The video inspection of sewer and drain lines in order to diagnose problems before any work can begin has become the norm. From property managers to plumbers to DIYers it seems everyone is using some sort of video inspection equipment and there are a lot of options for cameras. Back before this technology was so common place however there were only a few basic options, they were black and white, used VHS tapes and were pretty basic. One of the favorites if you only needed 100’ and didn’t need to make a recording the Compact System 100’ system was the way to go.
Over the years the Compact system got upgraded with the MiniPak color monitor but never was able to record. In today’s world however customers and managers have an expectation of detailed pictures/videos of the project. Coming within the next few months the Ridgid Compact2 & CS6Pak System 48113 ($6568) will be launching and we expect it’ll be a big hit.
The new CS6Pak will work much very similar to the CS6 handheld and is priced the same, $2302 with charger and 2x 18V batteries. The CS6 handheld is designed to work on the larger RM200 reel which has 200’ cable and self-leveling camera head. The new Compact2 Reel itself also gets an upgrade which has a very similar (probably the same but haven’t confirmed) self-leveling 1” camera head with 6 LED lights. The push reel is also improved with a 2.5” bend radius which will not kink without some serious abuse/misuse. The reel frame has a very similar feel to the original compact however does get a slightly different shape and a top handle in addition to the monitor handle for better transportation.
The only downside we’ve found with the new CS6 handheld and now CS6Pak are that these units do not come standard with a 110v cord. So you will either need to already have Ridgid 18V batteries, purchase batteries with the monitor or purchase the AC adaptor cored part #45363 which is pretty pricy at $212. For those who have an existing SeeSnake Compact and want to upgrade the monitor to the CS6Pak the good news is there is available hardware you can get to mount these digital recording devices to you older reel. Call the pros at Ohio Power Tool 800-242-4424 to get setup with the right mounting hardware for your configuration, there are a few options.
The obvious comparisons you will want to look at if you’ve already decided you don’t need a larger 200’ reel would be the 100’ SeeSnake microREELs L100 ($3217) and L100C ($3727). The only difference between the two microREEL systems is the C model includes a distance counter in the reel. When comparing the microReel L100 & CA-300 to the Compact2 & CS6Pak you will see some obvious differences for starters size and weight, Compact2 system is about 2x the size and about 10lbs heavier. The price is also half so with the same 100’ length and same suggested 1.5” to 4” pipe capacity what advantage would the Compact2 System have? First the screen size jumps from 3.5” to 5.5”, controls are larger and more user friendly (especially for people wearing gloves) as well as the recording onto a USB thumb drive is preferred to the SD card slot on the CA-300.
The biggest complaint we hear of the microReel systems comes from the battery life and light output on the camera. Both a result of the underpowered 3.7V lithium ion battery in the CA-300, which is perfect for the camera on its own but calls it quits after 20-30 minutes attached to a 100’ reel. The CS6Pak uses the larger 18V lithium ion batteries and can run for hours without charge all while powering the 6 LED camera lights with ease. The Compact2 camera head also includes the self-leveling feature not available on the microREELs which is another big plus that adds some additional cost.
All in all we think the Compact2 and CS6Pak are the perfect additions to the SeeSnake family and provide the great in-between step from the 100’ microREELs to the larger 200’ RM200 system in both price and function. Of course the pros at Ohio Power Tool are always available to help you select the perfect SeeSnake Video Inspection System along with locating tools and any other Ridgid Plumbing Tool needs.
