Drain Cameras

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	Pushrods and Tractors - which to use? Pushrods are the most popular choice of drain survey cameras, being cheaper and quicker to set up than a tractor system. They are designed to survey the smallest pipe sizes in general use, from 1 1/2 inches (45ml) up to 9 inches (225ml). Most domestic drains start from 3 inches (75ml) and 4 inches in diameter, and with an appropriately sized skid (the plastic “Cover” around the camera head to lift the camera above the flow level), pushrods can take reasonable surveys of pipes up to 12 inch (300ml) in diameter.

Telephone:

0208 337 0033

The smallest pushrods (often called a “Look-see”) are able to go down pipes as small as 1.5 inches (45ml), but there is usually no recording facility (important for insurance work) and the flexibility needed to negotiate tight bends means you will not push more than 15 to 20 metres, if that. The Ibos mini costs just under £3,000 with a 3-hour battery-pack, and carries a 20 metre coil with a fixed head camera. It does record, however, when used with the Reve250 control box, or the Archos Video recorder unit (around £250).






	Standard pushrods will push 50-60 metres and have a much stiffer pushrod for the coil than the “Look-see’s”. The UK market has a self-levelling camera head as standard. LED’s provide the light source, being special low-power electronic lights giving high light output. It is the strength of the lighting that determines the maximum size of pipe a pushrod camera can survey. Stronger light sources can cope with larger diameter pipes. In general, a good pushrod should survey 9 inch (225ml) whilst the Ibos system can survey a 12 inch (300ml) pipe, after which, tractors are better. The standard Ibos pushrod costs a little over £6,000, and comes complete and ready to use with a DVD recorder and a flat LCD screen (15”). A free sonde (a radio beacon to give a signal for digging accuracy) is now installed as standard. The Locator is an optional extra. The PC version records to a Hard Drive, and is a more reliable method of recording than straight to DVD, and costs just over £6,900. Full information and literature is on our Downloads page.

Tractor systems use a powered, heavy buggy with a camera in line and removable extra lights on top. They are designed for larger pipes and sewers. They tend to be heavy, up to 30 kilograms, for the simple reason that they have to pull up to 250 metres of cable behind them to be effective. Tractors can survey up to 500 metre lengths from a single opening (forward and reverse), and with some of the latest developments in low loss cables it appears that 1000 metres in a single run will be possible, giving a 2000 metre survey range.

Tractors operate in pipe sizes from 6 inches (150mm) upwards to 6 feet (2 metres). The Ibos tractor system comes complete with a pan and rotate camera with 10 times Zoom camera, automatic and manual focusing, additional lights, a built in sonde (a radio beacon) for accuracy at surface level (the locator is an optinal extra), and two extra sets of wheels for larger pipes. A PC that is WinCan ready makes recording to a Hard Drive as standard, for later archiving to a DVD if required (usually for insurance and repair validation). The control centre box also connects to the coils of the Reve100 and Reve250 pushrods with an additional socket. It costs just over £27,000, and further information is on our Downloads page. Modifying the cable for deep reach work with Low-Loss cables can add an extra (UKP) £10,000 to New non-snagging skids for the pushrod camera £15,000.

Some extras are available for the tractor and software. There is a Null Register Point option which is a button on the control panel, and when pushed re-sets the pan-rotate camera head to the upright vertical position. Another option is to have the 12-hour clock as an icon on screen, with a mark on the edge showing which angle the pan-rotate head is facing. And we can add an inclinometer, showing either the up or downhill gradient that the tractor is moving along. Around £7,500.

Mini-tractors, weighing around 7-8 kgs, are often used in smaller pipes from 6 inches to 12 inches (300mm) diameter, but have drawbacks in that they do not normally incorporate a gantry to raise the camera head over the flow, and pulling power is limited.

If you have any questions about which pushrod or tractor system to use, please call Michael Martin on (UK mobile number) 07919 400 289, or email us on info@jetmasters.co.uk. Our sales details and prices are on the “Downloads” page, click here to go to Downloads.

Generators are often used to power this equipment, and can be either unregulated or inverter coupled. All our drain cameras are only warranty’d against a “Clean Supply” or inverter type generator. The unregulated type will blow all the electronics and the typical cost of repair (this is not under warranty) will be around £800. See our Generators page for more details.




		The Ibos control centre for the tractor unit has a complete set of PC and DVD outlets, a USB port and a DVD recorder. A flat 15” LCD screen shows a brilliant picture and the joysticks, to control the tractor movements, are shown on either side of the screen. The built in keyboard gives on-screen text if you want to highlight a problem image. The zoom lens will show all defects in great detail.


	The latest model in control units and pushrod systems comprising LCD screen, DVD recorder with Hard Drive Backup (on PC version), and keyboard to add titles to screen shots. The reel is lightweight glass fibre, very rigid for it’s size, and a self-levelling camera head that contains a 33 kHz Sonde locator . Digital devices are becoming more rugged and more popular as tape recording devices dissappear.



		For anyone looking for a completely portable system, try using the Reve 100 or 250 reel with the new Battery Pack. This provides up to 4 hours working time and with the mini (the 100) it weighs, all in, at only 7 kilogrammes. It has a 7 inch LCD screen so you get a very clear picture of the pipe interior. With the development of camera Flashcards, a recordable and portable system will soon be on offer.


	Go next to “Ibos Pushrod and Tractor” page .