No, it would not make the switch setup moot.
Let me see if I can consolidate and summarize all of this.
The switch needs to video cable inputs and has one output. The output goes to the center console/touchscreen.
One of the inputs, is from the rear and until it was plugged into the switch, it was connected to the cable that goes to the touchscreen.
The third is actually the new "end", and the owner installs this cable, it runs to the front of the car, where you plug the new camera in and mount the camera. One, two three.
appleguru is referring to the four contact green connector that actually has three wires going to it. 12V positive, ground, and the (third) the backup light/reverse signal wire.
1) 12V positive can come from the OBD-II port that is in the left rear corner of the dash on the driver side. Its a switched power source, so when the the car shuts down, power stops.
2) Grd, Ground, is can also come from the OBD-II port.
3) backup light/reverse signal wire. It too is a 12V positive input to the switch. Only the power is switched on to it when you put the car in reverse. So when a wire is connected to this contact on the green connector, it's position/ready to switch the camera view from the front cam to the rear camera. And when you put the car back in Park or Drive, it removes the power going to that contact and the switch swaps the view from the rear back to the front.
The easy part is using the OBD-II port with a plug from Amazon or some place and connecting 12 positive and ground to power the switch.
The more difficult part is connecting a wire to the green connector to power it from a backup /reverse light. Most people I suspect are not going to want to do this. But there's other ways. Let me explain this way first.
Its the effort of getting access to one of these sources and running a wire from one of them to the front corner under the dash where the switch and video cables are.
One source as Hank mentioned is under the carpet on the passenger side.
On newer models that location is not available because the harness is different. So, I used a connection in the liftgate. I threaded a wire from my reverse/backup light wire, across the liftgate, through the liftgate/body rubber boot, along the trunk, up the driver side rear and front door sill to the dash.
If a person didn't want to run one of the wires, they could do what I call the "hand" method. The switch comes with a homelink compatible remote. You program the remote (easily) to your Homelink and call it something like "Camera Swap". Then when you put the car in reverse or want to see out the rear camera from the touchscreen, use the hand method to press the remote button, or touch the Homelink icon and select Camera Select. Then when done, press the remote or Homelink choice again to swap back.
I like appleguru's idea and method for the switch is a CANBUS connection. There's a diagnostic connector behind the cubby. One would use a unique cable to plug into the diagnostic connector for 12v positive, ground and the reverse/backup connection. No need to run a wires from under the passenger side carpet or the liftgate. Its going to require a little more cost to cover the unique cable, but is simple and easier to remove when you trade up or sell and want to keep your toys.
Does that help? Its more of an either-or. appleguru, did I explain the CANBUS connection properly?
