Are Chinese Imported Drain Cameras Worth Buying?
We have seen remarkable improvements in imported drain cameras over the past few years, where the manufacturing of these imported drain cameras has improved out of sight. If you had asked me the same question 5 years ago, I would have said, “Don’t waste your money.” However, with the advancements in manufacturing, the Chinese imported products now give a huge bang for your buck. Some of the most significant improvements that matter to us, Australian Plumbers, are as follows.
Drain Camera Cable or Pushrod Quality
The quality and durability of the drain camera cable have been a big factor over the past few years, The early imported Cameras were lacking in this department, anyone who purchased or used imported cameras in the past would have found the cables didn’t cut it with heavy use, they would kink and break, they were often just not thick enough or long enough for what we needed in Australia.
The older versions also wouldn’t push as far or as smoothly as we needed for our long runs here. Thankfully the New “quality” imported drain cameras have fantastic cables that range in size depending on your needs, they push great through multiple bends, are super flexible and hard-wearing and best of all they are not super expensive and often cheaper to replace than repair.
Point of Connection in Modern Drain Cameras
In the past, the point of connection (where the camera head meets the cable) has been an issue. They would often loosen over time or create a weak point. Nowadays, the point of connection has improved and is not an issue whatsoever. Modern drain cameras have significantly improved this connection point. It’s no longer a worry or an issue at all. You can trust that your camera will stay connected and work smoothly, making your inspections much more reliable and hassle-free.
Battery Life for Reliable Performance
Cheap batteries have been and are still currently used to power most imported drain cameras, and sooner or later, they will give up the ghost, and, God forbid, you leave them on for too long.
Inevitably, you’re going to have to run a lead out and power them with 240V. Luckily for us, we now have options where some manufacturers offer external power sources that will adapt to Makita, Milwaukee, and Dewalt. Always look for drain cameras that offer an external power supply and forget about the need to recharge or run leads.
Seamless Connection to Existing Locators
In the past, the imported drain camera heads didn’t have built-in Sondes, which made the cameras only half useful and made your expensive locator redundant when using the cameras. Now, most imported drain camera heads have a built-in Sonde with a frequency of 512 Hz. The 512 Hz will marry up to just about all existing locators; just double-check the capabilities of your locator to ensure the camera you buy will connect to your locator.
High-Quality Camera Heads for Professional Use
In the past, drain camera heads haven’t been robust enough to suit Australian plumbers. They were floppy, lenses would crack continually, moisture would penetrate, and replacement heads were never kept in stock locally, meaning weeks of waiting.
Fortunately, nowadays the quality imported heads offer great solutions to the problems of the past. Some offer 1080 MP superb quality HD images with sapphire lenses, hardened glass, and scratch resistance. I still recommend a simple lens protector just to be sure, as lenses are often the first point of contact with anything in a pipe.
Enhanced Robustness for Reliable Performance
In the past imported Cameras were pretty flimsy and delicate in most aspects, however Now they are about as robust as you could wish for, with No hesitation throwing them in the back of the Van or ute, they pack up and store in many clever ways that enable them to be mistreated to a degree.
So, Are Chinese Imported Drain Cameras Worth It?
Absolutely they are.
Having come a long way over the past few years and considering most Components for every camera regardless of the brand come out of China, these Imported Cameras are worth every Dollar and when you can buy three of them for every German or US camera why wouldn’t you?
Visit razorbackdrains.au to explore our premier sewer drain inspection cameras, CCTV drain cameras, and top-notch plumbing equipment tools. For inquiries, contact us at 1800 961 731 or email us at contact@razorbackdrains.au.
