Inspection Cameras

Flexible inspection camera being used to inspect the inside of an appliance

Tools designed to enhance normal human vision usually have a dual function: they focus a powerful light source on whatever you're looking at, while also magnifying it.

Inspection cameras go a step further by being able to physically enter confined spaces - ranging from down a drain to the inside of an appliance - giving you an up-close view that might be impossible to obtain in any other way.

Some feature a camera tube that's just 5.5mm in diameter, and rolls up into the body of the display/recording unit. They're incredibly useful for diagnosing faults inside appliances without disassembly, as well as retrieving small items such as jewellery using the included hook and other accessories.

Jaycar tip: A compact camera tube diameter means you can access cavities and conduits that would otherwise require full disassembly - saving time and reducing the risk of further damage.
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USB Microscopes

For really extreme magnification, a USB microscope is much easier and more convenient to use than a conventional microscope, since its image is projected onto your computer screen, and you can record footage or take screenshots of what you're observing. They can be invaluable for fault detection, for example after water ingress or impact damage to a smartphone.

Magnifiers & Headbands

Technician wearing a headband-mounted magnifier with LED lighting while soldering a circuit board

Magnifying lenses mounted on a wearable headband can be a more user-friendly option than an eyepiece lens. A headband-mounted magnifier has LED lighting that can be angled to brighten up exactly what you need to see. And a third hand with illuminated magnifier gives you a convenient all-in-one solution for accurate soldering.

You can even check dimensions of whatever you're looking at using a handheld magnifier with a graduated scale. This lets you take accurate measurements in increments smaller than a millimetre, using both metric and imperial units - particularly handy for identifying fastener diameters or checking available spacing for components.

Articulated Arm Magnifiers

The gold standard in illuminated magnifiers for electronics work is a clamp-mount unit on an articulated arm. This features a ring of 60 LEDs around a high-quality magnifying lens, which can be replaced with higher-dioptre lenses if required. A more compact version is also available, which is less expensive, but trades off the range of movement and ease of manoeuvring that are trademarks of the larger unit.

Jaycar tip: If you plan to upgrade your lens dioptre later, check that replacement lenses are available for your magnifier model before you buy - not all articulated arm units support interchangeable lenses.

Read more about workshop wonders you never knew you needed.

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