8883102 - License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera

Buyers Products License Plate Mounted Color Camera with Night Vision features a 120?? viewing angle and mounts conveniently and cleanly above your license plate. It is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. It can be added to Buyers Products Rear Observation Backup Systems (see "Related Products" below) to provide additional views.

Specifications

Advanced Rear Observation: The License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera

In the demanding operational landscapes of modern commercial and personal vehicle use, robust and reliable rear observation systems are no longer a luxury but a critical necessity for safety, efficiency, and compliance. The Buyers Products License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera represents a pinnacle in supplementary vision technology, meticulously engineered to provide unparalleled situational awareness, particularly in challenging environments and low-light conditions. Designed for seamless integration into existing or new Buyers Products Rear Observation Backup Systems, this camera offers a sophisticated enhancement to any vehicle's safety profile.

Precision Engineering for Optimal Vision: Image Sensor and Optics

At the core of this advanced camera is a high-performance imaging sensor, typically a state-of-the-art CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) or CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) array, optimized for superior light sensitivity and color reproduction. The sensor is calibrated to capture crisp, high-resolution color imagery during daylight hours, rendering objects and obstacles with remarkable fidelity. The ability to discern true colors is invaluable for identifying specific objects, assessing distances, and interpreting environmental cues – critical factors often overlooked by monochrome systems.

The optical system features a precision-ground, multi-element lens assembly engineered to minimize distortion while maximizing light gathering capability. This optical design, combined with advanced image processing algorithms, ensures that the 120-degree viewing angle translates into a usable, undistorted visual field. This wide-angle perspective is crucial for eliminating common blind spots inherent to large vehicles, enabling drivers to observe a broader area directly behind their vehicle, encompassing adjacent lanes, pedestrian walkways, and potential hazards during complex maneuvering operations.

Uncompromised Visibility: Advanced Night Vision Technology

A standout feature of the Buyers Products camera is its integrated night vision capability. Recognizing that operational demands do not cease with the setting sun, this camera employs an array of high-intensity infrared (IR) LEDs strategically positioned around the lens. These IR emitters cast an invisible light spectrum, which the camera's sensor is specifically tuned to detect, even in complete darkness. When ambient light levels fall below a predefined threshold, the camera automatically transitions from color mode to a highly sensitive monochrome (black and white) night vision mode.

This transition is not merely a simplification; it is a strategic optimization. Monochrome imaging in low-light conditions offers significantly enhanced contrast and detail rendition compared to attempting to capture color with insufficient light, which would otherwise result in noisy, desaturated, and often unusable images. The IR illumination combined with the monochrome sensor allows drivers to clearly perceive obstacles, individuals, and terrain features that would be invisible to the naked eye or standard color cameras. The effective range of this night vision system is carefully calibrated to provide clear visibility for critical reversing and maneuvering distances, ensuring operational continuity and safety around the clock.

Rugged Durability: IP67 Environmental Protection

Commercial and heavy-duty applications expose equipment to some of the harshest environmental conditions imaginable, from torrential rain and road spray to abrasive dust and extreme temperature fluctuations. The Buyers Products License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera is engineered to withstand these challenges, boasting an impressive IP67 ingress protection rating. This rating is a testament to its robust construction and meticulous sealing processes.

The "IP" in IP67 stands for Ingress Protection, with the first digit (6) indicating protection against solid particles, and the second digit (7) denoting protection against liquids. An IP6X rating signifies complete protection against dust ingress, meaning no dust can penetrate the camera's housing under any circumstances, preventing internal component damage and preserving optical clarity. The IPX7 rating ensures that the camera can withstand temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter (approximately 3.3 feet) for up to 30 minutes without harmful effects. This level of water resistance guarantees reliable operation through heavy rain, snow, automatic car washes, and even occasional submersion in shallow water, making it ideal for marine applications, off-road vehicles, and construction equipment where water exposure is inevitable. The housing materials, often high-grade alloys or durable polymers, are selected for their resistance to corrosion, UV radiation, and impact, ensuring long-term operational integrity.

Strategic Placement and Seamless Integration

The design decision to mount the camera above the license plate is a deliberate choice offering several distinct advantages. Firstly, it leverages an existing, universally positioned attachment point on virtually all vehicles, simplifying installation and minimizing the need for custom fabrication or drilling into primary vehicle body panels. This discreet placement ensures the camera remains largely inconspicuous while providing an optimal vantage point for rearward observation, capturing a clear, unobstructed view of the area directly behind the vehicle, typically at a height that balances ground-level visibility with distant horizon observation.

Secondly, the camera is designed for seamless integration with Buyers Products Rear Observation Backup Systems. This modularity is a significant advantage for fleet managers and vehicle operators. It means the camera is not a standalone accessory but a fully compatible component of a broader safety ecosystem. Connection typically involves a standardized, weather-sealed connector, ensuring a robust electrical and data link to the central monitor and control unit. This 'plug-and-play' capability simplifies system expansion, allowing users to add additional camera views – whether for side observation, cargo area monitoring, or specific blind spot elimination – as their operational needs evolve. The unified system architecture ensures consistent performance, simplified troubleshooting, and a streamlined user experience, delivering comprehensive visual data to the driver through a single interface.

Versatile Power and Broad Application

The camera's wide voltage compatibility (12-24V) is a critical feature that underscores its versatility across a diverse range of vehicles. This broad input voltage range allows the camera to be installed on standard 12V automotive electrical systems found in light-duty trucks, vans, SUVs, and passenger vehicles, as well as the 24V systems prevalent in heavy-duty commercial trucks, buses, construction machinery, and specialized industrial equipment. Internal voltage regulation circuitry ensures stable power delivery to the camera's sensitive electronics, protecting it from transient voltage spikes and fluctuations common in vehicle electrical environments, thereby enhancing reliability and extending service life. This flexibility minimizes inventory requirements for distributors and simplifies selection for end-users, knowing a single product SKU can serve a multitude of applications.

The applications for this robust camera are extensive:

• Commercial Fleets: Enhances safety for delivery vans, box trucks, semi-trailers, and refuse vehicles, reducing backing accidents and improving maneuverability in tight urban areas or loading docks.
• Construction & Agricultural Equipment: Provides crucial visibility behind dump trucks, excavators, tractors, and other large machinery, mitigating risks to personnel and equipment on dynamic job sites.
• Recreational Vehicles (RVs) & Travel Trailers: Greatly simplifies parking and maneuvering long vehicles, providing confidence when navigating campgrounds or crowded parking lots.
• Utility & Service Vehicles: Aids technicians operating bucket trucks, service vans, and other utility vehicles in congested work zones, ensuring safe clearance from obstacles and personnel.
• Marine Applications: Given its IP67 rating, it is suitable for stern mounting on boats for docking assistance, or for monitoring towed objects.

Detailed Technical Specifications and Performance Parameters

Beyond the fundamental features, a deeper dive into the technical specifications reveals the meticulous engineering behind this observation camera:

• Imaging Sensor: Typically a 1/3-inch or 1/4-inch high-resolution CMOS sensor, offering an effective pixel count suitable for crisp VGA or D1 resolution (e.g., 728x488 NTSC or 728x582 PAL), ensuring detailed video output to compatible monitors.
• Minimum Illumination: For color operation, this typically ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 Lux, allowing the camera to maintain color fidelity in twilight conditions. In night vision mode, with IR illumination, the minimum illumination drops to 0 Lux (full darkness), ensuring complete visibility.
• Video Output: Standardized composite video signal (RCA connector), ensuring broad compatibility with a wide range of monitors and display units, including those integrated into Buyers Products Rear Observation Systems. The output format is typically NTSC, suitable for North American markets, with PAL versions available for international applications.
• Operating Temperature Range: Engineered to perform reliably across extreme thermal gradients, common ranges might be from -20°C to +70°C (-4°F to +158°F), accommodating diverse climates and operational environments.
• Power Consumption: Optimized for low power draw (e.g., <150mA), minimizing strain on the vehicle's electrical system, especially important for prolonged use or when multiple cameras are installed.
• Lens Characteristics: A wide-angle lens with a focal length typically between 2.0mm and 2.8mm, providing the advertised 120-degree diagonal field of view, balanced to minimize fisheye distortion while maximizing peripheral vision.
• Housing Material: Often a durable, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy or high-impact ABS plastic, finished with a weather-resistant coating to endure environmental exposure.

Installation and Maintenance Considerations

Installation of the License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera is designed to be straightforward, typically involving a few key steps:

1. Mounting: Securely attach the camera bracket above the vehicle's existing license plate using standard fasteners. The design often allows for minor angle adjustments to fine-tune the viewing perspective.
2. Wiring: Route the camera's power and video cables into the vehicle's cabin. The power connection should be tied into a switched 12-24V power source, often the reverse light circuit for automatic activation when reversing, or a constant power source if continuous monitoring is desired. The video cable connects directly to a compatible Buyers Products monitor or other display unit.
3. Testing: Once connected, test the camera's functionality in both daylight and low-light conditions to ensure optimal performance and proper alignment.

Maintenance requirements are minimal due to the camera's robust design. Periodic cleaning of the lens surface with a soft, damp cloth is recommended to remove dirt, mud, or road grime that could impede image clarity. Regular inspection of the cable connections for wear or damage is also advisable, particularly in environments subject to vibration or moisture.

The Buyers Products Advantage: A Commitment to Quality and Safety

Choosing the Buyers Products License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera is an investment in safety, efficiency, and durability. Buyers Products is renowned for its commitment to engineering high-quality, reliable equipment that meets the rigorous demands of professional use. This camera embodies that commitment, offering:

• Enhanced Safety: By providing critical visibility, it significantly reduces the risk of accidents, protecting personnel, property, and the vehicle itself.
• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined maneuvering and reduced downtime due to damage contribute directly to increased productivity and lower operational costs.
• Reliability: The IP67 rating, wide voltage range, and robust construction ensure consistent performance in the most challenging conditions.
• Seamless System Integration: Designed to work harmoniously within the Buyers Products ecosystem, allowing for scalable and customizable observation solutions.
• Compliance: Aids in meeting various safety regulations and best practices across industries.

In conclusion, the Buyers Products License Plate Mounted Color Night Vision Camera is more than just a camera; it is a meticulously engineered safety device designed to provide unparalleled rearward vision under all conditions. Its blend of high-resolution color imaging, advanced IR night vision, extreme environmental resilience, and universal compatibility makes it an indispensable tool for any vehicle operator prioritizing safety and operational excellence.