Cheap or DIY drain camera

[zkling]

Sigh, I've been working the past 3 days now, on what I have a very bad feeling is a major plumbing problem. I think the next or best step is to actually look and try to see what I am up against. Has anyone made or purchased a cheap yet suitable drain camera for inside pipe inspection?

I'm working on a 2" copper line and need to see ~5'-10' from the clean out plug. I've found quite a few cheap waterproof USB cameras on ebay, amazon and the like, of course all some random brand from China. I wouldn't mind buying one of them, if I could get a recommendation from someone on here or someone with first hand experience that could vouch for a specific one. Has anyone purchased one or recommend/not recommend a specific unit?

This one caught my eye.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZWFOEQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Please any suggestions will be appreciated, I'm pretty much up $hit creek at the moment.

 

[Danglerb]

I did a lot of looking, bought Chinese off ebay for about $25. Its narrow enough to fit down a 14mm sparkplug hole, but I doubt it would make a 90 degree turn in 2" copper pipe. Mine is USB, works with any windows PC I have tried and it has a few LED around the front to make light.

Looks like it was from this USA seller $22 shipped, I must have wanted it soon.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-Mini-USB...pection-Snake-Tube-Video-Camera-/280909384016

Not much to risk, assuming you have already tried cheap snakes.

These are fun to look at your teeth, do this BEFORE sticking down the toilet.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Depend of how long of a run you need to inspect. Cheap systems will work to a point, but most don't have a long reach. A little Rigid See Snake micro system that will go in the hole 3 feet or so, but that's it.
That one in your link might make a few more feet, but then it will be like trying to shove a wet noodle through a pipe when the drag it too much for that cable to push. Maybe you tie it to something more rigid like a drain snake and push it down the pipe.
If it where me, I'd probably just go rent a better system for the day.

 

[b-body-bob]

If you think you have a drain problem now, wait until you lose something like that in the pipe! I had one of those ball-on-the-end-of-a-hose cleanout tools come apart in mine. About 100' of schedule 40 later it was fixed.

 

[zkling]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

I called the rental places, they all had cameras but they were designed for 3"+ main lines and were too big for the pipe I'm working on.

Danglerb, thanks for the suggestion. Funny, but I found a few reviews for that exact one, both written and on youtube. I think I will place an order for one if I can't get a home made one working.

Due to the up coming holiday I was looking at monday-tuesday 12/3-4 earliest shipment for a online waterproof USB camera. So I went to the local computer store and picked up a small cheap webcam $9 on sale. It's not waterproof, but the line is mostly dry so hopefully I can put something together tonight. Here's to hoping.

 

[Danglerb]

Keep in mind its not exactly "water" you are proofing against.

 

[ADSR]

I did a lot of looking, bought Chinese off ebay for about $25. Its narrow enough to fit down a 14mm sparkplug hole, but I doubt it would make a 90 degree turn in 2" copper pipe. Mine is USB, works with any windows PC I have tried and it has a few LED around the front to make light.

Looks like it was from this USA seller $22 shipped, I must have wanted it soon.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-Mini-USB...pection-Snake-Tube-Video-Camera-/280909384016

Not much to risk, assuming you have already tried cheap snakes.

These are fun to look at your teeth, do this BEFORE sticking down the toilet.

I bought that one too. I can't really complain for the money. It works.