4 Sensor Wired Reversing Kit

Look in any car park or street, and you will see vehicles that are obviously well looked after, shiny and clean, with only one carbuncle, the tell-tale scuffs at the corners and colour-coded bumpers due to parking mishaps. One of my cars I bought used had these sensors fitted as a factory option (would have cost around £250-£500 depending on vehicle, but that’s the cost with a dealer or new car fit). So how good are the after-market kits you can fit yourself? They range from a self-adhesive set of sensors which show the wires retreating into the boot and simply give a loud series of beeps when close to something to a top of the range camera and screen system which gives you all the information you need, at a price.

The Four Sensor Wired Reversing Kit falls between these two extremes, offering in my opinion an impressive and versatile professional looking option. You get four flush fitting sensors, a 22.5mm drill hole cutter tool to fit a drill chuck to cleanly cut the holes, a segmented display and a control box. The connecting cable for the sensors measures approximately 2.4m per sensor, the in-car display panel connecting cable is 5.8m (approx) and the control unit (for installation in the boot of the vehicle, or hidden behind removable trim in the boot area) – measures approximately 12 x 8 x 3cm.

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A power connecting cable – (red connects to the reversing light and black to earthed body of vehicle) about 85cm in length, completes the cabling, and all cables plug in to the receiver control panel and are clearly marked. One double-sided adhesive mounting pad for the in-car display panel and two for the control unit, eight cable ties for neat wiring and a fitting instructions manual completes the item list.

I fitted the unit without any difficulty in my Volvo S80, and it works brilliantly, with the clear display reporting on distance in left and right segments, to take into consideration reversing out of a space around a car to the left, for example. A switch on the back of the display allows you to mute the beeper, something I did immediately I started using it as it is very clear, but may be distracting to passengers, as the beep comes from the display, not the control box. I simply glance at the display (mounted on the dashboard, close to the windscreen). The instructions are very clear, and whilst one cannot accurately gauge how long specific vehicles would take to complete the install, even with removal of panels and ensuring all the wiring was hidden away it took me around a couple of hours. Peace of mind, and available for £45 with a shiny penny change; less than a professional repair to tidy those scuffed corners!

Features:
Four sensor reversing system for cars and light commercial vehicles - takes the guesswork out of parking!
Uses ultrasonics to measure the distance between your car and obstacles
Audible and visual indicators of the distance to objects behind the car
Three distinct tones provide audible warnings of the distance to an object
Supplied with four sensors and 22.5mm drill hole cutter for installation
Automatically engages when reverse gear is selected

Pack Contents:

• 4 x sensors with connecting cable measuring approximately 2.4m per sensor
• 1 x in-car display panel with connecting cable measuring approximately 5.8m in length
• 1 x control unit for installation in the boot of the vehicle – measures approximately 12 x 8 x 3cm
• 1 x power connecting cable – (red connects to the reversing light and black to earthed body of vehicle) measures approximately 85cm in length
• 1 x 22.5mm drill hole cutter