General Tools DCS050 USB Video Borescope

Posted on: 8 November 2013
By: Sam

The General Tools model DCS050 has been discontinued.

Are looking for an entry level video borescope to do some minor inspections around the house or some basic automotive applications? The General Tools DCS050 USB Video Borescope starts around $50 and is pretty nifty. Nifty as this borescope may be, it does have its limitations. For instance, it will not let you view the bottom of a 900ft well to do inspections. First, the probe is only 1m (3.28ft) in length, but you can add extensions up to 5m(15ft). Second, although the General Tools DCS050 is classified as a waterproof instrument (IP67 Rating) that translates into a safe immersion level up to 1m (3.28ft) for up to 30 minutes. That is not to say this borescope is a waste of time either, you just have to line up its functions with what you are using it for. The Camera does have a resolution of 320 x 240 and a 12mm Diameter flexible-obedient probe that can be bent and molded to reach hard to inspect areas. The camera also has 2 high intensity LED’s that can have their brightness adjusted accordingly. Also, since this unit is sans a monitor and battery power, the unit is powered via USB plugged into a Windows PC and streams the video on the computer directly. They also offer a DCS050-09 that is the exact same unit, but is equipped with a 9mm Diameter camera and probe instead of the standard 12mm. All in all, it is a neat product and will be a great addition to any handyman’s tool bag.