Kenwood Excelon DNX9140 with CMOS-300

Equinox

Install problem:

I have had my Kenwood Excelon DNX9140 for a little while now, installed in the 370z. As I haven't been in country for a few years, I haven't had a chance to add HD radio, or backup camera. Now that I'm back, I bought the Kenwood CMOS-300 camera with multi-angle view. The camera is advertised on Kenwoodusa as "View Mode Control via Touchscreen (w/DDX/DNX 7,8,9, Series In-dash Video Models) CMOS Optics."

When I go install the thing, the control harness that is supplied with the unit, specific for Kenwood headunits that have touchscreen control capabilities - there is no obvious place to connect the control wires "Cam +" and "Cam -" The control wires already have connector plugs on them of a "round metal" connector, somewhat like if a butt connector had no insulation. (like the ones on the far righ of this wikipedia photo)




I called Kenwood, and they said, "The DNX9140 does not have the connection needed to control the CMOS-300 with touchscreen, and you will have to use the supplied control button that comes with the camera." ie the silly external button you have to mount somewhere in your 40k sports car, when I already have an external mic mounted on my steering wheel from the DNX, along with a very similar button like ther camera's mount on my knee pad for 'voice commands.' I'm going to have to start a freaking seperate control panel to mount all my "universal control buttons." This is getting retarded. Why would Kenwood advertise one thing, and do completely the other.

The site should say, "Control via touchscreen with compatible Kenwood units DNX 6*,7*,9* series. *Note: If it works. You know, 50/50."

I hope someone can tell me I'm wrong, and I just have to cut off the connectors on the camera and connect them to my mysterious relay wires.

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370zFORme!!

It is compatible. Kenwood Tech support are dumbasses. They couldnt even tell me the newest version of the firmware upgrade, I had to inform them. If your headunit has an input for the camera, you dont need to hook up the reverse wire. The camera input on the headunit will automatically switch to reverse when you put the gear in reverse. Good luck.

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87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

TreeSemdyZee

You still have to hook up to the reverse wire. That is what tells the camera that you are in reverse. Otherwise, neither the camera or the unit knows that you are in reverse.

370zFORme!!

Thats not completely true. I know for a fact that my reverse wire is not hooked up because I snipped it myself. I had the camera plugged into the headunit and also had the reverse wire hooked up. Could not access the camera from the headunit. Snipped the reverse wire and viola. All functions on the camera work. Check page 6 of the installation manual. It states "the reverse wire does not need to be used when connecting to headunits that have a dedicated reverse camera input."

http://www.kenwood.ca/UserFiles/File...l%20-%20EN.pdf

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87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

TreeSemdyZee

Well crap. That would have saved a buttload of time.

370zFORme!!

Op you shouldnt need to hook up the button. If you do decide to hook it up, you only need to use one of the provided camera connection cords. If you follow the directions on page 6 of the manual, you only need to use both of the camera connection cords if you're hooking up two cameras.

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87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

Equinox

The reverse wire issue isn't a problem, I figured all that out. The problem is, trying to control the camera with touchscreen controls instead of the silly universal button it comes with (to cycle through all the different views available.)

The control harness it comes with to connect to capatible kenwood headunits has nowhere to hook up that I can figure out which would inply my headunit is not compatible; despite the kenwoodusa site saying mine is. No connections that will fit up to the supplied wires - so instead, I have to use the stupid button and velcro it to my car. WTF.

No connection for the headunit on page 4, 5, or 6 look like they would be considered a "camera control wire;" which the attached picture says it needs to be connected to. (The attached picture is the manual for connecting the camera to a kenwood headunit, the pdf link is the manual for installing the Headunit.)
Kenwood Excelon DNX9140 Installation Manual

Attached Images

kenwood is stupid.jpg (70.8 KB, 8 views)

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TreeSemdyZee

I don't think you're going to have to use the button. My screenshot is of the 9960 on the left and 9140 on the right. I don't know if the diagram is bad or if you got a different cable, but look at the "accessory cable". Yours just shows 2 relay wires and mine had the camera control terminal.
You might just need that cable.
I'd also suggest that you check on kenwoodforums.com. It is very active and has a crapload of useful information. It's not your typical "manufacturer's forum" IMO.

370zFORme!!

Damn tree you beat me to it! Great info on this thread. Good luck op.

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87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

TreeSemdyZee

I've been at the races all weekend, so I'm faaaaast!

370zFORme!!

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87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

Equinox

so you're saying the relay wires most likely are the ones to use?

relay 1 = cam + and relay 2 = cam -

They website says this is used for odds and ends like garage door openers and such. I guess camera control would make sense as well.

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TreeSemdyZee

No. In the two diagrams, your accessory wire shows only relay wires. In the 9960, it has two relay wires plus two wires for the camera controller. I'm "guessing" that you might be able to use the same wire as the 9960. I'm just guessing though.


edit: Here's the Kenwood 9140 sub forum. I look through a few pages and couldn't find much on relating to your question, so you might just post a new question. I've had all of my questions answered pretty quickly.

http://kenwoodforums.com/viewforum.php?f=2