Front-rear camera touchscreen parking protection switch kit reservations

[Gizmotoy]

Rick, my question was whether the camera bracket (which Gizmotoy figured out how to remove) or a 3D printer replacement is needed if the camera will be mounted to the Tesla supplied front license plate holder using the mount that you are developing. My original posting of this question may not have been clear.

I don't have the camera yet (should get it on Wed when I take the car in for its 1 year checkup). You mentioned reinstalling the four long screws. Would we need to install spacers to make up for the lost thickness of the original camera bracket, or get shorter screws, or is this not necessary? Thanks.

artsci can chime in here, but from the warnings in the instruction manual, you are told not to modify the metal camera bracket if you're going to be doing their license plate option. Presumably the camera uses the existing screw holes on the bracket wings to attached to their license plate mount. So you won't need to remove the metal bracket or modify it in any way. Here I've created some confusion discussing a hypothetical alternative, which I apologize for. You won't need to worry about any of the things mentioned in my posts for your installation method.

 

[artsci]

Rick, my question was whether the camera bracket (which Gizmotoy figured out how to remove) or a 3D printer replacement is needed if the camera will be mounted to the Tesla supplied front license plate holder using the mount that you are developing. My original posting of this question may not have been clear.

I don't have the camera yet (should get it on Wed when I take the car in for its 1 year checkup). You mentioned reinstalling the four long screws. Would we need to install spacers to make up for the lost thickness of the original camera bracket, or get shorter screws, or is this not necessary? Thanks.

I don't think spacers are necessary, but Gizmotoy can confirm. The mounting bracket we're working on is 3D printed in the design and testing phases but will be made out of metal for strength. It will screw onto the plate frame and the camera bracket screws on to it, so there's no need to remove the camera bracket for the plate frame mount.

 

[pilotSteve]

I don't think spacers are necessary, but Gizmotoy can confirm. The mounting bracket we're working on is 3D printed in the design and testing phases but will be made out of metal for strength. It will screw onto the plate frame and the camera bracket screws on to it, so there's no need to remove the camera bracket for the plate frame mount.

artsci - I'm very interested in buying such a front plate bracket. Those of us in WA (and other states) have already had our holes drilled on delivery. I can live with that and now its at least a benefit if you make a bracket available for the camera.

 

[artsci]

artsci - I'm very interested in buying such a front plate bracket. Those of us in WA (and other states) have already had our holes drilled on delivery. I can live with that and now its at least a benefit if you make a bracket available for the camera.

We're definitely making the mounting bracket for the license plate frame. It will take another 2 weeks to finalize.

We're now up to 42 orders. Two more and we authorize production to begin.

 

[albiefett]

Just purchased... Hope this helps to put us over the top!

Thanks again to Rick and team.

If there was a newer better cooler word for awesome, that's what you guys would be.

 

[drtko147]

artsci,

Where are we now as far as pre-purchased? Hopefully, over 40. Maybe we should advertise it on the Tesla Motors forum as well?

 

[artsci]

artsci,

Where are we now as far as pre-purchased? Hopefully, over 40. Maybe we should advertise it on the Tesla Motors forum as well?

We're now at 43. So one more and we launch production.

 

[Asif]

I'll be submitting my order tonight when I get home.

 

[NJ Plugin]

Ordered. Thank you.

 

[JerryNycom]

Here we go!

 

[artsci]

Here we go!

We now have 44 orders, the threshold for production. Production will begin ASAP.

Just sent the following email to all 44 buyers:

Fellow Model S Enthusiast,


As promised, I writing to report on order volume.


We just received the 44th order, the threshold for our launching production of the PCB and case. WhiteP85 will instruct the manufacturers to begin work ASAP. When we have a production schedule from the manufacturers I’ll report back on when we expect to ship your order. For now, I’m anticipating 5-6 weeks.


In the meantime we need to get some sense of demand for the license plate camera mounting bracket. Here are the options:

1. If you have no front license plate you will not need the mounting bracket to install the front camera.
2. If you have the stock Tesla license plate frame you’ll need the bracket.
3. If you have one of the several low-mount license plate frames you may not need the bracket. If you have the latter, please check the installation instructions to determine whether you will need the bracket (with a low-mounted license plate frame the camera has to be positioned on the grille under the nose cone so it can see over the frame).

If you think you’ll need the bracket please let me know. As the bracket design is being finalized, we’re not sure yet of the cost, but it will be modest.


Once orders for the camera switch exceed 50 the price for all buyers will be reduced according to volume. We’ll make determination of the final price when we reach the April 5 deadline for orders. Assuming that the number of orders at that time exceeds 50 we’ll begin issuing appropriate rebate amounts to all buyers. This may be the first time that early adapters don’t pay a price penalty for being first


Finally, some minor changes to the installation instructions will be made over the next 7-10 days. I’ll let you know when they’re finalized.


Please let me know if you have any questions.


Rick

 

[jerry33]

My license plate is just taped on to the nosecone. It's more-or-less in the same place the Tesla supplied bracket would be, but no bracket.

 

[artsci]

My license plate is just taped on to the nosecone. It's more-or-less in the same place the Tesla supplied bracket would be, but no bracket.

Can you post or send me a photo?

 

[jerry33]

Can you post or send me a photo?

 

[artsci]

View attachment 45653

You won't need a bracket with the plate in that position. The camera can go in the spot under the nose cone identified in the installation instructions.

 

[artsci]

A buyer of the camera switch just emailed me a suggestion which I think merits posting:

If EVSEAdapters purchases the balance of the initial run, and sells (likely marked-up) kits on their site, that might provide an incentive for people to buy sooner rather than waiting to see whether the number of buyers increases enough to bring the unit price down. Also the initial order of 100 units may leave last minute interested parties unfulfilled.

As WhiteP85 had other business to run, I don't think we're interested in being suppliers and shippers for very long, and certainly not after the initial run.

 

[swegman]

Rick, I will want the license plate mount. I have the license plate holder installed by Tesla when the car was delivered to me.

 

[artsci]

Rick, I will want the license plate mount. I have the license plate holder installed by Tesla when the car was delivered to me.

Would you mind emailing me that info? Thanks.

 

[cgiGuy]

artsci,

Where are we now as far as pre-purchased? Hopefully, over 40. Maybe we should advertise it on the Tesla Motors forum as well?

I have an active thread over at the TeslaMotors.com forum. I try to bump it every now and then. Looks like they're starting some sort of moderation/approval of comments, now.. so, things are slowing down there drastically.

 

[jespo27]

Placed order today.
Thanks for all the hard work. Awesome project.