General Tools DCS1600 User Manual

HIGH-PERFORMANCE RECORDING

VIDEO BORESCOPE SYSTEM

USER’S MANUAL

DCS1600

Please read this manual carefully and thoroughly before using this product.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

What’s in the Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Setup Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Check Probe Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Charge Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Insert SD Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 – 11

Viewing Live Video on the Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Viewing Live Video on a TV Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 –8

Taking Pictures and Recording Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Viewing Photos and Playing Back Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Accessing SD Card Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 –9

Navigating the Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 – 11

Attaching a Mirrored Viewing Tip (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . 11

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Operating, Maintenance & Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . 13 – 14

Compatible Probes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Warranty Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Return for Repair Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing General Tools & Instruments’ (General’s) DCS1600 High-Performance
Recording Video Borescope System. Please read this user’s manual carefully and thoroughly before
using the instrument.

The DCS1600 is a complete system that combines an H16 Handheld Recording Video Borescope
Console with a P16181SR-M flexible-obedient probe, which is 1m (39 in.) long and has a diameter of

5.5mm (0.22 in.). This user's manual refers to the H16, rather than to the DCS1600; both units are
functionally identical. A list of all probes compatible with the H16 console can be found on p. 14.

The H16 has a 3.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD. A thumbwheel on the left side of the console allows you
to adjust the brightness of the LEDs illuminating the camera at the end of the included probe or any
compatible probe.

The console has three operating modes: Preview, Playback and Menu:

• In Preview mode, video framed by the camera’s field of view is displayed in real time on the
console’s LCD. The H16 automatically enters this mode when powered on. A front-panel button
allows you to enlarge (zoom in on) a target by 50% (a zoom level of 1.5X). The same button
allows you to “mirror” video, making it possible to read serial numbers seen and “reversed” by
an attached probe with a mirrored viewing tip. In Preview mode, real-time video also can be
exported through an included video cable to any NTSC- or PAL-format TV with RCA input jacks.

Operating in Preview mode, the H16 also allows you to record inspection videos (at 320 x 240
pixel resolution) and photos (at 640 x 480 pixel resolution) on an included SD memory card by
pressing icon-labeled buttons on the console’s front panel. The remaining front-panel buttons
enable access to Playback and Menu modes.

• In Playback mode, you can browse the SD card for saved video and picture files and view the
media on the console’s LCD or a larger TV monitor. Video clips and photos also can be viewed on
a PC in either of two ways: 1) by removing the SD card and plugging it into the computer directly
or through a card reader; or 2) by using a supplied cable to connect the H16 to the PC through
one of its USB ports. Because videos are saved as .asf files and photos as .jpg files, applications
found on most PCs (Microsoft Windows Media Player and Microsoft Office Picture Manager) can
open the files. The 2GB SD memory card included with the H16 can store at least 5 hours of
video, recorded at an average of 6 Mbytes/minute, in addition to hundreds of photos.

• In Menu mode, you use familiar scrolling motions and responses to dialog boxes to navigate a
main menu with six submenus. When selected, submenu items execute “housekeeping”
functions such as deleting files, setting the date and time, enabling or disabling date and time
stamps, choosing any of 14 languages for display indications, selecting a Video Out format and
adjusting the console’s Auto Power Off trigger. One of the submenus has a sub-submenu that
allows you to adjust four attributes (brightness, contrast, hue and saturation) of video viewed on
the console or an external monitor.

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KEY FEATURES

•

3.5 in. diagonal color LCD for viewing probe video in real time and saved video and pictures later

• 1m (39 in.) long flexible-obedient probe with diameter of 5.5mm (0.22 in.)

• Compatible with dozens of high-performance camera-tipped probes from General (see p. 14)

• Thumbwheel for adjusting brightness of camera lighting

• Familiar menu-driven user interface for viewing and recording videos and photos on standard SD
memory card (2GB card included) and playing back media on console, TV or PC

• Three mirrored probe tip accessories (for viewing at 70°, 90° and 110° off the probe axis)

• Rechargeable battery with 4-hour capacity

• 1-year limited warranty

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION!

Never insert a probe attached to the H16 into a structure or space known

or suspected to contain live electric wiring

• The H16 is intended for industrial applications only. Do not use it for human or any other
biological inspections.

• Never insert an attached probe into any flammable gas or liquid (including fuels in an oil,
gasoline or diesel tank)

• Do not disassemble the instrument. Doing so creates a potentially fatal electrical hazard (and
voids the warranty as well).

WHAT’S IN THE CASE

The DCS1600 comes in a custom hard plastic protective carrying case. Inside the case are:

• The H16 console. The console integrates an LCD monitor, a connector for a high-performance
camera-tipped probe from General, and front-panel controls for controlling the camera’s lights,
adjusting system parameters, and recording and playing back videos and photos captured by an
attached probe.

• A 5.5mm diameter flexible-obedient probe of 1m length

• Attachable 70°, 90° and 110° mirrored probe tips

• A 2GB SD memory card

• An AC adapter/battery charger for a 110/220VAC supply. The adapter has a 5.5VDC, center­positive output plug.

• A video cable for connecting the H16 to a TV monitor. The cable has RCA plugs at one end and a
mini-stereo plug at the other end.

• A USB cable with a mini-USB plug on one end and a full-size USB plug on the other end. It can be
used to display the contents of the SD card on a computer directly, without removing the card
from the console.

• A soft cloth, a bottle of liquid, and cotton swabs for cleaning the console

• A package of desiccant

• This user’s manual

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PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Fig. 1 shows the names and locations of all of the controls, ports and jacks of the H16. Table 1 details
how the function of each front-panel button changes with the console’s operating mode. Familiarize
yourself with the labels, positions and functions of all controls and connectors before moving on to
the Setup Instructions and Operating Instructions.

14

8

11

12

4
5

7
6

2

1

3

9

10

15

13

LEFT SIDE

FRONT BACK RIGHT SIDE

Fig. 1. The controls, ports and jacks of the H16

1 Start/Stop Video Recording Button
2 Snapshot Button
3 Power On/Off Button
4 Previous Video/Photo Button
5 ▼ Next Video/Photo Button

6 OK OK Button

7 ESC Escape/Zoom/Mirror Button

9 TV Out Jack
10 AC Adapter Jack
11 Mini-USB Jack
12 Brightness Adjustment Thumbwheel
13 Hanger Hole
14 Probe Connector
15 Reset Button

8 SD Card Socket

Table 1. The H16’s multi-function buttons

Button Label In Preview Mode In Playback Mode In Menu Mode

▲ Switches to Playback mode Selects next-oldest video or photo Moves up one line

▼ Switches to Playback mode Selects next-newest video or photo Moves down one line

OK Switches to Menu mode Offers option to delete selected Executes highlighted command

video or photo

ESC Presssed briefly, enlarges Switches to Preview mode Switches to Preview mode

target by 50% (zooms 1.5X)
Pressed and held, mirrors
video

Takes a picture Recalls next photo or Displays repair data or opens
(stores .jpg photo on SD card) pauses/plays video clip submenu of video attribute

options

Starts/stops recording an Switches to Preview mode Switches to Preview mode
.asf video on SD card

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