A7 Discussion forum for the Audi A7

Tailgate 12v supply

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 29, 2020 | 05:21 AM
  #1  
matgw's Avatar
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
Default Tailgate 12v supply

I need to find a 12v supply from within the tailgate, so I can hard-wire a camera - does anyone have any wiring diagrams?

I'm thinking of maybe taking a positive supply from the rear-view camera, lock mechanism, or whatever else is under there! Ideally, it'll be a switched supply (ignition on), but it doesn't have to be.

Anyone got any clues?
Reply
Old May 29, 2020 | 11:16 AM
  #2  
doctorharrison's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 17
Default

The 12volt battery (so it is "constant on", not "ignition on") is in the passenger side trunk sidewall. The panel is quite easily removed with a plastic trim pry tool. I am unaware of any fuse box in the rear of the car.
Reply
Old May 29, 2020 | 11:31 AM
  #3  
matgw's Avatar
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by doctorharrison
The 12volt battery (so it is "constant on", not "ignition on") is in the passenger side trunk sidewall. The panel is quite easily removed with a plastic trim pry tool. I am unaware of any fuse box in the rear of the car.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm well aware that the battery is in side panel, but what I don't want to do is run a cable from there - there is no way to get a cable to where I want to mount the camera. What I'm after is tapping into a supply already in the trunk lid. Guess it's multi-meter time !
Reply
Old May 29, 2020 | 12:06 PM
  #4  
doctorharrison's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 17
Default

Originally Posted by matgw
Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm well aware that the battery is in side panel, but what I don't want to do is run a cable from there - there is no way to get a cable to where I want to mount the camera. What I'm after is tapping into a supply already in the trunk lid. Guess it's multi-meter time !
Gotcha... I have a double camera (2 channel Blackvue 900 2-CH) system. Though I wasn't there for the install, I understand they ran the rear camera cable (it is linked to and takes power from my front windshield camera) back thru various trim sections, up a rear pillar and crosses onto the trunk lid thru, for lack of a better name, the plastic flexi-tube, then inside the upper trim piece. A very clean install:


[trunk lid open]


I realize this does not answer your need for the switched power source, but is to show that it can be done.

One issue we discovered was if the camera was installed on the rear glass (as shown in the picture), it really interfered with AM reception. Once we discovered this, I moved the camera onto the trim piece. All good. Just a heads-up if you encounter a similar issue.
Reply
Old May 30, 2020 | 12:49 AM
  #5  
matgw's Avatar
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
Default

That's pretty much where I'm going to be mounting mine, but for the life of me, I can't get a cable from the roof lining into the rubber flex pipe (otherwise this would be really easy!). I really don't want to start taking the head liner out......
Reply
Old May 30, 2020 | 04:44 AM
  #6  
Kcossabo's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 107
Likes: 7
Default

Off topic a bit.... These cameras record to SD and/or Wifi to a smartphone?

Situation:
2019 A7, USA model
Have the Smart car / google earth package, but not the WiFi Hotspot option
Apple CarPlay works over wifi, but data over LTE, now

Can you WiFi attach to the camera, and use Apple Car Play WiFi?

Thank You
Reply
Old May 30, 2020 | 07:39 AM
  #7  
doctorharrison's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 17
Default

Originally Posted by Kcossabo
Off topic a bit.... These cameras record to SD and/or Wifi to a smartphone?
Can you WiFi attach to the camera, and use Apple Car Play WiFi?
I have a Blackvue 900 Series 2-Channel (ie front and rear cameras) so my experience may be different from others. It draws power for front and rear from an ignition-on source (I don't know where). It does not integrate with CarPlay.

Both cameras record to an internal mini-SD card in the front camera. If you have an on board hotspot (I do not as I allowed the spendy Audi Connect option to expire), the live video feed can be pushed to a smartphone or a computer (thus I haven't). The rear camera takes its power from and sends its recordings to the front camera so it does involve running a provided cable between front and rear. To view the clips, either download them from the SD card via a reader or use the front camera's WiFi-out to a smartphone's installed Blackvue app or to the computer.

Again, I wasn't present for the install, but the shop only charged out one hour of labor for the entire job, really super clean n tidy even for an obsessive such as myself.




Last edited by doctorharrison; May 30, 2020 at 12:21 PM.
Reply
Old May 30, 2020 | 11:55 AM
  #8  
Kcossabo's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 107
Likes: 7
Default

Originally Posted by doctorharrison
I have a Blackvue 900 Series 2-Channel (ie front and rear cameras) so my experience may be different from others. It draws power for front and rear from an ignition-on source (I don't know where). It does not integrate with CarPlay.

Both cameras record to an internal mini-SD card in the front camera. If you have an on board hotspot (I do not as I allowed the spendy Audi Connect option to expire), the live video clips can be pushed to a smartphone or a computer (thus I haven't). The rear camera takes its power from and sends its recordings to the front camera so it does involve running a provided cable between front and rear. To view the clips, either download them from the SD card via a reader or use the front camera's WiFi-out to a smartphone's installed Blackvue app or to the computer.

Again, I wasn't present for the install, but the shop only charged out one hour of labor for the entire job, really super clean n tidy even for an obsessive such as myself.


cool, WRT CarPlay, not looking to ‘integrate’ but want to be able to use CarPlay when the camera is on.
Reply
AudiWorld Stories

Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans

story-0

10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Luxus Panzer
12v V6 Discussion
5
Jan 27, 2008 09:41 PM
|skolnick
Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet
2
Aug 21, 2007 06:17 AM
Rilot
A8 / S8 (D3 Platform) Discussion
4
Dec 11, 2005 05:55 PM
MikeB490
Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet
0
Aug 23, 2004 11:06 AM
shehatezme
12v V6 Discussion
0
Mar 13, 2003 02:38 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:03 AM.

story-0
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production

Slideshow: 10 strangest Audi designs that actually made production

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-10 16:32:29


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!

Slideshow: Everything you need to know about the 2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-09 06:02:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!

Slideshow: Limited to just 499 units, the 987-horsepower halo car signals a new chapter for Audi performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-04 17:37:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation

Slideshow: The highs and lows of every Audi C-Class generation.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:05:50


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer

People were more than happy to shell out big bucks for these cars.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 15:32:23


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: 10 Audi features and options we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 19:33:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935

Slideshow: Audi has recreated one of the wildest machines of the pre-war speed-record era, reviving a streamlined V16 racer that originally exceeded 200 mph in 1935.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:49:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept

Slideshow: A Dutch coachbuilder has reimagined the original Audi TT by finishing what the 1995 concept only hinted at.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-05 15:17:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!

Slideshow: Ranking every Audi V10 road car

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:11:56


VIEW MORE
story-9
9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: A look back at the Audis that didn't just survive changing tastes, they quietly outgrew them.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-28 19:38:27


VIEW MORE