At MyTana, we’re passionate about designing and building equipment that stands up to the harsh conditions of sewer environments. However, the electronic nature of inspection systems calls for special care that other drain tools don’t require. With appropriate use and regular care, your camera will serve you for years to come. In fact, technology upgrades may be the only reason you need to invest in a new system.

Here are our tips for protecting and taking care of your inspection system.

In transport

When transporting your camera to and from job sites, avoid jarring the camera head and pushrod connection. Just tuck the camera head inside the reel.

At the job site

The number one rule for your camera on the job? Never use it to clear blockages or ram it to jump an offset. Doing so could result in a kinked or broken pushrod and a damaged camera head.

Always use a poly cover, like our SnoBall or IceBall camera guides. These covers are essential to the functionality and protection of your camera head.

• If you change sizes of IceBall on your camera, make sure to remove the smaller IceBall before adding a larger one. 

Never send a camera through any kind of traps. Even if a trap seems large enough, the camera could become lodged and incur damage due to the tight turns involved. The exception here is MyTana’s DrainTracker mini camera, which is designed to smoothly navigate traps in small lines.

---------------------------------

Batteries  We use long-lasting, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in all our systems. They’ll give you up to 5 hours of operation* on a single charge, and maybe even longer, depending on how you use the camera. If the battery runs low, recharge it by plugging the system into a standard 110V outlet. If you’re going to be far from a power source, make sure to charge the battery fully before you head out.

• • • Don’t connect to a regular generator if your battery runs out. These generators produce dirty power that can damage electronic circuitry.
      • If you need to use a generator, make sure it’s an inverter type.
    • Running the 512Hz transmitter (used for locating) drains the battery faster. Turn it off when you’re not using it.
    • If your batteries are losing power quickly, our Minnesota support center is just a phone call away.

---------------------------------

Always keep the camera’s frame out of the “spray” of cable machines and jetters. Housings for the electronics need to be vented needed for air circulation, water should be kept clear of those vents.

Camera control panels are water-resistant, but not waterproof. Never use wet or dirty gloves when operating the controls.

Keep your reel interiors as dry as possible.

A few more simple tricks will protect your camera within pipes.

• Cleanouts and entrances can be sharp; cover sharp edges with a rag, our use our TigerTail guide to avoid cuts to the pushrod.
• If you can, run water to reduce pushrod friction as you guide the camera through a pipe.
• Make sure to not use a camera in the same line as a cable machine to protect the pushrod and camera head.

At the end of a job or day

When pulling the camera out of the line, wipe the pushrod down with a cleaning solution.

Once you’re back at your shop or home base:

• Check the camera head for damage and signs of water ingress.
• Remove and clean the threads for all guides and centering devices. 
  • Ignoring this step can result in micro amounts of grime hardening on the threads, making them difficult to remove.
  • Apply dielectric grease to the threads periodically or when changing sizes as an extra assurance against build up.
  • Always replace the guide after cleaning to protect the head.

Final Tip

If you ever disconnect your camera head from the pushrod, take care when reconnecting. Carefully align the pushrod with the head and screw on until snug, ensuring there are no skipped threads. Don’t over tighten, or use tools to tighten, and avoid getting grime on the connection components. If the head will be disconnected for a length of time, place the protective cap that shipped with your system on both the camera head and push rod ends.

Regular care will help you avoid costly downtime due to repairs, and your camera will last longer and work better. Treat your camera like the important investment is, and it will support you and your work for years to come. Our team is ready to help you with any questions about your camera – give us a call today.