Testing equipment for drain inspection provides fast, reliable and convenient means for assessing the state of pipes under any building. We say building and not the whole city because the large municipal pipes require machinery and other resources only a public utility company holds at any given time. Fortunately, checking the water drainage networks of a building can be done with push rod style pipe inspection systems able to enter lateral and inside pipes.
There are many reasons to do drain inspection and having a leaking pipe is obviously the first one on the list. Hopefully the drain maintenance in your building is up to date and you don’t wait until your backyard is swamped before you undertake pipe examination project. Sometimes insurance claims depend on regular pipe maintenance work and similar steps that are taken to decrease the likelihood of flood. Whatever the reason, dependable sewer inspection gear is very important and acquired by both professionals and facilities (or building) managers every day. But how can one be sure they made the right decision when it comes to getting this type of tools?
General Overview of Drain Inspection Camera Features
When one looks into this kind of equipment it is the following elements that matter: cable length, cable quality, camera build, operational aspects of the camera, user interface, capacity to record video, memory bank, connectivity and compatibility to other gear and power source. While heavy duty and operational hd inspection camera is the centerpiece in these systems, the rest of the components should not be underestimated too.
Inspection Cameras
As always the choice of camera depends on your needs. If you are or intend to become a professional then you need to keep track of the latest development in drain camera systems.
They come with HD and high resolution capability, several types of tilt and sturdy case with built in sensors. The latest in sewer camera technology is camera able to record footage which can be displayed in 1080P full high definition mode. It delivers videos and images with 1920 x 1080 resolution which allows the operator to identify drain issues with ease.
The best cameras have manual focus giving you capacity to focus on details that are from 80mm up to 1000mm away. This is very handy for checking long pipes. Most cameras have standard and fixed focus, so those with manual focus would be able to cover wider range of work and do it better.
Cases for these cameras are always sturdy and meant to be submerged. Go for IP68 rating to be on the safe side of things. Another aspect of these heavy duty camera heads that is unjustly ignored is their weight. Those made from durable aluminium alloys are lightweight which translates into easy maneuverability. The camera heads also serve as a protective pod for sondes. If your camera has 512Hz sonde then you will be able to pinpoint the location and depth at any time. Such features are indispensable when you need to have as precise measurements as possible before digging with heavy machinery. These frequencies are chosen to minimize the likelihood of interference from other source that can be found underground (like buried services).
This system goes into pitch black pipe networks, so don’t forget to check the lightning fixtures for the camera. Having a decent LED lights setup will be more than enough, just make sure there is one.
They come with HD and high resolution capability, several types of tilt and sturdy case with built in sensors. The latest in sewer camera technology is camera able to record footage which can be displayed in 1080P full high definition mode. It delivers videos and images with 1920 x 1080 resolution which allows the operator to identify drain issues with ease.
The best cameras have manual focus giving you capacity to focus on details that are from 80mm up to 1000mm away. This is very handy for checking long pipes. Most cameras have standard and fixed focus, so those with manual focus would be able to cover wider range of work and do it better.
Cases for these cameras are always sturdy and meant to be submerged. Go for IP68 rating to be on the safe side of things. Another aspect of these heavy duty camera heads that is unjustly ignored is their weight. Those made from durable aluminium alloys are lightweight which translates into easy maneuverability. The camera heads also serve as a protective pod for sondes. If your camera has 512Hz sonde then you will be able to pinpoint the location and depth at any time. Such features are indispensable when you need to have as precise measurements as possible before digging with heavy machinery. These frequencies are chosen to minimize the likelihood of interference from other source that can be found underground (like buried services).
This system goes into pitch black pipe networks, so don’t forget to check the lightning fixtures for the camera. Having a decent LED lights setup will be more than enough, just make sure there is one.
User Interface and Connectivity
Getting good drainage equipment doesn’t stop at having hd inspection camera. These systems are sometimes employed to solve water distribution emergencies and the operator needs to act fast. Any advance in how the data is collected, analyzed, recorded and shared makes a great difference in the overall performance.
And they are not short of the latest improvements found in other gear. The footage is displayed on a 10.1 inch high contrast LCD colour screen while notes and reports can be written via QWERTY keyboards. We are talking high end features here. Inspection videos are obtained through dual joystick control – it’s what enables the operator to adjust camera functions such as zoom level and lighting. There are systems with touch pad buttons that enable user friendly options to present the pipe recordings. More then one memory bank is accessible (usually SD card and USB slot) to extend the capacity for data storage. In essence, if you go for high end system you get up to date interface that is compatible with your usual digital devices.
And they are not short of the latest improvements found in other gear. The footage is displayed on a 10.1 inch high contrast LCD colour screen while notes and reports can be written via QWERTY keyboards. We are talking high end features here. Inspection videos are obtained through dual joystick control – it’s what enables the operator to adjust camera functions such as zoom level and lighting. There are systems with touch pad buttons that enable user friendly options to present the pipe recordings. More then one memory bank is accessible (usually SD card and USB slot) to extend the capacity for data storage. In essence, if you go for high end system you get up to date interface that is compatible with your usual digital devices.
Power Source and Cables
The unit it meant for field work so it’s power banks are made to function without being plugged into power supply networks. Sewer inspection systems have run time of around 4 hours powered by rechargeable Li-Ion batteries. If the set has battery able to deliver less than 6000mAh though, the run time will be reduced.
To get full HD video signal from such voids, cavities and pipes this system requires high quality cables. They are really protected – with fibreglass, waterproof PVC and shielded core – and mounted to a cable reel with custom bracket system. This aluminium alloy cable reel has cable brake and distance counter. Nowadays they make them to be as much resistant to interference from nearby cables as possible. It goes to show how pipe maintenance has advanced so we can have precise, reliable and documented data on the state of residential drainage networks.
To get full HD video signal from such voids, cavities and pipes this system requires high quality cables. They are really protected – with fibreglass, waterproof PVC and shielded core – and mounted to a cable reel with custom bracket system. This aluminium alloy cable reel has cable brake and distance counter. Nowadays they make them to be as much resistant to interference from nearby cables as possible. It goes to show how pipe maintenance has advanced so we can have precise, reliable and documented data on the state of residential drainage networks.
