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How about blind spot monitor

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by cproaudio, Apr 16, 2011.

  1. Rocco42

    Rocco42 Member

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    I do not know, I just alleviate blind spots by adjusting my side view mirrors correctly. As a matter of fact, my friends, Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers explain how to do this here: Car Talk | How to Avoid the Blind Spot

    Basically you lean to the left, with your head on the glass of the driver's door. Adjust the mirror so that you just barely see the edge of your car. Move your head the same amount on the other side, and adjust the passengers' side mirror the same way. If you need to fine tune it, just pull up along side a line of parked cars.

    What happens is that as soon as a car moves out of the vision of your rear view mirror, it appears in one of your side view mirrors.

    I picked this tip up years ago from a guy who races vintage cars. If it's good enough for him, I thought, it should be good enough for me. I have been using this method for quite some time, and it works just fine.
     
  2. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

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    I'm 62, and have vision issues the last 8 years. I've installed the small blindspot mirror on my cars side driver's mirror for many many years. And when getting my Prius, a small convex mirror on the inside rearview mirror which covers the rightside blindspot perfectly. Using all mirrors, I can glance and ensure who's around me.
    Also installed a rear view camera for parking etc (no nav).
    All work well for me, and provide good safety measures.
     

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  3. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    I took these pictures to best illustrate how the wide angle rear view camera can show blind spots. I didn't have time to take pictures of the car in the driver side blind spot because the light turned green. There were no cars in the passenger side so I didn't take pictures of that either. There's nothing to compare it to. All I had time for was to take these 3 pictures.

    [​IMG]
    There is a car in front of the taxi. That car is truly in my blind spot. When I turn to look at the mirror, I couldn't see the car. He's somewhere around the C pillar.

    [​IMG]
    We all know how horrible the rear view mirror is but here it is anyway.

    [​IMG]
    As you can see, there's a car in front of the taxi that didn't show up in the side view mirror.

    BTW, I set the IPA while still in drive. It allow me to set the parking space to park but as soon as I release the brake and the car rolled forward, the IPA canceled.
     

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  4. wesayso

    wesayso Member

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    EXACTLY! I've done this since my father taught me to drive. Never even had a problem w/blindspot when driving my FJ Cruiser for 4 and a half years. Now that was a blind spot.
     
  5. unkprius

    unkprius Member

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  6. Blizzard10

    Blizzard10 New Member

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    If you have both the stick on convex mirrors and the rear view cam mod my guess is that you'll use the convex mirror view more than the rear cam view for blind spot checking. The reason being you only have to look in one place and not two to check.

    Cool mod though, more rear and side vision is always better than less.
     
  7. SWprius08

    SWprius08 SoCalprius

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    That is very cool. Is this possible in Gen II. 2008?
     
  8. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    This is why I bought blind spot mirrors. Some fancy, $30+ ones. So difficult to change lanes to the right in the Prius without those.
     
  9. Dweezil

    Dweezil Cat Juggler

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    I just use little round convex mirrors on both driver and passenger side mirrors. Cost was only a couple of bucks, and took about 60 seconds to install. No blind spots. It's not as sexy or geeky as the rearview camera approach, but it works.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Toyota JP does have a factory Wide View Monitor as an accessory (similar to the WideView found on the HS250h). Probably will cost an arm and a leg though.. but at least it'll be a clean, factory installation.
     
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    This is one of the reasons I abandoned this mirror strategy decades ago, within weeks of moving to a region with multi-lane highways. The outside mirrors ought to be angled out for no overlap with the inside mirror, drastically shrinking the blind spot and revealing that 'hidden' car.

    Nighttime headlight glare from flanking vehicles was the other reason for changing mirror strategy.
     
  12. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    There are a lot of people suggesting either adjusting the mirror outwards or adding convex mirrors like I'm asking what people do for blind spots. I didn't ask for any advice regarding blind spots. What I did do is write up a how to on using turn signals to activate reverse camera to monitor blind spots. I don't consider using mirrors as monitoring. Yes, I know about adjusting mirrors outwards to better view blind spots. Those who are doing this can tolerate the reflection. I on the other hand can't stand it. The Prius's mirrors don't have a reverse mode and I use my mirrors for reverse too much so the mirrors can't be adjusted outwards. This is my preference and I don't need other people telling me how to use my mirrors. However, for those who are adventurous and want something cool to look at, you may want to try this. Those who asked me about Gen II, yes, this can be done on Gen II and other vehicles with reverse cameras as well. You just need to locate the reverse trigger wire on the video screen.
     
    Attila Fekete and donee like this.
  13. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi All,

    The Click and Clack method is great when there is only one lane on either side of you. If there is more than one lane, you cannot see cars in those lanes more than a few feet back. Which is insufficient. I actually drive using the Click and Clack method all the time.

    Last weekend, I was in a parking lot and got beeped because he was coming in from too far a displacement off to my right for me to see in the mirrors. ANd he was going to fast, so even though I head checked, the traffic in front took my attention for too long a time for the speed this guy was going, and I pulled into a lane where he was cutting into from another lane. He did not realise I was actually rolling, as he was going so fast, and I was EV ing around towards the exit of the lot.
     
  14. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    [​IMG]
    Ok, I finished the schematic. If you hear clicking from the pulse to latch relay while turn signal is active, then change to a larger capacitor like a 4,700uf. The fused 12v(+) should goto at the cig lighter under the bridge.

    Edit: On a side note, the larger the capacitor the longer the pulse to latch will latch. This means that the larger the capacitor, the longer the reverse camera stays on after the turn signals have clicked off. 3,300uf cap seem to be the perfect size for the Gen III Prius.
     

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  15. mgb4tim

    mgb4tim Noob

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    that's what I have $0.99, 15 seconds to install. Have had them on every car I drive since 1993.

    cproaudio - I loved the diagrams on your page, and will start playing with them one of these days when I start working on my other project cars. Thaks!!!
     
  16. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    On a side note, the larger the capacitor the longer the pulse to latch will latch. This means that the larger the capacitor, the longer the reverse camera stays on after the turn signals have clicked off. 3,300uf cap seem to be the perfect size for the Gen III Prius.
     
  17. Zedknepplin

    Zedknepplin semper prius

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    I have been lurking and watching a couple posts about the blind spot monitor. :peep:
    BTW, Thanks for the tips on plugs, wire colors, etc. It really helped! So, Here is my MOD: :)

    [​IMG]
    I have another post on how I made that switch insert for my (parallel seat heater switch) mod.
    [​IMG]
    Here is the wiring diagram. Nothing fancy here...
    When I am driving and a car is in my blind spot, I can see the back end of the car in the blind spot on the edge of the monitor screen. :high5:
    :eek: Check this out! A guy on Prius II chat did this mod except he had 2 video sources! On his mod, he connected switched DVD player video, and the DVD sound was through the AUX plug for cartoons for his kids.

    NOTE: after installing this mod, I got the Check Hybrid System Error! I started the car 3 times and it cleared it up. :p (after making sure all connections were good)
    This mod it neat and all that, but I am not sure it was worth all of this work. It decided to rain while I had the car ripped apart. I also ran a blue wire for the JDM mirrors puddle lamp while I had everything taken apart. My daughter likes to see the cars zoom by on the screen while we are driving. :D
    .
     
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  18. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Although this thread is about the automatic switching on the rear camera with the turn signal, the concept is the same. Your method is more relevant to http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...mera-display-while-driving-3.html#post1326417 than this post. Regardless, if you follow my diagram and use the correct switch, you wouldn't have to use the diodes and the check hybrid system error would not have happened. The installation would have been alot easier and less conspicuous than trying to wiring up the diodes. I avoided using diodes because of this. It looks like the switch you used have an "ON" indicator.
    You gotta admit that it's pretty cool with the rear camera on while driving.
    Also can you provide the thread of the guy who did the mod with 2 video sources?
     
  19. Zedknepplin

    Zedknepplin semper prius

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    Hi cpro, I got the idea from this post and the other one (I posted in both places). I have seen your work on other posts with some great ideas, but I just wanted a quick solution. :roll: I thought about a mechanical solution tied to the signal stalk, but eventually went with this. :alien: Thanks!
    Here is the link: Pri II Video :D

    Here is a clip of the camera in action:

    [​IMG]
    .
     
  20. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    I thought about hijacking the video wire from the rear camera for DVD playback a long time ago but the check surrounding for safety logo and the IPA buttons would really irritate me. That's why I didn't bother even trying. I've been looking for other ways to input the video without the safety logo and the IPA buttons being displayed. So far I've found none. Thanks for the link to that thread.