The Camera System and How It Works
A sewer and drain camera, often called a CCTV inspection system, has a few core parts you need to know cold. The camera head holds a lens, an LED light ring, and usually a transmitter called a sonde. The head connects to a flexible push rod, sometimes called a push cable, that is stiff enough to drive forward but flexible enough to follow bends. The rod feeds off a reel and connects to a monitor where you watch and record the inspection.
Most drain cameras use a self-leveling head, which keeps the image upright no matter how the rod twists. This matters because an upside-down image makes it hard to tell a sag from a high spot. Larger mainline systems may use a pan-and-tilt head, while small lines call for a mini head on a thinner rod.
Match the camera to the pipe. A 1.5 to 2 inch sink or tub line needs a small head and thin rod. A 3 to 6 inch sewer main needs a larger head, a stiffer rod, and stronger lighting. Forcing a large head into a small line, or running a tiny head into a big main, gives you a poor picture and risks getting stuck.
Before every job, check the lens for scratches and fog, confirm the lights work, test the footage counter, and make sure the recorder saves to your storage. Coil and clean the rod after use, since grit shortens its life and a kinked rod will fail at the worst moment.