Wöhler inspection systems: cameras, video endoscopes, mirrors and smoke testing
Wöhler inspection systems (also written Woehler or Wohler) are tools from the German manufacturer Wöhler for seeing inside places you cannot open: drains and sewers, chimneys and flues, ventilation ducts, wall cavities, appliances and machinery. The range covers push-rod inspection cameras for pipe runs, thin video endoscopes for small openings, and mirrors, dew plates and smoke products for fast visual checks. Ecotao supplies the Wöhler inspection range from Cape Town across South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Three kinds of Wöhler inspection tool
A visual inspection system puts a camera, lens or reflective surface where your eyes cannot go, then records what it sees as evidence. Which Wöhler tool fits depends on how far you need to reach and how small the access point is.
Inspection cameras
A Ø26 mm or Ø40 mm camera head on a 20 to 60 m push rod travels through drains, sewers, flues and ducts, measuring the distance as it goes. Use them to find blockages, root intrusion, cracks and displaced joints.
Inspection cameras pageVideo endoscopes and borescopes
A thin probe, from Ø3.9 mm, looks through a drilled hole, a tile joint or an inspection port. Use them for wall and ceiling cavities, traps, burner chambers, heat exchangers and machinery.
Endoscopes and borescopes pageMirrors, dew plates and smoke
No batteries, no set-up: a telescopic mirror looks round corners, a dew plate shows flue gas spillage, and smoke reveals draughts and flue leaks.
Mirrors, dew plates and smoke pageWöhler inspection cameras
Wöhler VIS inspection cameras show a live colour image of the pipe interior alongside the distance counter, and record photos and video for the report. Flexible push rods carry the head round pipe bends. Models with an integrated transmitter work with the L 200 Locator, so the fault can be marked from above ground before any digging starts.
Wöhler VIS 500 Inspection Camera
A chimney and flue camera built to work from the roof or from an inspection opening below.
The Ø40 mm camera head carries bright LEDs, and optional extra lighting keeps soot-blackened flues readable. Heads are interchangeable, and images and video save to internal memory that can be expanded with a USB stick, so a complete flue survey can be handed to the client on site.
- Camera head Ø40 mm
- Ecotao lists 20 m cable reel and 20 m camera cable versions
- Internal memory, USB-stick expandable
Wöhler VIS 700 HD-Cable Camera
High-definition inspection for sewer lines, flue gas systems and ventilation ducts.
Two HD heads cover different pipe sizes: a waterproof Ø40 mm pan-and-tilt head steered by joystick, and a Ø26 mm pressure-resistant miniature head. A focus function sharpens a suspect joint or crack, the angle display shows how the head sits in the pipe, and the Wöhler app turns a phone or tablet into a second screen.
- HD heads Ø40 mm pan/tilt and Ø26 mm mini
- Focus function and angle display
- App second screen via WLAN
Wöhler VIS 750 HD Inspection Camera
Wöhler's newest HD system, built on a trolley for long drain and sewer runs.
Choose a Ø40 mm head that rotates 360° and swivels 180°, or a Ø26 mm miniature head. Both are HD and self-levelling, so the picture stays upright through bends. Touch autofocus pulls hairline cracks into view, the monitor lifts out and holds on magnetic surfaces, and an integrated transmitter pairs with the L 200 Locator to mark the fault from above ground. Choose the 60 m rod for long sewer runs or the 40 m rod for pipework with several changes of direction.
- Self-levelling HD heads Ø40 mm / Ø26 mm
- Touch autofocus, removable monitor
- 60 m rod (Ø75–150 mm) or 40 m rod (Ø50–100 mm)
Wöhler VIS 360 Inspection Camera
An entry point into professional pipe inspection with a full pan-and-tilt view.
The Ø40 mm head rotates 360° and swivels 180°, so a plumber can look along the pipe wall instead of only straight ahead. Everything lives in one case: open it, switch on and push. The standard 20 m rod (a 30 m reel is optional) lifts out of its own compartment for cleaning, the monitor can be removed for awkward positions, and the head transmitter works with the L 200 Locator.
- Pan/tilt head Ø40 mm
- 6.5 mm push rod, 20 m (30 m optional)
- Replaces the VIS 300 / VIS 350
Wöhler VIS 260 Inspection Camera
A slim camera for small-bore waste pipes inside buildings.
The Ø26 mm head is built for Ø40 to 70 mm pipes, such as basin, shower and kitchen waste lines where larger heads will not pass, and it handles several 90° bends. The 7-inch widescreen colour monitor shows the live image together with the distance travelled, so the blockage or break can be marked on the wall or floor. The 20 m rod is removable for hygienic cleaning after sewer work, and the head transmitter works with the L 200 Locator.
- Camera head Ø26 mm, for Ø40–70 mm pipes
- 6 mm push rod, 20 m
- Replaces the VIS 200 / VIS 250
Wöhler SI 400 Smart Inspection Camera
A compact HD camera that uses your phone as the screen.
The SI 400 screws onto Wöhler vipers (flexible rods) with an M5 or M10 thread, so a sweep can check a flue for a clear cross-section and film it in one pass. Live video streams to the free Wöhler Smart Inspection App over WLAN, with a range of up to 6 m, and recording continues on the camera's 32 GB card if the signal drops.
- For flues and pipes from Ø60 mm
- WLAN range up to 6 m
- Battery life about 180 min
Wöhler L 200 Locator
Finds the camera head from above ground, so you dig or open in the right place.
Wöhler camera heads with a built-in transmitter, including the VIS 360 and VIS 750, send a radio signal the L 200 picks up from above ground. Combined with the distance counter on the monitor, it pinpoints a collapse, root intrusion or broken joint and keeps excavation to a single, small hole.
- Works with transmitter-equipped heads
- Locates the head from above ground
- Keeps excavation to one spot
Wöhler video endoscopes and borescopes
A video endoscope is a camera on the tip of a thin probe, used to look into a closed space through a small opening without dismantling it. Wöhler VE endoscopes are built for building services work: behind tiles, above ceilings, inside appliances and down short drain sections.
Wöhler VE 220 HD-Video-Endoscope
An HD endoscope that sends its picture to a smartphone, tablet or laptop over WiFi.
A holder on the handle takes an Android or Apple phone, which becomes the display and stores the photos and videos. Wöhler offers interchangeable camera probes for it, and a flashlight with variable brightness lights up cavities from about Ø20 mm, such as roof insulation, exhaust pipes, basin traps and fireplaces.
- For cavities from about Ø20 mm
- WiFi to phone, tablet or laptop
- Variable-intensity light
Wöhler VE 320 Video-Endoscope
A self-contained endoscope with its own screen and a set of pick-up tools.
The Ø5.5 mm, 1 m probe slips into small openings in cavities, traps and appliances. The kit includes a side-view mirror, a plug-in magnet and a hook attachment, so a dropped screw or small part can be retrieved once it has been found. Images and video record to a 32 GB micro-SD card.
- Probe Ø5.5 mm / 1 m
- Mirror, magnet and hook attachments
- 32 GB micro-SD recording
Wöhler VE 400 HD-Videoscope
Compact HD inspection through the smallest openings, such as a tile joint.
The 5-inch HD colour monitor gives a sharp image, and the waterproof probes cope with wet traps and drains. The 0°/90° combination probe switches between looking ahead and looking at the side wall. Four auxiliary LEDs on the unit add light, and results record to micro-SD. Ecotao lists it with a Ø3.9 mm or a Ø5.5 mm probe.
- 5-inch HD monitor
- Waterproof 0°/90° combination probe
- Ø3.9 mm or Ø5.5 mm probe versions
Wöhler VE 500 HD Video Endoscope
The top Wöhler endoscope, for openings from Ø6 mm and probes up to 10 m long.
Split-screen mode shows both cameras of the combination probe at once, and image rotation keeps the view the right way up. A stand and a magnetic mount thread free both hands. Files save to the internal card or stream over WiFi to the Wöhler Smart Inspection App, so a colleague or client can follow the inspection live and receive a damage report.
- Openings from Ø6 mm, probes to 10 m
- Split screen, 0°/90° switchable
- WiFi, app reports, USB-C
Wöhler mirrors, dew plates and smoke products
These are the quick checks a technician carries on every call: look round a corner, confirm a gas appliance is venting properly, or make an invisible draught visible.
Wöhler Glass Mirror with Telescopic Handle
An optical-quality glass mirror for looking behind, above and into places you cannot reach.
An aluminium frame protects the glass, and a ball joint lets the mirror rotate and tilt. The telescopic handle extends to about 1 m (20 to 99 cm on the medium size). Three sizes are available, and replacement glasses can be ordered, so a cracked mirror does not mean a new handle.
- Telescopic handle to about 1 m
- Rotating, tilting ball joint
- Replacement glass available
Wöhler Chimney Mirror, Small
A robust metal mirror for sooty chimney and flue work where glass is a risk.
The 6.8 × 10 cm mirror is polished, high-gloss chrome-plated metal, so it survives knocks and soot that would break a glass mirror. It tilts on a 54 cm handle and comes with a protective sleeve.
- Chrome-plated metal, 6.8 × 10 cm
- 54 cm handle, tilting head
- Protective sleeve included
Wöhler Dew Plate, Small
The simple, instant check for flue gas escaping from an open-flued appliance.
Held at the draught diverter of a gas water heater or boiler, the cool 80 mm plate mists over if moist flue gas is spilling into the room instead of going up the flue. The 15 cm flexible holder lets you position it around the appliance casing.
- 80 mm plate
- 15 cm flexible holder
- Visual spillage indication
Wöhler TI 410 Dew Point Indicator
The electronic version of the dew plate, with an alarm you can hear.
The TI 410 checks for backdraft and spillage at room-air-dependent gas appliances. It uses two independent indicators, temperature and sensor-surface resistance, and gives a visual and audible signal when the threshold is exceeded. Sensitivity adjusts in four steps for different ambient conditions, and the small sensor plate sits on a gooseneck to reach tight spots.
- Temperature range −40 to 100 °C
- Visual and audible alarm
- 4 sensitivity steps
Wöhler Smoke Pen and Smoke Cartridges
Make air movement and flue leaks visible.
The smoke pen, supplied with six smoke inserts, shows airflow at vents, doors and window frames and helps check smoke detectors. Smoke cartridges, sold in packs of five, each produce three to four minutes of light grey smoke for tightness checks on flue and exhaust systems: where smoke appears outside the flue, the flue is leaking.
- Smoke pen with 6 inserts
- Cartridges: 3 to 4 min smoke each
- Airflow and flue tightness checks
Wöhler Fog Machine
Fills a building or duct with fog to show where air escapes.
Used with a blower-door pressure test, the fog marks leaks in the building envelope, ceilings and ductwork. It heats up quickly, produces up to 283 m³ of fog per minute, and its 1.7 litre fluid tank runs for about an hour. A remote control is included.
- Output up to 283 m³/min
- 1.7 L tank, about 1 hour
- Remote control included
How to choose a Wöhler inspection system
Start with the size of the opening or pipe, then the distance you need to reach, then how you need to report what you find.
Ranges are indicative. Bends, deposits and pipe material change what will pass, so send us the pipe size and layout if you are unsure.
- Measure the access point. Under about Ø40 mm, or reaching in through a drilled hole, choose a VE video endoscope. The VE 400 with Ø3.9 mm probe reaches the smallest openings, and the VE 500 needs only Ø6 mm.
- Match the head to the pipe. Internal waste pipes of about Ø40 to 70 mm suit a Ø26 mm head (the VIS 750 HD 40 m rod takes it to about Ø100 mm). Ø110 mm sewer connections, stormwater lines, flues and chimneys suit a Ø40 mm pan-and-tilt head, which can look at the pipe wall rather than only ahead.
- Check the reach. Endoscope probes run 1 to 10 m. Case cameras carry a 20 m rod as standard, with 30 m versions of the VIS 360, VIS 500 and VIS 700. The VIS 750 HD offers a 60 m rod for long runs to the municipal connection, or a 40 m rod for pipework with several bends.
- Decide how you locate the fault. If you will need to excavate or open a wall, pick a model with a head transmitter and add the L 200 Locator.
- Decide how you report. For clients, insurers and body corporates, choose a model that shares to a phone or tablet: VIS 500, VIS 700 HD, VIS 750 HD, SI 400, VE 220 or VE 500.
Wöhler inspection camera comparison
← Scroll to see full table →
| Model | Camera head | Push rod | Best for | Stand-out feature | Locator ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIS 260 | Ø26 mm | 6 mm, 20 m | Internal waste pipes Ø40–70 mm | Compact all-in-one case | Yes, head transmitter |
| VIS 360 | Ø40 mm, 360° pan / 180° tilt | 6.5 mm, 20 m (30 m optional) | Sewer connections, stormwater, ducts | Pan and tilt at entry level | Yes, head transmitter |
| VIS 500 | Ø40 mm, interchangeable | 20 m (30 m versions available) | Chimneys and flues | Extra lighting for sooty flues | Ask Ecotao |
| VIS 700 HD | HD Ø40 mm pan/tilt + Ø26 mm mini | 20 m cable (30 m versions available) | Sewers, flue gas and ventilation lines | Joystick control and focus | Ask Ecotao |
| VIS 750 HD | HD self-levelling Ø40 mm or Ø26 mm | 60 m or 40 m | Long drain and sewer runs | Touch autofocus, trolley | Yes, head transmitter |
| SI 400 | HD, fits Ø40 mm accessories | Your Wöhler viper (M5 / M10) | Flues and pipes from Ø60 mm | Phone as screen over WLAN | Ask Ecotao |
Wöhler video endoscope comparison
← Scroll to see full table →
| Model | Display | Probe | Viewing | Recording and sharing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VE 220 | Your phone, tablet or laptop | Interchangeable HD probes, cavities from about Ø20 mm | Forward | WiFi to your device |
| VE 320 | Built-in screen | Ø5.5 mm / 1 m | Forward, side mirror attachment | 32 GB micro-SD |
| VE 400 | 5-inch HD monitor | Ø3.9 mm or Ø5.5 mm | 0° / 90° combination probe | Micro-SD |
| VE 500 | Large HD monitor, split screen | From Ø6 mm openings, up to 10 m | 0° / 90° switchable | Internal card, WiFi, app reports |
What Wöhler inspection systems are used for
Drain and sewer diagnosis
A plumber pushes a VIS camera from the gully or rodding eye to see whether a slow drain is caused by fat, roots, a collapsed section or a back-fall. The distance counter and L 200 Locator mark exactly where to excavate, so one small hole replaces a trench.
Chimney and flue inspection
The VIS 500 or an SI 400 on a sweep's rod checks a flue liner for cracks, blockages and deposits before a fireplace, boiler or stove goes back into service, and records the result for the owner.
Gas appliance safety checks
A dew plate or TI 410 at the draught diverter shows at once whether an open-flued gas water heater or boiler is spilling flue gas into the room, a common finding where flues are blocked or poorly installed.
Concealed leaks and building defects
A VE endoscope goes through a tile joint or a small drilled hole to find a leaking fitting, damp insulation or pest damage behind a wall or above a ceiling, without breaking out finishes to look.
HVAC and ventilation ducts
A camera or endoscope checks duct interiors for debris, damage and hygiene before and after cleaning, and smoke or fog shows whether air is leaking from joints or flowing where the design intends.
Industrial maintenance and quality control
Endoscopes look inside machinery, heat exchangers and process pipework during planned shutdowns, finding wear and deposits before they cause a stoppage.
Using Wöhler inspection systems in South Africa
- Drainage standards. Building drainage in South Africa is governed by SANS 10400-P and SANS 10252-2. A recorded camera survey gives plumbers and inspectors clear evidence of a line's condition when checking an installation against them.
- Property transfers. Some municipalities, including the City of Cape Town, require a plumbing compliance certificate when a property is sold. A camera inspection helps a plumber confirm drainage condition and spot illegal stormwater connections to the sewer.
- Insurance claims. For burst pipes and concealed leaks, footage and photos from a VIS camera or VE endoscope give insurers and loss adjusters the evidence they ask for before approving repairs.
- Gas installations. Where LP gas water heaters and fireplaces are installed under SANS 10087, a dew plate or TI 410 is a fast way to confirm that products of combustion are leaving through the flue.
- Tree roots and older pipework. Clay and pitch-fibre sewer connections in older suburbs are prone to root intrusion and displaced joints. A pan-and-tilt head shows the joint clearly before deciding between cutting, relining or replacement.
- Delivery and support. Ecotao delivers throughout South Africa and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini from its Cape Town base.
Wöhler inspection systems: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Wöhler inspection camera and a Wöhler video endoscope?
A Wöhler inspection camera (the VIS range and SI 400) pushes a Ø26 mm or Ø40 mm camera head on a semi-rigid rod of 20 m or more through drains, sewers, flues and ducts. A Wöhler video endoscope (the VE range) uses a thin probe of Ø3.9 to Ø8.5 mm and 1 to 10 m long to look through small openings such as a tile joint, a drilled hole or an appliance inspection port. Choose a camera for pipe runs and an endoscope for cavities and components.
Which Wöhler camera should I use for a 110 mm sewer line?
A Ø40 mm pan-and-tilt head suits a 110 mm line, because it can look at the pipe wall as well as ahead. The VIS 360 is the entry model, the VIS 750 HD adds HD, self-levelling and longer rods, and the VIS 700 HD adds a joystick and focus. Pair any transmitter-equipped model with the L 200 Locator to find the fault from above ground.
Which Wöhler camera fits small waste pipes inside a building?
For basin, shower and kitchen waste pipes of about Ø40 to 70 mm, use a Ø26 mm head: the VIS 260, or the miniature head on the VIS 700 HD or VIS 750 HD. Smaller than that, or for a trap or appliance, use a VE video endoscope.
What replaced the Wöhler VIS 250 and VIS 350?
Wöhler has moved its compact case cameras on to the VIS 260 (Ø26 mm head, for small pipes), which takes over from the VIS 200 and VIS 250, and the VIS 360 (Ø40 mm pan-and-tilt head), which takes over from the VIS 300 and VIS 350. Ecotao can advise on parts and heads for older VIS 200 to 350 units.
How do I locate a pipe defect from above ground?
Push the camera to the defect, note the distance on the monitor, then sweep the Wöhler L 200 Locator over the ground. It picks up the radio signal from the transmitter in the camera head, so you open the ground in one place only.
How do I check a gas water heater or boiler for flue gas spillage?
Hold a Wöhler dew plate at the draught diverter while the appliance runs: if the cool plate mists over, flue gas is spilling into the room. The Wöhler TI 410 Dew Point Indicator does the same check electronically, with a visual and audible alarm and adjustable sensitivity.
Can I share inspection footage with a client or insurer?
Yes. All current Wöhler cameras and endoscopes record photos and video. The VIS 500, VIS 700 HD, VIS 750 HD, SI 400, VE 220 and VE 500 also connect to a phone or tablet over WLAN, where the Wöhler apps let you view live and send images, video and damage reports.
Does Ecotao deliver Wöhler inspection equipment outside Cape Town?
Yes. Ecotao supplies Wöhler inspection equipment from Cape Town throughout South Africa and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. Contact sales@ecotao.co.za or +27 21 911 5835 for stock and lead times.
Need help choosing a Wöhler inspection system?
Tell us the pipe size, length of run and what you need to find. We will recommend a camera, endoscope or accessory and confirm stock and lead time.
- Head office: +27 21 911 5835
- Zak: 086 142 8716
- Zaid: 082 390 3989
- sales@ecotao.co.za
- aqua@ecotao.co.za