Using a camera to look inside a conduit.

[charlie b]

This is related to my question about fiberglass sweeps: http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=169513

We are being asked what safeguards can be used to ensure that (1) The fiberglass would not be damaged (i.e., crushed) during the filling & compacting processes, and (2) The fiberglass would not be damaged internally by the cable being pulled through it. It occurred to me that a plumber recently cleaned out my drain pipes, and that he was able to "snake" a camera through the pipes in order to monitor the progress of his cleaning tools. Do electricians have a similar camera? Can I tell the property owner that we will have the EC run a camera through the sweep (starting inside the electrical room and going in about 8 feet) to view the condition of the fiberglass conduit and show that it was not damaged? Am I just daydreaming? :slaphead:

 

[Dennis Alwon]

We would use the same cameras as hvac and plumbers use. Maybe a bit different but they are made. The one I have only goes a short distance but the more expensive ones can go quite a distance

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Around here the hvac guy or a well pump guy is more likely to have a long camera

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=pipe+inspection+cameras


Then select images

 

[FionaZuppa]

an inspection with camera is not a safeguard against damage, its just a verification tool. i would think to combat crushing (as a safeguard) you might pressurize the pipe with some psi of air while the fill process is done. the proof that your safeguard was successful (or not) would be the camera inspection, etc.

 

[Fulthrotl]

This is related to my question about fiberglass sweeps: http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=169513

We are being asked what safeguards can be used to ensure that (1) The fiberglass would not be damaged (i.e., crushed) during the filling & compacting processes, and (2) The fiberglass would not be damaged internally by the cable being pulled through it. It occurred to me that a plumber recently cleaned out my drain pipes, and that he was able to "snake" a camera through the pipes in order to monitor the progress of his cleaning tools. Do electricians have a similar camera? Can I tell the property owner that we will have the EC run a camera through the sweep (starting inside the electrical room and going in about 8 feet) to view the condition of the fiberglass conduit and show that it was not damaged? Am I just daydreaming? :slaphead:

ridgid see snake.

it'll go quite a ways in glorious color.
the new ones are digital, and don't have a VHS recorder built into them.
they go up to about 350'. most are 200'

$8~$12k to buy new.
not many places to rent.. best to look for a plumber with one,
and pay him to record you some pipe footage.

if you are going in less than 20', you can get a standard seesnake,
and put extensions on it. mine will go that far, if all you need is the
90 at the bottom of the gear...... mine was about $600 at ferguson's
plumbing, and another $300 for the four maximum extensions for that
unit.. so, about $1k.

edit:
the last one i rented to snoodle some 4" pipe that had a pull string in it,
make SURE you pull off and tie tight the pull string.... i shoved a $10k rented
tool about 80' under a church lobby, and the string did a timber hitch on the
camera end of the device, and as the pipe was lost on the far end, i couldn't
pull it out...

it was a sub optimal experience for me. you can see the string pull tight,
in the camera display, and you realize you are well and duly screwed.

 

[flashlight]

ridgid see snake.


the last one i rented to snoodle some 4" pipe that had a pull string in it,
make SURE you pull off and tie tight the pull string.... i shoved a $10k rented
tool about 80' under a church lobby, and the string did a timber hitch on the
camera end of the device, and as the pipe was lost on the far end, i couldn't
pull it out...

it was a sub optimal experience for me. you can see the string pull tight,
in the camera display, and you realize you are well and duly screwed.

OUCH ! I feel your pain. Sub optimal experience, good way to put it.

 

[electricalist]

I have a friend thats a plumber and his camera was about 5k from a pawn shop. He kept it on his truck and we would run it I think 100 ft. through some nasty stuff and find the problem.On the job if theres a problem or think theres a problem pipe Ill ask the plumber to check it out. I learned the hard way that jet line will cut a 90 from connector to connector.

 

[kwired]

ridgid see snake.

it'll go quite a ways in glorious color.
the new ones are digital, and don't have a VHS recorder built into them.
they go up to about 350'. most are 200'

$8~$12k to buy new.
not many places to rent.. best to look for a plumber with one,
and pay him to record you some pipe footage.

if you are going in less than 20', you can get a standard seesnake,
and put extensions on it. mine will go that far, if all you need is the
90 at the bottom of the gear...... mine was about $600 at ferguson's
plumbing, and another $300 for the four maximum extensions for that
unit.. so, about $1k.

edit:
the last one i rented to snoodle some 4" pipe that had a pull string in it,
make SURE you pull off and tie tight the pull string.... i shoved a $10k rented
tool about 80' under a church lobby, and the string did a timber hitch on the
camera end of the device, and as the pipe was lost on the far end, i couldn't
pull it out...

it was a sub optimal experience for me. you can see the string pull tight,
in the camera display, and you realize you are well and duly screwed.

A drain cleaner would have gotten it out - maybe not intact though

 

[infinity]

Is such a high tech solution like a snake camera really needed? A simple properly sized mandrel would do the trick.

 

[kwired]

Is such a high tech solution like a snake camera really needed? A simple properly sized mandrel would do the trick.

But it is harder to convince the customer it is necessary to pay same fee for that method as the higher dollar camera.:happyyes:

 

[Fulthrotl]

A drain cleaner would have gotten it out - maybe not intact though

well, i finally broke the twine and got it out, but it was
a dark half hour before i got it removed.

 

[infinity]

But it is harder to convince the customer it is necessary to pay same fee for that method as the higher dollar camera.:happyyes:

True, I would start with the age old mandrel technique and then go to the camera if the old method proved that the conduit was bad. :thumbsup:

 

[don_resqcapt19]

True, I would start with the age old mandrel technique and then go to the camera if the old method proved that the conduit was bad. :thumbsup:

Why even bother with the camera if the mandrel does not work? At that point you know that you need to dig the conduit up and repair it. I don't see where the camera would give you any more information.

 

[kwired]

Why even bother with the camera if the mandrel does not work? At that point you know that you need to dig the conduit up and repair it. I don't see where the camera would give you any more information.

Use a drain cleaner to open the blockage:happyyes: