Mine was pretty long too, ended up looping it loosely and hanging it on a hook in the garage. Wireless might be nice, but honestly, I'd rather deal with extra cable than batteries dying mid-job...
"Wireless might be nice, but honestly, I'd rather deal with extra cable than batteries dying mid-job..."
Yeah, that's exactly my thinking too. I've been using wired inspection cams for years now, and honestly, the reliability is hard to beat. A few months back, I tried out a wireless model on a job—figured I'd give it a fair shot. Sure enough, halfway through inspecting a stubborn drain line, the battery indicator started blinking red. Had to pause everything, recharge, and lost valuable time. Lesson learned.
One thing I've found helpful with the wired cams is to keep the cable neatly coiled in a bucket or reel. Makes setup and cleanup quicker, and avoids tangles. But I'm curious—has anyone found a wireless model with a battery life that's actually reliable enough for longer jobs? Or maybe a good workaround like swappable battery packs?
I've had my share of wireless cam disasters too, haha. But actually, there's one workaround I've found handy: grab a model that uses standard power tool batteries. Pop one out, swap in a fresh one—boom, back in business. Saved me more than once.
That's actually a pretty clever workaround, never thought of using power tool batteries like that. I've been leaning towards wired cams myself, mostly because I'm paranoid about losing signal mid-inspection. But your battery swap idea makes wireless seem way more practical than I initially thought. I mean, I have a bunch of cordless tools already, so having interchangeable batteries could be a big plus. Still, I wonder how reliable the connection is in deeper drains or around corners... have you had any issues with signal strength or interference? Either way, props for the creative solution—definitely something I'll keep in mind when I finally bite the bullet and buy one.
I agree, the battery swap idea is pretty smart, especially if you're already invested in a cordless tool ecosystem. I've used both wired and wireless inspection cams during my apprenticeship, and signal reliability can definitely vary. Wireless cams usually hold up fine for short distances or straight runs, but once you start dealing with deeper drains or multiple tight bends, interference can become an issue. Wired setups might be less convenient, but in tricky inspections they tend to be more consistent overall... just something to consider before committing.
