“My inspection camera quit working. Now what? Everything was working fine, and it went dark. Is there anything I can do to check it, or do I need to send it somewhere for repair?”

We know inspection cameras are subject to conditions that aren’t the best for long-term survival. Throwing them into sewers makes even the toughest equipment fail eventually.

We’ve taken an approach that makes cameras as close to a disposable item as possible for the price point we sell them at. With that in mind, I’ve found some simple things to do to see what I can repair myself on a camera. I wouldn’t think of opening up a $25,000 camera without knowing anything about it, but I will attempt to open up, say, a $2,500 camera. I know that sending a camera off for repair and losing revenue from the inability to continue a job can add up to way more than $2,500 in lost revenue, shipping costs, and repair costs. Opening up the camera may be a less expensive option.

Opening up a camera can be pretty simple if it’s only few screws located on the case. I’ve repaired several cameras that just had a broken wire inside. If the wire is on a board where you can see the wire is loose, a simple soldering job may fix the problem. If the cord has a broken wire, replacing the cable connector is simple by ordering a replacement cord and changing it with all of the quick connects intact. We’ve also seen cases where cables to the camera head went bad, and they can be replaced for way less money than sending the camera in for a repair of the cable.

About the Author

John Heisler is the owner of Pipe Lining Supply and Quik-Lining Systems. He has more than 20 years of experience in the CIPP lining industry and 40-plus years in the underground construction industry.