tially-shaded circle above it is the contrast. You can
also dim or brighten the cameras lighting with the
dimmer knob, located on the lower-right, front of
the monitor.
NOTE! These adjustments will be more accurately made
when the camera is positioned in a section of
pipe. If the picture still does not look right, or
there just isn’t one, carefully review the above
steps to ensure they were properly followed.
Pre-Checks
Mechanical Checks
1. Check the cotter pin that holds the axle in place to
ensure it is fully engaged. The wheels should both
spin freely.
2. Rotate the reel brake to a position that allows you
to easily pull cable from the reel, yet stops immedi-
ately when you aren’t retrieving cable. For trans-
port, add more friction to the brake.
3. Grasp the spring assembly in one hand, and the
camera head in the other. Ensure the spring is tight-
ened ONLY to the point where the cut end of it is as
far as it can go in the camera head’s threads. If it is
undertightened, you should be able to physically
screw the spring a little farther onto the camera’s
threads. If it is overtightened, the cut end of the
spring will “crawl” up and over the threads. If this
occurs, follow the procedures in the “Maintenance –
Removing the Camera Head” section to properly
seat the spring using the spanner wrench provided.
4. Check to see that the connector at the end of the
push cable is fully seated into the connector
attached to the cone-shaped portion of the hub
(inside the reel). Likewise, check that the
Interconnect cable is completely plugged into the
hub. Periodically inspect these connectors for good
connections as the system is used.
Electrical Checks
The system should always produce a crisp picture that
is free of noise and lines. Sometimes, especially dur-
ing cold-weather conditions, it can take a moment for
the system to heat up before it will produce the opti-
mum picture. Otherwise, check that connectors are
fully engaged and follow these guidelines:
1. With the system energized, look to see that an
even amount of light is coming from the LEDs.
Place the camera in the reel, and give it a good
spin while watching your monitor.
2. Find a section of pipe that is 2-6 inches in diameter.
Roll a page of newspaper or business stationary
into the pipe and watch the monitor. The picture
should be clear and the lighting should be even on
the pipe walls. Try adjusting the contrast and
brightness, as well as the lighting (using the dim-
mer knob on the monitor/power pack) to obtain the
best picture. Remember, as the materials of pipe
vary, it will be necessary to adjust these settings to
maximize picture quality on different jobs. For
example, white PVC pipe requires less lighting than
Black ABS. As experience is gained with the sys-
tem, operators will learn that slight adjustments in
these settings can highlight problems within a pipe.
At the Job Site
1. The camera can almost always be pushed far-
ther when grip-style rubber gloves are worn. It
is much easier to get a grip on dirty push cable,
and the gloves also keep sludge off the hands.
2. Properly positioning the equipment before you
begin an inspection will save time, be more
comfortable, and minimize the potential for
equipment damage. Set the monitor in an area
where it is unlikely to fall, and where it can be
viewed while you are pushing the camera. A
good location is right next to the cleanout or entry
point. Be sure to keep it from getting wet.
3. Set the reel about 6 to 8 feet from the entry. This
will provide ample cable to grasp and develop
momentum without having a lot of slack dragging on
the ground. Slack can be alleviated by putting fric-
tion on the reel using the brake. If it is set correctly,
push cable will only come off the reel when you pull
on it.
4. Always try to run water down the pipe undergo-
ing inspection. This will keep the system much
cleaner, and allow you to push noticeably farther
with less friction. This can be accomplished by
feeding a hose with a small amount of flow into the
entry or occasionally flushing a toilet that drains to
the pipe. If the water is preventing you from seeing
an area of importance, temporarily turn it OFF.
5. When pushing, the end of your stroke should
be as close to the entry as possible. Standing
too far back, with an excess of cable between your
hands and the entry may cause the cable to fold on
itself outside the entry.
6. Folding the push cable on the sharp edge of an
entry can cause it to snap. Extreme caution
must be used to minimize the chance of bend-
ing the push cable on sharp corners. This is a
common cause of push cable failure, and all opera-
SeeSnake
™
Diagnostic Equipment
Kollmann
Ridge Tool Company • Elyria, Ohio • U.S.A.
10