How to Choose the Best Borescope Camera for Your Needs

Borescope cameras are specially designed devices that relay a real-time visual image from inside machinery or in places difficult to reach. Unfortunately, the vast selection of borescope cameras for sale can make selecting the best device for your application a challenge. For this reason, our scientists have created a list of ten helpful tips to help you find the best borescope camera for your application.

What is a Borescope Camera?

Officially, a borescope camera (also known as a videoscope) is an ingenious solution for the non-destructive inspection of difficult-to-reach or closed-off industrial equipment. Practically, a borescope camera comprises a flexible or rigid tube with a tiny camera attached at one end and a display at the other.

Common Borescope Camera Applications

Borescope cameras relay real-time images, with more sophisticated models capable of capturing still images and videos for download to a computer. These handy functions make borescope cameras invaluable tools for many applications, such as the non-invasive inspection of:

• Industrial equipment
• Engines and turbines
• Power plant equipment
• Plumbing gear and infrastructure
• Buildings; and
• HVAC equipment.

Ten Key Criteria When Buying a Borescope Camera

You will save time and money when buying a boroscope if you address ten key questions in the context of the applications for your boroscope:

1. Configuration: Should the camera display be fixed to the unit or wirelessly relay captured images to the device screen?
2. Articulation: Should the device’s camera tubes be rigid or flexible? Note; some flexible borescope cameras list the tube articulation capability in degrees.
3. Camera Diameter: What is the size of the boroscope’s camera borescope, and is it suitable for the spaces in which it needs to operate?
4. Cable Length: What cable length does your application(s) demand? The longer the boroscope’s cable, the more area you can cover.
5. Field-of-view: This term refers to the “cone of vision” that extends from the tip of the camera. So, what field of view is demanded by your application(s), noting that the wider the field, the more you can see?
6. Camera illumination: Many hard to reach or enclosed spaces – like within machinery or engines will be dimly lit. Do you require a borescope camera with a built-in light source to obtain a clear image?
7. Image capture: While all borescopes relay real-time images to the display, do you need to capture and save videos and still images for later review?
8. Image transfer/ PC connectivity: Further to the previous question, will you ever need to share saved images for reporting or comparisons? Scientists’ tip; short-list camera borescopes with PC connectivity. Interface options include SD cards or USB.
9. Power source: Battery-powered or rechargeable? Choose a configuration that best suits your needs.
10. Portability: A final consideration when searching for borescopes is portability. Will your borescope camera be used at a site or across multiple locations?

Examples of Borescope Cameras

So you can better understand the variety of Borescope Cameras available, our scientists have put together some representative examples, including their key specifications.

Conclusion

Borescope cameras help to make the invisible visible. However, the extensive range of borescope cameras, each with differing specifications (and of course, differing price points), can make choosing the right camera for your application a trying task. Following the ten tips outlined above will help narrow down your selection and help you make better-informed decisions when searching for a camera.

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Want more information on borescope cameras or need further assistance? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].