Thinking about a sewer camera - Plumbing Zone

**Bill** · 03-20-2009, 07:49 AM

Couple of questions.

What brand?

What price to expect for a new one?

What price to expect from a used one?

JK949 · 03-20-2009, 12:07 PM

Brand: Ridgid or General

Price: Depends on a few factors

Are you planning on using it for commercial or residential use?

The newer ones have more LED's in the camera head than the old ones. Color is nicer than B/W.

And don't let anyone get to rough with them. A kink in the rod is repaired by cutting it down and reattaching the head. A new rod is around $1800.

Va. Plumber · 03-20-2009, 01:18 PM

Just bought a Ridgid see snake compact (color) with 100' spool, about $4,200. It's not a large monitor but picture is good. It will go through smaller lines but cannot push though too many turns, geat for shorter runs. Also bought a Ridgid navitrack II locator for $2,400. I haven't used it yet but have heard that it works really well from other plumbers, accurate locating and depth measurements.

Green Country · 03-20-2009, 10:39 PM

I've used ridgid and they are nice. The color and self leveling features are nice, but not necessary. They didn't hold up real well, but I was at a 25 man shop and they got used and abused.

The place I work now has a vivax. It's nice because it is compact and can run off of a rechargeable battery, but it won't fit in an 1 1/2" line.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick the seesnake mini. If you need to go longer distances in larger lines, get the bigger seesnake.

Plumber Jim · 03-21-2009, 01:26 AM

What size lines you planning on putting the camera in?
I have been using a gen eye II for about 9 years and it's been a good camera. I just picked up a used seesnake mini so i can camera 2" lines too. I would agree with eaither general or ridgid.

Plumber Jim

Protech · 03-21-2009, 04:37 PM

Go seesnake. You'll never look back.

The compact model is the best for resi. If you do lots of commercial then you may want to get a bigger model as the compact doesn't work well in 6" and up. I won't reach out to 200' ether. The absolute best for resi though. I've used ridgid and mytana. There is no comparison to the ridgid cams.

lbjohn · 07-19-2009, 06:00 PM

Open to brand, I expect it will be between 5 & 10K. I would buy used, but I haven't seen one except for some cheap ones that have reviewed as junk.

lbjohn · 07-19-2009, 06:07 PM

We currently do mostly residential. So, up to 6". Thanks for the tip on the kinking it. I have only used a friends with him. He has a seesnake. It seems easy enough to use.

user823 · 07-19-2009, 06:24 PM

There are deals out there if you look hard enough. I wasn't about to spend thousands on my first camera. I found a shop in North Dakota, not too far away from me. He had a Sreco 200' reel, color camera with dimmer. Very heavy duty. It works perfect. I have my own monitor (small tv with VHS) if it goes bad I throw it away and buy a new one for under a hundred bucks. I've inspected dozens of lines with the camera, no problems.
I've used it and abused it and it just keeps working great. Paid $1200.00 for it.
I've had many comments by local city crews about how clear and crisp the color picture is, I like it and it's paid for itself over and over again.
They sell a lot of used ones and also make new ones, comes with warranty.
Let me know if you want his contact info.

A Good Plumber · 07-19-2009, 07:43 PM

I have two Ridgid See Snakes w/ 200' color self leveling cameras. They are great for inspections 3" to 6 or even 8". Most of the time we can only push the cable out a maximum of 150' even if no offsets are involved. Running water helps when pushing the cable through.

I now need a smaller camers head for 1-1/2" -2" inspections. I'm looking into the Ridgid Compact w/o the monitor because I have two monitors and only need the camera for short (less than 100') runs of pipe.

I've had both systems for four years and use them for about 5-8 inspections a week. They have held up great. The key is having an employee who cares about the equipment as if it were his own.

Anyone know of a good dealer I can buy a new Ridgid 100' color Mini cable?

03-20-2009, 07:49 AM	#1
Bill Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: I have no idea! Posts: 5,868 My Photos	Thinking about a sewer camera Couple of questions. What brand? What price to expect for a new one? What price to expect from a used one? __________________ Virginia Plumbing Codes Virginia Department of Licensing Ones intellect can often be summed up by his own words Everything in the known universe is governed by "Cause and Effect", there is no getting around it. Think about what you do before you do it.

03-21-2009, 04:37 PM	#6
Protech ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Polk County, Florida Posts: 7,167 My Photos	Go seesnake. You'll never look back. The compact model is the best for resi. If you do lots of commercial then you may want to get a bigger model as the compact doesn't work well in 6" and up. I won't reach out to 200' ether. The absolute best for resi though. I've used ridgid and mytana. There is no comparison to the ridgid cams. __________________ Plumber, Repiping, Replumbing, Leak Detection, Solar Water Heater, Drain Cleaner, Pipe Leak, Polk County Plumber, Lakeland Plumber, Winter Haven Plumber, Haines City Plumber, Bartow Plumber Last edited by Protech; 03-21-2009 at 04:40 PM..

07-19-2009, 07:43 PM	#10
A Good Plumber J. McCabe Plumbing Inc. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 333 My Photos	I have two Ridgid See Snakes w/ 200' color self leveling cameras. They are great for inspections 3" to 6 or even 8". Most of the time we can only push the cable out a maximum of 150' even if no offsets are involved. Running water helps when pushing the cable through. I now need a smaller camers head for 1-1/2" -2" inspections. I'm looking into the Ridgid Compact w/o the monitor because I have two monitors and only need the camera for short (less than 100') runs of pipe. I've had both systems for four years and use them for about 5-8 inspections a week. They have held up great. The key is having an employee who cares about the equipment as if it were his own. Anyone know of a good dealer I can buy a new Ridgid 100' color Mini cable? __________________ My Best Friends Are Plumbers!

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03-20-2009, 12:07 PM	#2
JK949 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South O.C., CA Posts: 676 My Photos	Brand: Ridgid or General Price: Depends on a few factors Are you planning on using it for commercial or residential use? The newer ones have more LED's in the camera head than the old ones. Color is nicer than B/W. And don't let anyone get to rough with them. A kink in the rod is repaired by cutting it down and reattaching the head. A new rod is around $1800.

03-20-2009, 01:18 PM	#3
Va. Plumber Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 67 My Photos	Just bought a Ridgid see snake compact (color) with 100' spool, about $4,200. It's not a large monitor but picture is good. It will go through smaller lines but cannot push though too many turns, geat for shorter runs. Also bought a Ridgid navitrack II locator for $2,400. I haven't used it yet but have heard that it works really well from other plumbers, accurate locating and depth measurements.

03-20-2009, 10:39 PM	#4
Green Country Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 143 My Photos	I've used ridgid and they are nice. The color and self leveling features are nice, but not necessary. They didn't hold up real well, but I was at a 25 man shop and they got used and abused. The place I work now has a vivax. It's nice because it is compact and can run off of a rechargeable battery, but it won't fit in an 1 1/2" line. If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick the seesnake mini. If you need to go longer distances in larger lines, get the bigger seesnake.

03-21-2009, 01:26 AM	#5
Plumber Jim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,803 My Photos	What size lines you planning on putting the camera in? I have been using a gen eye II for about 9 years and it's been a good camera. I just picked up a used seesnake mini so i can camera 2" lines too. I would agree with eaither general or ridgid. Plumber Jim

07-19-2009, 06:00 PM	#7
lbjohn Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6 My Photos	Open to brand, I expect it will be between 5 & 10K. I would buy used, but I haven't seen one except for some cheap ones that have reviewed as junk.

07-19-2009, 06:07 PM	#8
lbjohn Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6 My Photos	We currently do mostly residential. So, up to 6". Thanks for the tip on the kinking it. I have only used a friends with him. He has a seesnake. It seems easy enough to use.

07-19-2009, 06:24 PM	#9
user823 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,595 My Photos	There are deals out there if you look hard enough. I wasn't about to spend thousands on my first camera. I found a shop in North Dakota, not too far away from me. He had a Sreco 200' reel, color camera with dimmer. Very heavy duty. It works perfect. I have my own monitor (small tv with VHS) if it goes bad I throw it away and buy a new one for under a hundred bucks. I've inspected dozens of lines with the camera, no problems. I've used it and abused it and it just keeps working great. Paid $1200.00 for it. I've had many comments by local city crews about how clear and crisp the color picture is, I like it and it's paid for itself over and over again. They sell a lot of used ones and also make new ones, comes with warranty. Let me know if you want his contact info.