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Vent: Spent $400 on a fancy inspection camera and it died in a wet tank on day two
Got that little snake camera to check tube sheets without dragging out the big rig, but water got into the lens housing on a condenser job in Baton Rouge and now it's just a paperweight, anyone else waste cash on a tool that couldn't handle real boiler work?
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the_lucas1d ago
Saw a video from that tool review channel Hard Hat Hunter where he tested like six of those snake cameras submerged in water. Not a single one held up past 30 seconds in less than a foot of water, even the "waterproof" ones rated IP67. The rubber seals on these cheap little cameras just aren't built for the pressure and chemicals we deal with inside a condenser (especially that oily, acidic soup in some of these older units). Boss bought the same brand you're talking about for our crew last year and three out of four failed before the first month was up. Real shame because that little 8mm camera head is perfect for squeezing into tight tube sheet gaps when you don't want to haul the big fiberscope up three flights of stairs.
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samward20h ago
Bet your ass Ive been there. Did you check if the lens housing has an O-ring that can be replaced or reseated? Ive got a buddy who fixed his by pulling the rubber boot off and packing the cavity with silicone grease, its been holding for six months now. Some of these manufacturers use cheap foam gaskets that turn to mush when they hit that oily acidic soup you mentioned, especially in units running hydrogen cycle water treatment. Worth a shot before you toss it in the scrap bin.
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