General PCS55 User Manual

The PalmScope

™

COMPACT RUGGED
VIDEO INSPECTION

SYSTEM

USER’S MANUAL

PCS55

Please read this manual carefully and

thoroughly before using this product.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 –4

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . 5 –6

What’s in the Package . . . . 5 –6

Product Overview . . . . . . . . 6 –9

Setup Instructions . . . . . . 9 – 16

Install Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Prepare the Probe . . . . 10– 15

Attach Thread Protector

or Accessory . . . . . . . 15 – 16

Operating Instructions . . 16 – 18

Quick Start Procedure . 16 – 18

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Maintenance Tips . . . . . . . . . . 20

Warranty Information . . . 21 – 22
Return for Repair Policy . 22 – 23

2

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing General Tools
& Instruments’ PCS55 Compact
Rugged Video Inspection System (The
PalmScope™). Please read this user’s
manual carefully and thoroughly before
using the instrument.

The PalmScope is more than just the
smallest full-featured video inspection
system available today. It is also built to
survive in the harsh environments of
plumbing and automotive maintenance
and repair—not to mention any unusual
situations a do-it-yourselfer might
subject it to. The unit’s thermoplastic
rubber (TPR) housing and integral LCD
are certified “drop-proof” to a height of
1m (3.4 ft.). The system can be operated
with one hand, leaving the other hand
free to use tools.

The grip and LCD get their input from a
camera-tipped probe. The probe that
comes with the PalmScope is 2 ft.
(0.6m) long and has a camera-head
diameter of 9mm (0.35 in.), making it
ideal for inspecting gasoline engine
cylinders through the spark plug hole.

3

Other general automotive applications
include inspecting hard-to-reach or
hard-to-see areas of the engine
compartment or undercarriage.

The PalmScope has only five control
buttons (power on/off, brightness up,
brightness down, video zoom, and video
flip), making it very easy to learn to use.
Video within the probe’s field of view is
displayed on a high-quality 2.4 in.
(61mm) diagonal color LCD.

The video zoom and flip functions make
The PalmScope an even more valuable
inspection tool. Doubling the size of any
component in the video frame makes it
less likely that any problem will be
overlooked. The reason to invert video is
to align the probe’s field of view with its
real-world surroundings; in practical
terms, this function makes it easier to
read upside-down labels and serial
numbers by flipping them right-side up.

The PalmScope includes four
accessories sized for the tip of the 9mm
probe: a 45° mirror, a pickup hook, a
magnetic pickup, and a metal ring (to
protect the threads of the probe from
damage).

4

KEY FEATURES

• Fits in your pocket or clips to your belt

• Probe coils inside case for storage

• Drop-proof from height of 1m (39 in.)

• Long, flexible-obedient probe with

9mm diameter camera head
penetrates tight, hard-to-reach spaces

• 2.7 in. (686mm) high contrast color LCD

• Four camera-lighting LEDs produce

bright, crisp video

• Four screen controls for brightness,

1 to 4X zoom, 180° image flip

• Powered by four “AAA” batteries

• On-screen low battery icon

• CE and RoHS approved

• 1 year limited warranty

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Do not use The PalmScope to inspect
environments known or suspected to
contain exposed electrical wiring.

Do not use it in the presence of
flammable or explosive gases.

5

Never use the system to perform
medical inspections.

WHAT’S IN THE PACKAGE

The PalmScope and its accessories
come in a blister pack. In addition to the
instrument, the package contains:

• A plastic bag containing the four probe

tip accessories: the 45° mirror, pickup
hook, magnetic pickup, and thread
protector

• A nylon pouch with a belt clip

• This user’s manual

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Fig. 1 shows The PalmScope and its
accessories. Fig. 2 shows the positions
of its display, controls and physical
structures. Familiarize yourself with their
names and functions before moving on
to the Setup Instructions and Operating
Instructions.

6

Fig. 1. The PalmScope, the four probe
tip accessories, and the nylon pouch
with belt clip

Inside the pouch is a small plastic bag
containing the following probe tip
accessories:

A. Pickup hook

B. 45° mirror
C. Magnetic pickup
D. Thread protector

7

8

Fig. 2. The controls, indicators and
back of The PalmScope

A. LCD
B. button. Increases brightness of

LED lights
C. button. Inverts video 180°
D. button. Powers unit on and off

E. button. Enlarges video frame up to

4X. Each button press increases zoom
level by factor of 0.5

F. button. Decreases brightness of

4 camera LED lights
G. Lanyard attachment bar
H. Lens cap

I. Camera head
J. Flexible-obedient probe
K. Probe exit port