Side View Radar: Installation

The Side View Radar is an object detection system that alerts the driver to any obstruction at the vehicle’s sides and blind spots.

While this article includes mounting and wiring recommendations for the system, vehicle differences require installation variations. The utmost care should be taken during any installation to avoid damaging the vehicle or system. 

Installation Process

1. Wiring Diagrams
2. Control Box
3. Power Harness & Fuse Holder
4. LED Indicator
5. Monitor Transition Cable
6. Sensors
7. Buzzer
8. GPS Module
9. Side Cameras

Wiring Diagrams

There are two possible wiring configurations for the Side View Radar: 

1. A single CAN Bus Data Cable [7] is run across the vehicle to connect the two radar sensors. A second CAN Bus Cable [7] runs down the length of the vehicle and connects to the Dual Radar Input Cable [12] and the Control Box.
   

   

2. Each Radar sensor is connected to a CAN Bus Data Cable [7]. Both data cables run down the length of the vehicle to connect to the Dual Radar Input Cable [12] and the Control Box.
   

Control Box

Installation Requirements

When selecting an installation location, consider that the box must be:

• Within 10 m to 15 m (33 ft to 50 ft) of each side sensor (depending on wiring configuration).
• Within 30 m (98 ft) of each side camera.
• Within 10 m (33 ft) of the monitor.
• Within 5.5 m (18 ft) of the GPS Module Install Location.
• In an interior cabinet or an exterior location that will not be directly subjected to high-powered water streams.

Mounting

1. Locate an appropriate mounting location, considering the requirements above.
2. Hold the control box in the desired location and mark the four (4) mounting holes on the vehicle.
3. Create four (4) pilot holes in the marked mounting hole locations with a small drill bit.
4. Mount the Control Box to the vehicle with four (4) M5 x 19mm Long Hex Head Self-Drilling Screws and an appropriate socket drill.
   • Do not overtighten the screws.

Power Harness & Fuse Holder

The power harness connects to the Control Box's "E" port and the vehicle's power, ground, and turn signal wires. The fuse holder should be connected as close to the power source as possible before extending it towards the control box.

1. Connect the Power Harness to the "E" port on the control box.

Power Connections

1. Locate the vehicle's chassis (or battery) ground.
   • • This should be a clean grounding stud or screw or a negative terminal of a battery.
     • IMPORTANT! To prevent ground loops, all grounds from Pro-Vision equipment should be connected to a single point on the vehicle.
2. Locate the vehicle's accessory or ignition wire.
   • • Use a digital multimeter to verify the selected wire connections.
     • The wire should read +10 Vdc to +32 Vdc.
3. Connect the radar harness's black ground to the vehicle ground.
   • • Use 16 AWG black extension wire (18 AWG minimum) as needed.  
4. Connect the red 5 A fuse holder as close as possible to the power source.
   • • Cut and strip both ends of the fuse holder to connect it.
5. Connect the radar harness's red power wire to the 5 A fuse holder.
   • • a. Use 16 AWG red extension wire (18 AWG minimum) as needed.

Trigger Connections

1. Locate the vehicle circuits that provide voltage only when the turn signals are activated.
   • • Depending on the vehicle, these connections may be found inside the cab or near the turn signal bulbs.
     • Use a digital multimeter to verify that the wires only have voltage when signaling a turn, not when the brake lights are activated. The signal may be an alternating on/off signal. 
       • • Perform this test while the motor runs; some circuits will behave differently between accessory and full motor power.
2. Connect the radar harness's blue wire to the vehicle's passenger (right) turn signal wire.
   • • • Use 16 AWG blue extension wire (18 AWG minimum) as needed.  
3. Connect the radar harness's white wire to the vehicle's driver (left) turn signal wire.
   • • • Use 16 AWG white extension wire (18 AWG minimum) as needed.  

LED Indicator

The LED indicators are mounted on the A-pillar of the driver and passenger sides. The two LED pucks should be visible but not obstructive to the driver while operating the vehicle.

1. Select the mounting location for each puck and clean the area with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.
   • • Allow the cleaner to dry completely.
2. Peel the indicator's liner off and press it firmly into the mounting location.
   • • Hold for 10 seconds.
3. Route the indicator’s cable to the radar power harness.
4. Plug the driver's side indicator into the white and black wires on the power harness. 
5. Plug the passenger's side indicator into the blue and black wires on the power harness.
   • • If additional wire is needed, cut the indicator's wire and add some 2-wire cable between the LED and the plug. Verify the connections are made red to red and black to black.

Monitor Transition Cable

The monitor's transition cable connects to the control box's "A" port and can be extended to a maximum of 30 m with an AHD extension cable. Exceeding this may cause visual noise on the monitor.

1. Connect the Transition Cable to the "A" port on the control box.
2. Connect the Transition Cable to the Monitor and/or Ranger DVR.
   • • On a 3-Channel Monitor:
       1. 1. Connect the Transition cable to an A/V Splitter cable.
          2. Connect the A/V Splitter cable to the blue and white camera connectors.
     • On a 4-Channel Monitor:
       1. 1. Connect the Transition cable to the white camera connector.
          2. Configure the monitor to display the driver's side camera (CAM 1) for both the passenger and driver's side triggers.
             • The radar will automatically output the prompted camera to the monitor.
     • With a DVR or Multiplexer:
       • 1. Connect the Transition cable to an A/V Splitter cable.
         2. Connect the black end of the splitter cable to the monitor as described above.
         3. Connect the red end of the splitter cable to a camera connector (recommended CAM 1) on the Ranger DVR or Multiplexer.

Sensors

The sensors are not interchangeable; each is explicitly programmed to be mounted on the driver's or passenger's side of the vehicle. The long, tapered face of the sensor cover must be oriented toward the vehicle's rear.

Mounting

The sensor should be mounted at the vehicle's center, perpendicular to the ground, roughly 1 m (3.2 ft) above ground, with 0.3 m (1 ft) leeway. When selecting a mounting location, visually verify that the vehicle body will not obstruct the detection zone.

If possible, test the detection zone before mounting the radars by temporarily attaching the sensor to the vehicle body, connecting the sensor to the control box, and testing the detection zone.

1. Select the mounting location for each sensor on the vehicle, referencing the mounting guidelines above.
2. Hold the sensor to the vehicle body and mark the four (4) mounting holes.
3. Mark the cable hole roughly 2.5cm  (1") rearward from the mounting holes and centered between the two (2) rear mounting holes.
4. Drill four (4) pilot holes using a small drill bit in the marked locations.
5. Drill a 7/8" hole in the marked cable hole location.
6. Run the sensor's cable through the center hole.
7. Align the gasket to the sensor and mounting holes, and hold it flush to the vehicle body.
8. Mount the sensor with two (2) M5 x 19mm Long Hex Head Self-Drilling Screws and an appropriate socket drill.
   
   1. • Do not overtighten the screws.

Connections

As mentioned above, there are two options to connect Radar Sensors:

Option 1:

1. Connect the first sensor to a 120Ω terminator and a 10 m CAN Bus Data Cable.
2. Route the data cable across the vehicle toward the second sensor.
3. Connect the routed data cable and a second 10 m CAN Bus Data cable to the second sensor.
4. Route the second 10 m CAN Bus Data Cable towards the Radar Control Box.
   • • Use the 5 m CAN Bus Data Extension Cable if necessary.
5. Connect the routed CAN Bus Data Cable to the Dual Radar Input Cable.
6. Connect the second 120Ω terminator to the Dual Radar Input Cable.
   • • Both CAN Bus Terminators must be installed for the system to operate.
7. Connect the Dual Radar Input Cable to the "C" port of the Control Box.

Option 2:

1. Connect a 120Ω and 10 m CAN Bus Data Extension Cable to each sensor.
2. Route both Data Cables to the Radar Control Box.
   • • Add the 5 m CAN Bus Data Cable to extend the connection further if necessary.
3. Connect the CAN Bus Data Cables to the Dual Radar Input Cable.
4. Connect the Dual Radar Input Cable to the "C" port of the Control Box.

Buzzer

When a monitor is installed alongside the Side View Radar, the monitor will visibly and audibly alert the driver, making the buzzer optional. If the buzzer is not installed, place the Waterproof GX12-4M Cap Cover over the control box's "B" port.

Otherwise, the buzzer is installed on the control box's "B" port and can be extended up to 30 m with an A/V AHD extension cable. Do not exceed 30 m as it may cause performance issues. The buzzer is not waterproof and must be mounted in the cab's interior.

1. Mount the buzzer in a secure location.
   • • It does not need to be visible, but it should be audible to the driver.
     • It can be placed on a secure surface or mounted with a double-sided adhesive.
2. Route and connect the buzzer's cable to the "B" port on the control box.

GPS Module

When the vehicle’s speed exceeds 10 mph, the Side View Radar no longer alerts to stationary objects; for this, the system requires the vehicle’s speed, provided by the GPS module connected to the “F” port on the control box.

1. Select a mounting location.
   • • The recommended location is on the vehicle's dashboard, close to the windshield on the driver’s side.
       • • The module is waterproof and can be installed on the vehicle’s exterior.
     • The module’s cable is 5.5 m (18 ft) long, which should have been considered when installing the Radar Control Box.  
     • If the vehicle’s system includes a Ranger DVR, both GPS Modules should be at least 1 m (3.3 ft) apart.
2. Select a mounting style fitting the mounting location.
   • • The GPS module can be mounted with the adhesive or placed on a secure surface (such as the vehicle dash).
3. Mount the GPS Module.
   • •  When mounting with adhesive:
       1. 1. Clean the selected area with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.
          2. Allow the cleaner to dry completely.
          3. Peel the liner off and press firmly into the mounting location
          4. Hold for 10 seconds.
4. Route and connect the GPS cable to the control box’s “F” port

Side Cameras

The camera installation process varies depending on the vehicle and camera type. After the side cameras have been securely installed, they should be connected to the "D" port of the control box. 

1. Connect each camera to an A/V Extension Cable.
2. Route the extension cable through the vehicle, towards the Radar Control Box.
3. Connect both A/V extension cables to the Dual Camera Input Cable.
4. Connect the Dual Camera Input Cable to the "D" port on the control box.

Related Articles

Side View Radar System

• Side View Radar: Overview
• Side View Radar: Configuration
• Side View & Rear Radar: Maintenance Testing
• Side View Radar: Troubleshooting