.
It disappears very fast so you have to be very quick to choose what you want. The menu
should actually stay there & remain there, until the user chooses to exit the menu. So that's not a
good feature on this monitor. Anyway, I'll push menu again. And you see if I use the + and -,
it will increase or decrease the value. I'll leave it at 50 for brightness. If I press V1/V2,
it moves it down to Contrast. Again, I can choose + or - to increase or decrease the value.
I'll push V1/V2 to scroll down again. Saturation, + or - to increase or decrease the value.
For purposes of demonstration, I will make the Saturation value 60. Then I'll use the V1/V2 to
scroll down to Reset. And if I push on +, you see that has reset the Saturation value from 60 back to 50 -
which is factory default. The reset changes all settings in Image Setting, in General Setting,
in System Setting, in Volume Setting. Completely returning them all back to factory setting. At the bottom of
Image Setting is the version of the firmware v220510. Which I assume is 10-May-2022.
If I push menu again, it will go to the General Setting. Channel 1 guide is on. If I press +
to toggle on or off. The same thing for that, & the others. In theory, this enables the monitor
to display guidelines. However, the guidelines are not available on this 6-inch monitor. I find
it strange that the software has not changed to suit the monitor. And that non-applicable features
are left on the firmware. And that is not good for a product. There's also Channel 1 delay on or off.
And to be frank, I still don't know what that does. On to the System setting. You can have
the image upside down, or you can select Channel 1 & 2 to have images mirrored. The value for VCOMDC
can be changed from 0 to 40, but it does nothing. Lastly, you can change the volume from 0 to 40.
I've made it 0 because it's getting feedback since the camera here &
the monitor is there. That's it. That's the menu. Personally, I find the menu on this
monitor to be rather poor quality, & not user friendly. I think there's lots of room for improvement.
I'll move the camera around just to show you what it sees.
As I am in a room with artificial light, the image will probably be a lot better in outdoor sunlight conditions.
I will now change this test-bench setup so that we assume that we're connecting
to a caravan with a camera at the rear. As I only have 1 test camera, I'll remove this
camera from channel 1, & then reuse it as a camera on the rear of the Caravan to channel 2.
So I'll turn the monitor offers then I'll disconnect the camera from channel 1.
This is the WOZA adapter 4-pin Aviation plug. Connect to 4-pin Aviation socket.
Make sure that the alignment is correct, & screw it in. This WOZA connector will be
at the rear of the tow-vehicle. And I'll simulate this with the mounting bracket.
Assume this is mounted to the rear of the tow-vehicle. Now assume that this camera is mounted
on the rear of the caravan. And I'll have to connect this camera to a 7.5 metre extension cable.
So again, join the two 4-pin Aviation plug & socket. Align them correctly. Screw it in to secure.
The 7.5 metre extension cable will run underneath the caravan. This end will come up at the drawbar
of the caravan. I will need another WOZA adapter cable. Join the 2 Aviation plug & socket.
And, I'll have another WOZA connector on the drawbar of the caravan. And assume this
represents that it's fixed to the drawbar of the caravan. When the tow-vehicle is not connected to
the caravan, then there is no connection between these 2 WOZA connectors. But when I want
to tow the caravan, I will use this SUZI coil WOZA cable. Join the 2. Make sure the slots
are correctly lined up. Screw in to tighten. Do the same for the other side. Screw to tighten.
I'll disconnect this extension cable from Channel 1 & connect it to Channel 2 because I don't have
a second extension cable for this demonstration. Channel 2 will represent my camera from the
caravan. So now in the second test-bench setup, it represents I have a tow-vehicle connected
to a caravan which has a camera at the rear. So on the caravan, there's a camera on the rear. It's
connected to a 7.5 metre extension cable, which is connected to a WOZA adapter mounted to the
drawbar on the Caravan. And between the caravan, & the rear of the tow-vehicle there is a SUZI coil WOZA.
And on the rear of the tow vehicle, it's another WOZA adapter cable, which is connected to
a 7.5 metre extension cable under the tow-vehicle. Which then connects to the power loom. And finally,
connected to the display monitor. So let me turn the power on the monitor to see what it shows. With
the monitor on. it's gone by default to channel 1. Says no signal because my channel 1 cable doesn't
have a camera. I will select channel 2 which is the camera on the rear of the caravan.
Here we are. With channel 2, you can see that it's picking up the camera on the rear of the caravan.
Well, I do hope you found this video of the test-bench setup useful. Very important to test the setup
on a test-bench before you physically install it on your vehicle or caravan - just to make sure
it works. Because, there could be faulty cable, or camera, or display monitor. And it's better
to find that out early, & then get them replaced rather than after you install it.
Do hit the like-button, & subscribe to my channel for more, & help the channel grow - thank you so much.