Camera head size is one of the first specifications to check and one of the most misread. The head is the part that travels the pipe, turns its bends, and lights the wall. Its diameter, quoted in millimetres, decides which pipe it suits. This page lists verified head sizes from real systems and explains what each class does, so you can match a head to your pipe instead of guessing from a listing.
Camera head diameter is a hard physical dimension. Manufacturer-rated pipe capacity is a system/reel claim, they are not the same.
| Head | Ø mm | Self-level | Sonde | Replaceable | Part # | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIDGID 30 mm TruSense self-leveling | 30 | yes | yes 512 Hz | yes | 63843 | VERIFIED |
| RIDGID 30 mm TruSense fixed | 30 | no | yes 512 Hz | yes | 63848 | VERIFIED |
| RIDGID 25 mm digital self-leveling (Mini Pro) | 25 | yes | yes 512 Hz | yes | , | VERIFIED |
| Sanyipace S850 23 mm self-leveling | 23 | yes | yes 512 Hz | UNKNOWN | , | VERIFIED |
| VEVOR WP9602B 17 mm | 17 | no | not_stated | UNKNOWN | , | VERIFIED |
| Anysun 17 mm small head | 17 | not_stated | not_stated | UNKNOWN | , | PARTIAL |
| VEVOR 100 ft basic head | , | no | no | UNKNOWN | , | PARTIAL |
| VEVOR 165 ft locator kit fixed head | , | no | yes 512 Hz | UNKNOWN | , | PARTIAL |
| RIDGID 30 mm self-leveling NTSC | 30 | yes | not_stated | yes | 48533 | PARTIAL |
| RIDGID 30 mm fixed NTSC | 30 | no | not_stated | yes | 14083 | PARTIAL |
Head size for 2-inch pipe · Pipe Size Checker · Finder
Documented guides / accessories
- RIDGID Pipe guides 25 mm (5 pk), 63868 (Center/protect 25 mm camera head in larger pipe)
- RIDGID Spanner wrench 25 mm, 17553 (Service tool for 25 mm head)
- RIDGID Interconnect cable 10 ft Mini SeeSnake, 67307 (Reel-to-monitor interconnect)
Guide/skid presence does not mean universal pipe compatibility.
About this data
- How specs are verified: Each configuration is verified against manufacturer documentation and exact Amazon listing evidence. Missing or conflicting values are marked as not stated rather than inferred.
- Pipe range evidence: Pipe-range statements cite documented manufacturer specifications only. Ranges are never inferred from camera head diameter alone.
- Data verification: Latest configuration verification: Mar 1, 2026. Re-checked against manufacturer sources.
The common head classes
Most residential heads fall into four classes. A 17mm head is the small line specialist, built to turn the tight bends in 1.5 and 2 inch branch pipe. A 23mm head is the everyday mid size, at home in 3 to 4 inch drains where it centres well and lights the wall evenly. A 25mm head is a slightly larger mid size that leans toward 4 inch work. A 30mm head is the large class, made to sit near the middle of wide pipe and mains without drifting to the floor.
How size changes behaviour
Small heads win on turning. They clear sharp elbows and back to back fittings that stop a larger head dead. What they give up is centring, because a small head rides low in wide pipe and leaves the crown in shadow. Large heads win on picture quality in matched pipe. They sit central, carry more light, and keep the whole bore in view, but they cannot follow a tight radius. Every head is a trade between these two, and the pipe you inspect decides which way to lean.
Self levelling heads
Some heads keep the image upright with a weighted self levelling mechanism. This matters most in wider pipe, where a plain head can roll and leave you reading a sideways picture. Self levelling does not change the diameter, so it does not replace correct sizing, but it makes a mid size or large head easier to read across a range of pipe. In narrow branch lines the benefit is smaller, because there is little room for the head to rotate.
Reading the table above
The head sizes listed above come from each system’s specification, not from marketing rounding. Use the diameter as a hard fact, then confirm the whole pairing by running your real pipe size through the checker. A head size tells you what the head can physically do. It does not, on its own, prove the cable reaches your run or that the head sits well in your widest pipe, so treat it as one input among several.
Choosing a size for your work
- Mostly narrow branch lines or mixed sizes: a 17mm head for the turning ability.
- Mostly 3 to 4 inch house drains: a 23 or 25mm head for centring and light.
- Mostly 4 to 6 inch mains: a 25 or 30mm head, ideally self levelling.
- One head for everything: a 17mm head is the safest single pick, accepting a lower view in wide pipe.
Frequently asked questions
What head size is best for home use?
For general home drains of 3 to 4 inches, a 23 to 25mm head is the practical choice. If your home has many tight branch lines, a 17mm head is safer because it turns the sharp bends a larger head cannot.
Are head sizes standard between brands?
The diameter is a physical measurement, so a 23mm head is 23mm whoever makes it. What varies is the head’s shape, lighting, and whether it self levels, so compare those alongside the raw size rather than assuming two 23mm heads perform identically.
Can I change the head size on my camera?
Sometimes. Some systems let you swap heads, which lets one reel cover more pipe sizes, while others fix the head to the cable. Check whether the head is replaceable on the model page before you count on changing it.