The Ridgid SeeSnake Micro Inspection Camera arrived well packaged inside a cardboard retail box. Inside the box the SeeSnake was further packaged inside a nylon zippered protective case. The inside of the case featured a form-fitting foam liner that securely held the SeeSnake in its resting position. The inside of the lid had a clear plastic pocket for the manual and accessory storage. The company also makes the Ridgid 65′ SeeSnake microDrain w/Sonde which may be of use for plumbers needing to do more intensive diagnostics (or prevent exploding toilets).
Editor’s Note: Check out our inspection cameras comparison for a head-to-head look at the best inspection cameras on the market.
The SeeSnake Micro is smaller and more nimble than the Ridgid micro CA-300 Inspection Camera and is well made and feels solid in your hand. There is a hard rubber grip on the handle and the bezel around the screen is the same material. The 4 AA batteries go inside the handle and are supposed to give up to 6 hours of continuous use according to the manufacturer. On the top of the unit there is a wheel style switch that turns on the screen and camera and as you continue to turn the wheel, the dual LED lights on the camera head go from off, to dim to all the way on depending on the wheel position.
The flexible three foot long shaft is stiff, yet compliant, and will remain positioned pretty well. The connection of the shaft to the camera is also very positive, with rubber gaskets and a screw down nut to ensure everything stays dry and connected. The Ridgid SeeSnake Micro shaft is waterproof in the original configuration and remains so even with the optional 10 ft extension added. Beyond 10 feet the manufacturer does not recommend getting the unit waterlogged. The unit will support up to 30 feet of extensions.
Ergonomics and Use
Our first test for the Ridgid SeeSnake Micro Inspection Camera was to investigate some moisture issues inside a wall. There was some mildew that was forming at the base of a wall and around some receptacles on the exterior walls of a certain building. Now the building was not that old, and the owners were looking for some answers as to what was going on. To start our investigation, we drilled a 3/4″ hole in the sheet rock about a foot above the interior floor. We took our Ridgid SeeSnake Micro and stuck the camera end though the hole in the wall. This is where the fun began. Right away we were able to see that there was not adequate insulation in the wall cavity. There was also a gap at the exterior bottom of the wall where the sheeting met up against the sill plate and foundation which was allowing excess air and moisture to enter. Just to verify our findings, we did a few more holes in some other places and found the same to be true in other areas. By using this tool we were able to avoid a big mess during our investigation and we were able to quickly diagnose the problems.
The second test we used the SeeSnake Micro for was a leaking bathtub on the second floor of a home. In this instance, rather then cutting the sheet rock out in the ceiling below the tub to determine the leak, we went in from a closet that was behind the end of the tub where the valves were located. We cut a 12″ x 12″ access hole low in the wall and proceeded to use our Ridgid SeeSnake inspection camera to look around the bottom of the tub, around the drain connections, and also up in the wall cavity at the supply pipe connections. It was interesting to find that all the connections in question appeared to be dry—free of any evidence of leaking water. After looking around further and looking though the camera screen, there was evidence of water coming from the front edge of the tub. It was determined that the water problem was actually caused from water being spilled over the edge of the tub and leaking down between the tile and the tub at the floor level. Again, in this instance we were able to determine the cause of the homeowner’s problems in pretty short order and with little mess to clean up.
The camera and screen combo works pretty well. There were a few instances where it would have been nice to be able to focus in a little better. The color screen is a huge plus though. In addition to able to see in walls, the SeeSnake comes with three attachments that clip on the camera end. There is a small magnet, a mirror for seeing around corners, and a clip for things like pulling wires. The ease of use of this tool is amazing.
Conclusion
The Bottom line is that Ridgid has hit a home run with its 26743 SeeSnake Micro Inspection Camera. This is one of those must-have tools for almost anybody that owns a home or does any construction-related work. Go get one.
