ProVision 100 PV100 Flexible Fiberoptic Scope

by Provision

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Inspect impossible to reach places with the ProVision 100 PV100 Fiberoptic scope—the ultimate hand tool for diagnosis and exploration. The flexible cable fits in openings as small as 1/2-inch in diameter allowing you to look behind walls, down into drains, inside engines, or hundreds of other inaccessible places without costly demolition or disassembly. Adjustable focus, omni-directional cable bends in every direction and the light switch is pressure activated making the PV100 functional and simple to operate. Sealed lens and cable are submersible making them perfect for plumbing applications. 18-inch flexible cable affords great range while the powerful lamp illuminates dark crevices.

FEATURES

• Powerful UV diodes
• Flexible cable fits into ½" openings
• Pressure activated light switch
• Lens and cable are submersible
• Omni-directional cable

SPECIFICATIONS

• UV diodes emit light at the 395nm wavelength
• Each diode emits 25mcd at 25 degrees
• Adjustable focus
• Protective boot and flexible eye cup included
• Carrying case included

Product Description

See inside finished walls, floors and compartments with this unique tool. Fiber optic scope has adjustable focus and a lamp to illuminate dark crevices. Flexible 18in. shaft with a 40 degree field of view. Simple one hand operation is perfect for electricians, plumbers, carpenters and mechanics. Comes in a blow molded plastic case for carrying & protection of the unit. U.S.A.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00002255Q
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: PV100
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,572 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #37 in Home Improvement > Building Supplies > Job Site Lighting

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars handy but not as much as you might hope, May 5, 2008

By 

Reviewer (Near Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ProVision 100 PV100 Flexible Fiberoptic Scope (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this in order to inspect the walls of my house for two things: I need to see what wiring needs updated, and I also need to see how much insulation is in my walls. I figured the $160 investment was worth the knowledge I would gain and the time and materials I might save.

When I recieved the scope I opened it immediately and began inspecting one particular light fixture that has been bothering me for quite some time. Two things became readily apparent:

1. The 18" shaft isn't long enough. I should have sprung for the longer one.
2. The shaft is not as flexible as I might have expected, and it is actually a bit bulky with a diameter of approximately 3/8", so you won't be slipping this turkey into little cracks. It seems even too wide to scope it into the dipstick tube in an engine - so I'd guess its use for this application might be to have a look through the throttle body, or through a spark plug hole to see why you have no compression. But even in this case, since the tube has limited flexibility, you'll be able to see a dent in a piston but you might not be able to bend it sharply enough to see a bent valve, i.e, it won't bend at a right angle in so short of a distance. Still quite handy, but a little more limited than I expected.
3. Regarding the focal length, it seems to range from a few inches out to right at the objective. Suppose you fish into a wall outlet and you want to see if there is a fireblock a few feet up the wall... it seems like you probably won't be able to focus on it and you'll just have a black and brown blurry image. To see that far, you have to have a closer access point.
4. Due to the eyepiece, you still have to contort yourself into various positions to get an angle on your objective - unfortunately it's not as easy as the promotional pictures show.

Regarding some of my criticisms, a visit to the Provision website showed me that there are accessories to correct for some of these deficiencies.

When I bought it I should have been a little more critical with my research. For some reason I pictured a longer, thinner inspection tube with much better articulation. Nonetheless, this is a nice tool that is compromised only by a limited budget. For $1000, I'm sure there are much better tools of this type, but this isn't too bad for $160. I wish it was better and cheaper, but perhaps this tool is just a few years too early.

I could easily picture this in the tool kit for a well-prepared home inspector, or maybe an energy auditor who is looking for ways to augment a thermal camera study. A mechanic who would like to save the labor of removing the cylinder head might like it, and it could come in handy for inspection of the catalytic converter without removal. The LED lights provide ample illumination.

Update: June 2008.
I recently used this tool to inspect an engine I was rebuilding. My timing belt broke, and I wanted to see if the valves came into contact with the pistons. I simply removed the sparkplugs and rotated the crank with a wrench while peering into the spark plug hole with this 'scope. I was able to focus on the pistons and confirm that they were not damaged, and it saved me the labor of removing the cylinder head. This is a handy tool for car work!

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Look inside the wall without gutting it, September 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: ProVision 100 PV100 Flexible Fiberoptic Scope (Tools & Home Improvement)

Very useful in remodelling work for assessing exisiting plumbing/HVAC work, framing and finding that fish tape that you just can't seem to maneuver correctly. My only complaint is that the light could be brighter. Sure it is a "nich" tool - but it is priceless when it solves a major headache with minor damage to walls.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good product, tooltopia has terrible customer service, November 18, 2008

By 

Jason - See all my reviews

This review is from: ProVision 100 PV100 Flexible Fiberoptic Scope (Tools & Home Improvement)

I actually ordered the 36" scope with the obedient sheath from ToolTopia. The scope is a pretty good product for the money, but mine arrived damaged. The plastic case was crushed along with the obedient sheath. ToolTopia only deals with returns via e-mail and they are very unresponsive. I've been trying to get an RMA number for over a week. In any other company I've dealt with getting an RMA number is a 5 minute phone call. Stay away from ToolTopia!