Pro Tips & Product Showcase – Sewer & Drain Inspection Equipment
For the November/December pro tips and product focus section, Pipe Cleaning PRO looks at sewer and drain inspection equipment. This is a category filled with big and small cameras, as well as additional ancillary equipment necessary to complete the job.
Featured here are the latest and greatest pieces of equipment in this category. We reached out to the manufacturers to provide us with this info, as well as a Pro Tip focused on this category of equipment. As always, this is only a small look at this segment.
For more information on these products or other equipment in the manufacturers’ lineups, visit the websites listed with each product.
Aries Industries
The Mobile Pathfinder System is a lightweight, portable system for accurately inspecting mainlines 6 in. or larger. It includes a powerful transporter, innovative camera, and lightweight reel, operated by an all-in-one remote control. The transporter comes in a variety of wheel sizes and is equipped with a rear-viewing camera and an adjustable electric lift to keep the camera centered in a range of pipe sizes. It features an Aries’ WiperCam Pan & Tilt camera with an in-the-pipe cleaning system and field replaceable wipers. The camera has a 300-degree viewing angle and LED lighting system to capture pipe details and ensure accurate assessments. The lightweight reel has 1,000 ft of low-friction, multi-conductor cable, making the system fully portable. The transporter, camera, and reel are controlled by a single, all-in-one remote control with a rechargeable wireless keyboard.
PRO Tip
Preventative maintenance tips for your mainline and lateral inspection equipment. Pressurization — Aries’ cameras are pressurized to prevent the entry of water into the internal electronics. Check camera pressure daily before equipment contacts water. Use only dry nitrogen to pressurize your equipment. O-Rings/Seals Inspection — Inspect O-Rings whenever you take the equipment apart and never reuse an O-Ring. Cable Inspection — Inspect cable for kinks and gouges , excessive wear to casings and termination and previous improper repairs. Reel Inspection — Look for worn wheels and guides, verify manual counter operation and make sure trolley carriage moves freely by greasing the guide and bearings and removing any debris. Cleanliness — Use mild cleaner and low water pressure to wash equipment after retrieval to improve sanitary conditions on your truck, reduce downtime and extend the lifespan and reliability of your equipment.
For more information, visit ariesindustries.com.
Electric Eel
The Electric Eel eCAM Ace 2 SL Pipeline Inspection Camera System has added a new standard feature, a built-in battery cradle accepts a Milwaukee M18 battery (battery not included). This new standard feature adds convenience for the operator and allows easy access to power for remote field work or where electricity is not available. Battery life is 6-7 hours. Features include a Self-Leveling color camera, One-Touch USB recording, on-screen footage counter, wheels for easy transport and maneuverability. Rugged stainless steel housed 1.68-in. diameter self-leveling color camera for inspecting 3-in. to 10-in. lines. Sapphire lens with 20 LED light ring and high-resolution CCD element. Flexible camera spring designed to navigate 3 P-traps. Auto iris adjusts lighting automatically. Industry standard 512HZ sonde. 5.4-in. LCD monitor with AR film. 120v AC Supply or built-in battery cradle (battery not included). Protective acrylic, anti-glare monitor shield. Standard with 200 ft of braided fiberglass premium 0.5-in. diameter push rod.
For more information, visit electriceel.com.
Envirosight
The Verisight Pro+ Push Camera combines greater pushing power with superior recording and annotation capability. Cities and contractors depend on Envirosight’s Verisight Pro+ to complete critical drain pipe and lateral inspections quickly and accurately. Verisight Pro’s stainless self-leveling camera captures up to 90 hours of color footage from pipes 2 in. in diameter and larger, regardless of material. It snakes through multiple bends for maximum range, and an integral tri-band sonde (33 kHz, 512 Hz, 640 Hz) works with most any locator. The rugged welded-steel coiler comes with 130, 200 or 330 ft of push rod. The entire system runs for 6 hours off internal rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries, or off mains or vehicle power. Verisight Pro’s controller displays real-time footage on an 8-in. LCD and can operate all camera functions, generate custom text overlays with a full QWERTY keyboard, and easily off-load inspection footage by SD card or USB drive. tional H-30 cart makes for easy job site transport.
For more information, visit envirosight.com
General Pipe Cleaners
The new Gen-Eye X-POD Plus sewer camera system from General Pipe Cleaners now includes the Gen-Pack battery adapter, Wi-Fi transmitter and an on-screen distance counter as standard equipment to boost productivity and profitability. Depending on battery type and settings, the built-in Gen-Pack battery adapter lets you operate the camera system for up to 12 hours in remote locations with limited access to power. Fuse-protected to safeguard your equipment investment, the Gen-Pack battery adapter is also available separately. Battery and charger are not included. X-POD Plus makes sharing inspections easy. The built-in Wi-Fi transmitter lets you view and record work on a cell phone or tablet. And using the system’s USB port, you can also archive activity on handy flash drives. The new on-screen distance counter also shows how far the camera has travelled down a line
in feet or meters. And for optimum accuracy, settings can be adjusted for full size or mini-reel configurations.
For more information, visit drainbrain.com.
Milwaukee Tool
Milwaukee Tool set a new standard in sewer Inspection with the introduction of their M18 Pipeline Inspection System, allowing technicians to see more in drain lines than ever before. This system is built around their M18 500 GB Control Hub. The Control Hub powers both the 120-ft and 20-ft Pipeline Inspection Reels and can easily be swapped between them. Both reels feature a 1080p HD self-leveling camera head and a push cable built to withstand the harsh conditions when navigating through cast iron, clay, and PVC pipes. Technicians can digitally zoom and pan up to 4X, making it easier to focus on the point of interest. View, record, edit and share videos from the M18 Wireless Monitor or the Milwaukee Pipeline Inspection app on a mobile device. The integrated ONE-KEY technology provides the ability to track the tool’s location, manage it in inventory, and lock out the tool if it is ever lost or stolen.
PRO Tip
Drain cleaning professionals need the ability to build, organize and share reports quickly and easily, and the Milwaukee Modular Pipeline Inspection System provides the easiest way to do so. The M18 500 GB Control Hub allows you to save and organize HD images and video recordings on board. An internal battery in the Control Hub allows M18 batteries to be swapped out during live videos, meaning a recording is never lost. Trim videos to shareable sizes, add labels or audio to points of interest, or automatically generate a highlight reel while on the job from the M18 Wireless monitor or using the Milwaukee Pipeline Inspection App on your mobile device. Provide instant feedback to customers by replaying saved videos using the monitor or a mobile device with up to 200 ft of range. Download large files to USB or send saved recordings directly from the mobile device.
For more information, visit milwaukeetool.com.
MyTana
MyTana’s MS11-NG2 is a mid-size inspection system adapts to inspect smaller lines. The MS11-NG2 sewer and drain inspection system from MyTana is a versatile push camera that takes up little room on your truck, and weighs just 45 lbs. A self-leveling mid-size camera head is suitable for 3-in. to 6-in. lines, while our optional MS11+ Combo Kit gives you an interchangeable, fixed-position mini camera head to inspect 1.5-in. to 3-in. lines. Each head has a 512Hz transmitter built-in and delivers high-clarity footage to the 6.4-in. daylight-readable monitor which is integrated on the reel frame. All-digital recording saves that footage to internal or removable drives, or you can stream video wirelessly to multiple devices. The reel deploys 150 ft or 200 ft of durable, push-rod and camera guides help with navigation in various pipe sizes. Every MyTana camera is backed by our factory-direct support and service team.
For more information, visit mytana.com.
Pearpoint
The new and advanced Pearpoint flexiprobe P540c system stands out by integrating all of the most sought-after features including survey reporting, video titling, digital recording and portability into an easy-to-use and intuitive package. The controller features a high definition 10.1 in. TFT display with the on-board Wi-Fi allowing you to share your reports via email or Dropbox. The 128Gb internal memory allows for more than 2 months’ video recording in typical usage. The ruggedized, IP55 rated, controller with built-in rechargeable battery provides reliability in the most challenging environments. The Pearpoint flexiprobe P540c series push systems consists of P541 plumber reels, P541 mini reel, P542 reel, and the P543 reel system with two different cameras to choose from, rated for withstanding water pressure of approximately 160 psi or over 300 feet under water. The systems cover most of the inspection needs from 1.5-in. pipe to 16-in. pipe.
For more information, visit pearpoint.com.
RIDGID
The RIDGID SeeSnake CSx Via is a flexible, bring-your-own-screen inspection solution that provides a convenient means to stream, capture and share inspection images using an iOS, Android or Windows device. It enables reels with an interconnect port to be Wi-Fi enabled and utilizes the free RIDGID HQx Live app to remotely control the camera functions and features. Simply dock in the CSx Via Wi-Fi control device to unlock a world of flexibility, convenience and camera operations with just your mobile screen. Remotely control all functions and features of your camera reel, including TruSense, distance counter, sonde and more. Multi-reel compatibility provides maximum flexibility. Purpose-built for jobsite durability and protection, CSx Via can be paired with the RIDGID HQx Dock to hold and protect personal devices. Use as a free-standing unit or mount onto any RIDGID SeeSnake Compact Series reels for fast, easy setup. Comes with the RIDGID full lifetime warranty.
PRO Tip
“The CSx Via is a game changer! I love the convenience of streaming on my own device and being able to send to my customers in seconds. And being able to control all the camera functions and do anything needed right from the HQ app is incredible,” says Robert Broccolo Jr., owner, Professional Drain Services of SNE. “Truly love the CSx Via because my iPhone and iPad are my most used devices and being able to stream and send on my own devices is just awesome. The convenience and time saved makes it all worth it. Being able to also connect to any one of my RIDGID devices it’s simply a game changer for me. Highly recommend anyone using RIDGID SeeSnake to add to the arsenal. “
For more information, visit ridgid.com.
Spartan Tool
The Spartan Sentinel is a lightweight, open-reel camera system for general inspection and locating jobs in 2 in. to 4 in. pipe sizes. It features a waterproof, stainless steel camera head and 100-ft fiberglass push rod. This system is ideal for use alongside the Revolution line of high-speed flex shaft machines. With its compact footprint, attractive pricing, and easily interchangeable parts, the Sentinel is the perfect camera for business owners who need to put a unit on every truck. It’s field repairable for no costly downtime and repairs. The 7-in. monitor and 6-hour battery life means the Sentinel won’t let you down on the job.over most of the inspection needs from 1.5-in. pipe to 16-in. pipe.
For more information, visit spartantool.com.
Subsite
Designed to boost utility inspection productivity, the Subsite Armored SinCon Cable offers significant cost and performance advantages over multi-conductor technology. The Armored SinCon Cable is a single conductor cable with multi-conductor functionality to help inspectors ensure an efficient and reliable inspection. It can perform multiple functions at a time, including drive, pan, tilt and lift. Allowing inspection crews to complete each function needed with one system. Built for durability, it features the industry’s strongest CCTV cable break strength at 5,400-lbs. The 0.25-in. outside diameter is wrapped with two layers of steel armor, for increased protection against tears or scrapes. To minimize downtime, the Armored SinCon Cable can be easily reterminated in the field, without the need for specialized tools, soldering or epoxy. Helping inspectors focus on the job at hand by getting back into operation quickly.
PRO Tip
“Sewer and utility inspection technology has certainly evolved over the years. One change that shouldn’t be viewed as an advancement has been a shift in preference toward multi-conductor systems rather than single conductor systems,” said Patrick Iyonsi, Utility Inspection product manager, Subsite Electronics. “While many municipalities are considering this alternative in inspection technology, the truth is that today’s single conductor systems are just as advanced and can offer the same benefits as multiconductor technology. A single conductor system’s durability, multi-function capabilities, ease of repair and quick set up and breakdown can help decrease downtime, and in turn, increase profits. Inspection teams looking to boost productivity on their future sewer or drain inspections should strongly consider the benefits that single conductor cables provide.”
For more information, visit subsite.com.
Vivax-Metrotech
The vCamMX-2 is an ultra-portable all-in-one camera to inspect pipes between 1.5 and 4 in. The control module’s 8-in. daylight-viewable LCD screen shows the distance of pushrod deployed, as well as the current time and date. Recordings are made in mp4 video and pictures in JPEG format directly to a USB thumb drive, then instantly backed up to an SD card. The internal microphone allows audio commenting over reordered video. The pushrod is traceable with the use of an external locator transmitter and is available in 100 or 150-feet. The 512Hz frequency sonde is standard equipment. Two interchangeable camera heads. The smaller D18-MX camera is a fixed position and 0.70 in. in diameter, and the D26-MX is self-leveling and 1 in. in diameter.
PRO Tip
Protecting the pushrod on your camera system. Use as many resources as possible to protect the pushrod at the entry point of the inspection. At the entry point, a lot of stress can be applied to the jacketing of the pushrod. Downhole tubes – Make a downhole tube with a straight PVC pipe with a 90-degree elbow attached. Shave off part of the elbow so it is the same width as the tube. Tiger Tail – Use a tiger tail when working in manhole entries. The tiger tail will prevent the pushrod from rubbing at the pipe entry, just as it protects jetter hoses. Pool Hose – is available in different diameters and can be cut to your desired length. Use pool hose to help the entry through toilet bowls, Tee’s and sweeps in cleanouts.
For more information, visit vxmt.com.
Cherne Industries
The newly redesigned Cherne I-Series Test-Ball Plugs from Cherne Industries, are the most innovative pneumatic plugs available for the underground and waterworks market. Lightweight, short and flexible, Cherne I-Series plugs deliver state-of-the-art solutions for a variety of applications: blocking and bypassing flow; installing new pipes and junction boxes or repairing old ones; and installing or repairing utility holes. Available in eight expansion ranges, from 6 to 24 in., Cherne I-Series Test-Ball Plugs meet U.S. and international industrial and municipal needs for engineers and contractors. The plugs offer industry-leading quality and durability, featuring robotic, mechanical bonding of aluminum end plates to the plugs’ premium natural rubber to eliminate chemical bonding failures. Cherne I-Series Test-Ball Plugs provide improved performance and safety through optimized design and superior back pressure (maximum: 15 psi; inflation pressure: 45 psi).
PRO Tip
Put safety first when using pipe plugs. When a pipe plug is in use, a danger zone exists that expands outwardly in a cone shape from the manhole opening. The most important safety measure is never to enter the danger zone in such a situation. Remember that the total force exerted on a pipeline plug is directly proportional to both the pressure and the pipeline area. The amount of force behind a plug can be overwhelming and extremely dangerous.
For more information, visit oatey.com.
CUES
The CUES small and large Currahee cutters are specifically designed to reinstate wastewater service laterals, remove protruding taps, and brush finish existing cuts. The cutters function in a range of 5.25-in. through 36-in. pipe, are equally effective in CIPP or fold and form liners, and can be installed on any CCTV manufacturer’s truck-mounted system. CUES also developed a new 1.9 hp air motor for the small Currahee cutter line to provide more power, increased productivity, and a smoother cut when operating in 6-in. to 12-in. relined pipe. Kits are available to retrofit existing cutters for use with Kangaroo air-motors and service kits can be purchased for regular maintenance intervals on existing motors. Contact CUES for a discussion and demonstration.
For more information, visit cuesinc.com.
