TPi November 2016

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November 2016 Tube Products International 51
Pipel ine inspect ion
Video inspection of small drain lines
Even routine jobs may conceal
unpredictable issues that extend work
times for the plumber and pose an
inconvenience for the customer. A
blockage, for example, indicates a
probable pipe breakage of which the
full-blown effects become evident once
the obstruction has been removed. The
significance of such warning signs can
be assessed with the aid of a video
inspection camera system.
When re-laying the drains of a home,
using this equipment on the pipes and
storing the recorded video provides
proof, in the event of a complaint,
that the job was done properly. This is
useful, especially when the drains are
installed prior to other jobs during which
paints or debris, caused by accidents or
negligence, might enter. After the video
inspection job is done, a report can be
sent to the customer. Inconvenience
can be further reduced by combining
the camera with a locator that will
pinpoint the exact location where the
pipe needs repair, avoiding unnecessary
additional construction works or even
accidental damage to the piping.
The Ridgid® SeeSnake® microDrain™
inspection system is a portable pipe
inspection diagnostic reel and camera
with a 20m push cable, combined with
a handheld Ridgid micro CA-300 digital
inspection camera monitor with a 3.5"
colour LCD screen.
The product range includes different
versions of reels, depending mainly
on the push cable length and camera
diameter. The pushrod inner drum is
removable and interchangeable, and
is compatible with all other SeeSnake
microReel or nanoReel models. There
is no risk of rust or accidental breaks as
there are no weld lines. Drain lines from
32 to 100mm can be easily inspected
with the SeeSnake microDrain
inspection system. The camera can
pass multiple turns and 90° bends
from 40mm upwards with no need to
dismantle them.
The Ridgid Navitrack Scout® locator is
able to trace the pipeline and precisely
detect the signal of a sonde (transmitter)
to see where assessment or service is
needed inside the pipe. The SeeSnake
HQ software, which is supplied with
the SeeSnake equipment and can be
updated free of charge, enables data
to be monitored and managed on the
work site by connecting the equipment
to a PC.
Reports, which can include confidential
remarks not visible to the customer,
can then be exported to a CD or USB
memory stick. The 235MB internal
memory can store more than 2,000
photographs. Images and videos can
be stored on the 4GB SD card that is
included with the micro CA-300 camera
and transferred via the USB port to a
computer.
Ridge Tool Company – USA Using the arrow keys, the image can be
enlarged as required for optimal viewing
The range includes three different
types of reels, to suit the size of
the pipe to be inspected
The camera monitor
has a headset with an
integrated microphone
for recording audio
commentaries on the
videos