PCE Instruments PCE-VE 1030N User manual

© PCE Instruments
PCE-VE 1000 Borescope
User Manual
User manuals in various languages (Deutsch,
français, italiano, español, português, nederlands,
türk, polski, русский, 中文) can be downloaded here:
www.pce-instruments.com
Last change: 25 October 2017
v1.0
English

© PCE Instruments
English
Contents
1Safety notes........................................................................................... 2
2System description............................................................................... 3
3Preparations .......................................................................................... 7
4Make recordings.................................................................................... 7
4.1 Record images................................................................................................................. 7
4.2 Record videos.................................................................................................................. 7
5SD card...................................................................................................7
6Functions...............................................................................................7
6.1 Setting the brightness....................................................................................................... 7
6.2 Zoom................................................................................................................................ 8
6.3 Rotating and reflecting the image..................................................................................... 8
6.4 Pre-timed video recordings............................................................................................... 8
6.5 Playback function............................................................................................................. 8
6.6 Functions for video recording ........................................................................................... 9
7Settings..................................................................................................9
7.1 General settings............................................................................................................... 9
7.2 SD card............................................................................................................................ 9
7.3 Language........................................................................................................................10
7.4 Date and time..................................................................................................................10
7.5 Automatic shutdown........................................................................................................10
8Connectors ..........................................................................................10
9Maintenance ........................................................................................11
9.1 Replacing the borescope cable .......................................................................................11
9.2 Firmware update.............................................................................................................11
10 Borescope cables ...............................................................................12
10.1 Borescope cable with a swivelling camera.......................................................................12
10.2 HR borescope cable........................................................................................................14
11 Contact...............................................................................................21
12 Disposal ...............................................................................................21

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1 Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time.
The device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments
personnel. Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual are excluded from our
liability and not covered by our warranty.
The device must only be used as described in this instruction manual. If used
otherwise, this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.
The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature,
relative humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do
not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or
moisture.
Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.
The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.
Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.
You must not make any technical changes to the device.
The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral
cleaner, no abrasives or solvents.
The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.
Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not
use the device.
Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.
The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under
any circumstances.
Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to
the user.
We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of
business.
If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments. The contact details can be found at
the end of this manual.

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2 System description
2.1 Main unit
1 Record
2 Snap
3 Right / brighten
4 Up / zoom in
5 Left / dim
6 OK / Menu
7 Down / zoom out
8 Power / ESC
9 Rotate / mirror
10 Power indicator
11 Integrated microphone

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1Sun visor
2 Stand
2.2 Connectors
1 Reset
2 SD card slot
3 AV out
4 USB interface
5 DC in

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2.3 Back
1 Insert tube connector
2 PRM280 mount
3 Tripod thread
2.4 Display
1 Date
2 Time
3 Repeat recording indicator
4 Brightness indicator
5 SD card status
6 Battery indicator

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2.5 Display with included accessories

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3 Preparations
1. Before the first operation of the borescope the battery has to be charged completely.
This can be done by connecting the device to the power.
2. Take a borescope cable if available.
3. Connect the borescope cable to the main unit. Make sure that the cable is inserted
correctly and tighten the sealing nut.
4. Switch on the device by pressing and holding the power button for about three
seconds.
5. Insert the SD card. Open the corresponding lid on the side and insert the card.
4 Make recordings
4.1 Record images
1. Move the camera head to the desired area of inspection.
2. Press the Snap button in order to save the displayed image.
4.2 Record videos
To save a video to the SD card, the camera head has to be moved to the inspection area as
described above. After this, press the Record button to start recording. If the Record button is
pressed once again, the recording will end and the video is automatically stored to the SD card.
The name of the file will be displayed in the left information field underneath the time indication
after the recoding has been stopped. Simultaneously with the video recording, an audio file will
be recorded which allows the user to leave comments. Please note that it is not possible to
zoom, rotate or reflect the image during video recordings.
5 SD card
The borescope uses SD cards to store images. It is possible to use SD cards with different
capacities. Here you can store both images and videos. The amount of images and duration of
the videos that can be stored vary with the different sizes of the SD cards. The approximate
values can be seen in the chart below:
SD card capacity
4 GB
8 GB
16 GB
32 GB
Amount of images
<31000
<62000
<124000
<240500
Duration of videos
<130 min
<160 min
<530 min
<1000 min
6 Functions
6.1 Setting the brightness
To adjust the brightness of the live images you can use the corresponding buttons. The left
function key is used to dim the light. The right one is used to brighten up the light. Ten
brightness levels are available where five of them are normal brightness levels and the other
ones are with higher exposure time. These are advantageous when the camera head is moved
in dark environments.

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6.2 Zoom
During the inspection of live images, digital zoom can be used. This can be done by pressing
the Zoom-In and Zoom-Out buttons. If the “+”-button is pressed the image is enlarged. Pressing
the “-“-button will zoom out again. The zoom ratio is scaled linearly starting from 1.0 x up to 5.0
x. Due to the fact that it is a digital zoom, it may occur that the quality of the image suffers when
zooming in.
6.3 Rotating and reflecting the image
From time to time it is useful and or even necessary to rotate the image on the display without
moving the camera head. This can have multiple reasons.
1. Rotate image:
To rotate the image in steps of 90 ° the button must be pressed.
2. Reflect image: The image is reflected if the button is pressed for more than three
seconds. On the left-hand side of the display, will be shown. If the non-reflected
image is displayed, the same procedure must be repeated.
6.4 Pre-timed video recordings
The borescope offers the opportunity to record pre-timed sequences which will be repeated
after the time has run off. These sequences are recorded until the button is pressed again.
The duration of the video can be 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. If the function is not activated, the
recording will automatically be stopped after 30 minutes. To enable the single sequences, enter
the main menu by pressing the button. After this, the and buttons must be used to
get to the submenu “REPEAT RECORDING”. Confirm by pressing once again. Now choose
your desired duration by using the and buttons and confirm your choice by pressing .
You can choose between 5, 10, 20, 30 minutes and “OFF”.
6.5 Playback function
To review the last recorded files on the LCD, the button must be pressed after the
recording. The images will automatically be displayed after that. If a video has just been
recorded, the button must be pressed additionally to play the video.
You can scroll through the files:
switch to the previous file
switch to the next file
go 10 files back
go 10 files forward
When reviewing images you can also zoom to a desired area within the picture. You have the
opportunity to zoom in in three steps. To do so, the image must be on the display. Then press
. After this, a small window will appear in the bottom right corner of the LCD with a green
frame, which shows the area which is enlarged. Pressing again enlarges the section once
again. If the maximum enlargement of the section is reached and is pressed once again, the
device will switch to playback mode again. The specific section which is framed green can also
be moved within the image:
left
right
up
down

© PCE Instruments
A video file can be played (without the audio file) by pressing if the video is selected.
In the playback function, unwanted files can also be deleted. In order to do so, the files have to
be selected first. When reviewing them on the LCD, press . The dialogue “DELETE FILE ?”
will be shown with the answers “YES” and “NO”. By using and , you can make your
choice (highlighted in green) which can be confirmed by pressing .
To show thumbnails of saved images, press the button. The function keys help you to
navigate through the thumbnails. On each page, nine files will be shown in a 3x3 grid. This
makes it possible to delete more than one file at a time. This can be done by following these
steps:
1. Move the orange frame to the unwanted file. Use the arrow keys in the corresponding
direction.
2. Press to mark the chosen file. It will then be marked with an orange “X”.
3. When all unwanted files are marked, press the button to start the deletion
process. The display will show “DELETE FILE ?” and give you the options “YES” and
“NO”. Use and to make your choice and confirm by pressing . The data will
then be deleted.
6.6 Functions for video recording
1. Pause:
2. Change the speed of the playback: or
3. Fast forward / rewind or
7 Settings
7.1 General settings
1. Open main menu: When reviewing files, pressing opens the main menu
2. Navigating through the main menu: and
3. Open a submenu: or
4. Return to the higher menu level:
7.2 SD card
1. Check the state of the SD card: Open the main menu and then open the submenu
“SD CARD STATUS”.
2. Format SD card: Open the main menu and open the submenu “SD CARD STATUS”.
Choose “FORMAT SD CARD”. Use and to choose “YES” and confirm your
choice.
3. Delete all files on the SD card: Open the main menu and then open the submenu “SD
CARD STATUS”. Choose “DELETE ALL FILES”, go to “YES” and confirm your
choice.

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7.3 Language
Open the main menu and navigate to the submenu “LANGUAGE”. Use and to navigate,
choose your language and confirm your choice.
7.4 Date and time
System time
Open the main menu and navigate to the submenu “DATE / TIME“. Use the and buttons
to switch between the setting fields and and to set the values correctly. Confirm your
choice by pressing .
Time format
To set the correct time format enter the main menu first and then enter the submenu “DATE /
TIME”. You can go to the time format setting by using and . and help you to choose
the correct time format (YY/MM/DD, MM/DD/, DD/MM/YY). Confirm by pressing .
Time and date stamp
The borescope gives you the opportunity to mark your files with a time and date stamp. To
activate this function, enter the main menu and then enter the submenu “DATE / TIME”. By
using and you can get to the function “TIMESTAMP”. Choose “YES” or “NO” and confirm
with .
7.5 Automatic shutdown
In order to reduce the battery consumption, the borescope has an automatic shutdown function
that can be activated. To do so, enter the main menu and the submenu “AUTO POWER OFF”.
The buttons and can be used to navigate through the different time settings. You can
choose between 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes or deactivate this function by selecting “OFF”.
Confirm your choice by pressing . If the device has turned itself off, it does not enter a sleep
mode but switches off completely and must be restarted completely.
8 Connectors
8.1 USB
The USB interface is commonly used to connect the borescope to a computer. It supports two
different modes. On the one hand it supports the data transmission and on the other hand it can
help to display the live pictures on a computer. When the borescope is connected to a
computer, it displays “READER” and “CAMERA”. Depending on what mode needs to be set you
can use the and buttons to make your choice. Confirm with .
You can also get there by entering the main menu and choosing the submenu “USB“. If the
device is connected via USB, a USB icon will appear in the left information box. If the reader
function is chosen there will be a stylized SD card symbol on the display. The reader mode can
be stopped by pressing .

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8.2 AV output
The AV output serves to transfer files to a television in standard definition. HD is not supported.
1. Connect the device to a TV using the AV cable.
2. Use and to switch between “NTSC” and “PAL” (depending on the TV).
3. Confirm with .
4. You can leave the mode by pressing .
9 Maintenance
9.1 Replacing the borescope cable
If a different cable needs to be installed to the borescope you can proceed as follows:
1. Switch off the device.
2. Loosen the cable from the device and pull it out carefully.
3. Insert the different borescope cable. Note that the pins have to be inserted correctly.
4. Tighten the sealing nut.
9.2 Firmware update
1. Switch off the device. Press and hold and simultaneously to enter factory
mode.
2. After this, the firmware version will be displayed.
3. Copy the file of the new firmware to an SD card.
4. Insert that SD card into your borescope.
5. Press and to turn on the device.
6. The update will be made automatically.
7. The instrument will switch off after the update.

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10 Borescope cables
You have the opportunity to connect different cables to the borescope.
PCE-VE 1yyz-ab
yy
z
a
b
Note
Cable length
1 m
01
2 m
02
Only 5.5 mm cable / head selectable
3 m
03
Only 6 mm cable / head selectable
10 m
10
Only 5.5 mm cable / head selectable
22 m
22
Only 28 mm cable / head selectable (code 0)
Ø cable head
3.9 mm
3
2 cables included: 0 ° and 90 °
4.9 mm
4
With front and lateral camera
5.5 mm
5
With front camera
6 mm
6
2-way
28 mm
0
Always with 22 m cable
Resolution
320 x 240
640 x 480
HR
Type of cable
n. a. for 22 m cable
Flexible
-F
Only added for flexible cables
Semi-flexible
(gooseneck)
Special editions:
PCE-VE 1014N-F: 1.5 m cable length, 4.5 mm Ø cable head, 2-way, large display
PCE-VE 1034N-F: 3 m cable length, 4.5 mm Ø cable head, 2-way, large display
10.1 Borescope cable with a swivelling camera
1. Camera tube
2. Lens
3. Bending neck
4. Operating element
5. Rotary knob
6. Connection cable
7. Connector plug
8. Locking lever

© PCE Instruments
Preparations
1. Insert the end of the borescope cable into the connection socket. Use the white dot on
the borescope cable for your orientation, to know which way round it has to be
inserted into the socket and tighten the sealing nut.
2. Turn on the borescope and place the camera head in the desired inspection area.
Operation
1. Using the rotary knob, you can control the wire-draw mechanism. This moves the
camera head. By turning the rotary knob clockwise the camera head will be bent to
the right side. Turning the rotary knob counter-clockwise will turn the camera head to
the left side.
ATTENTION: Overwinding the rotary knob will damage the wire-draw
mechanism of the borescope cable.

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2. The locking lever can be turned to the left side. By doing so, the camera head will
remain in the position that has been selected before. It can be loosened by turning
the locking lever to the neutral position in the middle. The camera head can then be
moved again.
10.2 HR borescope cable
In addition to the general safety notes of the device, please mind the following safety notes to
prevent damage and injuries when using the HR camera cable.
To avoid dangerous situations, make sure that the probe does not get in touch with
inflammable liquids or gases.
The HR cable includes various small cables which control the optics and
electronics of the camera tip. To ensure high reliability, do not bend the cable to an
angle of more than 90 ° and store the cable as little bent as possible.
Do not disassemble the device as this can cause damage and electric shocks.
Do not expose the device to direct sunlight and store it in a cool, dry, sufficiently
ventilated place.
To protect the camera module, make sure the protection ring is on the camera
head as long as no accessories are in use.
Do not apply force to the end of
the cable and do not bend it.
This can deteriorate your vision
and even damage the probe.

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When you roll up the cable, the
inner diameter must be at least
15 cm.
Put the protection ring back on
and tighten it when not using the
device for a longer period of
time.
Do not crash the probe head.
Make sure that the camera does
not get in contact with the
following liquids:
lead-free petrol, diesel oil,
machine oil, brake fluid and
transmission oil.

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Do not screw the accessories on
too tightly. Only screw it slightly
until it is fixed.
To clean the camera
head, use the cleaning
liquid and the swabs
provided in the cleaning
kit.
Technical specifications
Length of camera head
20 mm
Diameter with protection ring
6 mm
Depth of field
10 … 60 mm
Field of view
60.7 °
Protection class
IP67

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System description
1. Probe: to guide the camera
2. Camera head: for illumination and
capturing
3. Assembly ring: to attach
accessories
4. Protection ring: to protect the thread
5. Red cap: protects the camera when
not in use
6. Boost key: for better illumination in
dark environments
7. Rotation key: Press once to turn the
display counter-clockwise by 90 °.
The red LED will light up. The LED
will stop glowing when the original
position has been reached.
8. Light key: This key activates a mirror
which enables particle-free vision.
9. Connector
1. Probe: to guide the camera
2. Bending neck
3. Camera head: for illumination and capturing
4. Assembly ring: to attach accessories
5. Protection ring: to protect the thread
6. Red cap: protects the camera when not in use
7. Rotary knob
8. Locking lever
9. Boost key: for better illumination in dark
environments
10.Rotation key: Press once to turn the display
counter-clockwise by 90 °. The red LED will light
up. The LED will stop glowing when the original
position has been reached.
11.Light key: This key activates a mirror which
enables particle-free vision.
12.Lock: To lock button functions
13.Connecting Cable
14.Connector

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Getting started
Connection
Step 1: Connect the main unit with the connector and fix it with the screw mechanism.
Step 2: Switch on the system. You should now see a picture in the display.
Attachment of the accessories
Mirror
Step 1: Unscrew the thread protection ring.
Step 2: Screw the assembly ring down to the bottom.
Step 3: Screw the mirror attachment onto the thread until the thread is completely covered.
Step 4: Align the lateral LED opening of the mirror attachment in a way that the LEDs are
uncovered.
Step 5: Turn the assembly ring upwards in order to fix the mirror attachment.
Step 6: Press the light key to activate the lateral light.
Step 7: Adjust the light intensity as required to ensure ideal vision to the side.
(Steps 4-5 must be repeated until the right position is reached)

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Magnetic hook
Step 1: Turn the assembly ring down to the bottom.
Step 2: Screw the magnetic hook on until it snaps in.
Climbing ball
Step 1: Remove the assembly ring.
Step 2: Screw the climbing ball on until it snaps in.
Please note that the magnetic hook and the climbing ball can only be attached to
borescope cables with a diameter of 5.5 mm.
Operation
Boost key
Use this key in a dark environment. The red LED indicates that the Boost function has been
activated. The image will be lightened up.
Note: Hold the probe steady.
Before “boosting”
After “boosting”