This article will help technicians and advanced users diagnose common issues and determine whether an issue is caused by settings, battery failure, monitor behavior, or a faulty counter. It also provides a comprehensive overview of SeeSnake distance counters – how they work, how they differ, which monitors they are compatible with, and how to diagnose common symptoms.

Technical Overview

RIDGID has released three generations of SeeSnake distance counters. All share these core characteristics:

• No moving parts, sensors measure drum rotation
• Distance calculations are based on:
  • Drum type (diameter)
  • Cable type (diameter)
  • Cable length (the amount of cable inside the drum when system is powered ON)
• Counters sit inline between the camera head and the monitor, video flow is:
  Camera Head → Counter → Monitor

Zero points

1. Absolute zero (all counters) – automatically set when the system is powered ON.
   • Starting point for distance calculations.
   • Assumes all of the cable is inside the drum.
2. User Zero (all counters) – set by the user when the camera is in position (i.e. after it drops into the main line)
   •  CountIR: Distance Key, short press
   • CountPlus and TruSense counter: Distance Key, long press (~2 sec)
   • Does not affect the Absolute Zero starting point
3. Temp Zero (CountPlus and TruSense counter) – lets user measure the distance between two points in a pipe
   • Short Press to set, Short Press to clear and return to the normal distance
   • Temporary distance appears in brackets
   • Most users are unaware of Long Press vs. Short Press and use a short press (works fine, count is accurate)

Common Symptoms – Quick Reference

• Random text on screen → CountIR / CountPlus
• Two distance/time overlays visible → CountIR / CountPlus with digital monitor
• Distance frozen or inaccurate → CountIR / CountPlus
• Four dashes (----) instead of distance → CountPlus / TruSense Counter
• Distance counts backward → TruSense Counter
• Inaccurate count → CountIR / CountPlus (dead battery or drum/cable settings)
• ERROR1 / ERROR2 →CountIR (dead battery or drum/cable settings)
• Upgrade options → CountIR / CountPlus to TruSense Counter (see TruSense Compatibility)

CountIR (3-Button Keypad, 2001–2008)

Used on: Standard and Mini camera reels

Compatibility

• All SeeSnake monitors (1994–present)
• RIDGID micro CA-300 and microCA-350

How It Works

The CountIR includes internal video overlay hardware that embeds distance, time/date, and text directly into the video stream. Because the overlay is embedded, what you see is what you record.

Key Characteristics

• Infrared (IR) emitter/receiver detect drum rotation
• Embedded video overlays:
  • Distance
  • Time/date
  • User-programmed text (up to 30 pages)
• Internal, user-replaceable CR2032 coin-cell batterypreserves:
  • Time/date
  • Drum and cable parameters

Common Issues & Diagnosis (CountIR)

• Random text on screen (job names, addresses):
  Text overlay is ON.
  → Press and hold the Clock key to hide text.
• Two sets of distance/time visible:
  Both the monitor and CountIR overlays are enabled.
  → Turn off unneeded CountIR overlays using the keypad
• Frozen or jumpy distance:
  IR window on the back of the counter may be dirty.
   → Clean with a damp cloth.
• Inaccurate distance:
  • System powered ON with cable already in pipe
  • Drum/cable parameters incorrect or lost
• ERROR1 (Distance is Out of Bounds)

  Occurs when the calculated distance goes negative or exceeds the programmed cable length by approximately 40 ft.

  • Common causes:

    • System powered ON with cable already in the pipe
    • Drum/cable parameters lost due to dead battery
    • Parameters not re-entered after battery replacement
    • Cable repaired or replaced without updating cable length

• ERROR2 (Drum/Cable Parameters Not Set)
  Occurs when required drum/cable parameters are missing. 

  • Common causes:

    • Dead internal battery
    • New battery installed without reprogramming parameters

  • Jobsite workaround:
    If the battery cannot be replaced immediately, set the time/date and drum/cable parameters each time the system is powered ON.

  • For battery replacement steps, see:
    CountPlus and CountIR Battery Replacement and Error Messages

CountPlus (9-Button Keypad)
Two versions: v1 (2008) and v2, (2010 – present)

Used on:

• Standard and Mini (external CountPlus unit, v1 or v2)
  • v2 units will display "DataLink" at startup to denote the digital data connection
• rM200 and microReel CA (the internal PCB incorporates CountPlus v2 hardware and software)

Compatibility

• All SeeSnake monitors (1994–present)
• RIDGID micro CA-300 and microCA-350

How It Works

1. Embedded video overlays(v1 and v2) for compatibility with all monitors 
2. Digital count data(v2)for digital monitors that can generate their own overlay
   • NOTE: CS1000 and CS10 can display, but not overlay digital data; the CountPlus overlays must be used for recording

Digital monitors turn the embedded overlays OFF by default at power-up (v2 only)  . The CountPlus overlays can be turned ON/OFF as desired using its keypad (ver 1 and ver 2)

Key Characteristics

• Magnetic drum rotation detection (no moving parts)
• Embedded video overlays (“what you see is what you record”)
• Digital data line for high-quality monitor-generated overlays
• Internal, user-replaceable CR2450 coin-cell battery

Common Issues & Diagnosis (CountPlus)

• Random text on screen:
  Text overlay is ON.
  → Press the Text key to turn it OFF.
• Battery-Related Behavior (CountPlus)

  A dead internal battery may result in:

  • Loss of time/date
  • Loss of drum/cable parameters
  • Inaccurate or unstable distance readings
  • Dead battery indicator displayed at top of monitor screen
• Distance frozen or not incrementing (Standard and Mini systems only) 
  Confirm both drum magnets are present; magnets are held by a black plastic retainer that attaches to the drum with four screws. These magnets are required to sense drum rotation; if the magnets are intact, the counter may be faulty
• Inaccurate distance:
  • System was powered ON with cable in the pipe
  • Drum/cable parameters lost due to dead battery
• Monitor displays four dashes (----) instead of distance:
  • Digital count data is not reaching the monitor
  • Often indicates a faulty counter; confirm by testing with another monitor
  • If issue occurs immediately after a monitor software update, reboot your monitor to the previous version: Menu → Info/About → Reboot to previous version
  • Jobsite workaround:
    • Press the Distance key on the CountPlus to enable the embedded overlay
    • Pull out a small length of cable to confirm the system is counting
    • Hide the dashes by disabling the monitor’s distance overlay
       Menu > Reel Options > Show Overlay = OFF
    • For battery replacement steps, see:
      CountPlus and CountIR Battery Replacement and Error Messages

TruSense Counter (No Keypad, 2017–Present)

Used on:
 All TruSense camera systems, including microREEL APX and microDrain APX

Compatibility

• CSx-series monitors (2017–present)
• CS-series monitors with on-board distance overlay (CS6, CS6-Pak, CS65)
• Distance is not supported on analog monitors or the CS-1000, or CS-10
• Older systems with a CountIR or CountPlus can use the TruSense Counter, however a compatible CS or CSx series monitor is required to display distance

How It Works

The TruSense counter does not embed overlays and has no user-adjustable settings. It provides a digital, bi-directional data connection between TruSense camera heads and CSx series monitors to support TruSense features and capabilities.

Key Characteristics

• Magnetic drum rotation detection (no moving parts)
• No overlay hardware, digital distance data only
• Supports TruSense features like TiltSense and digital self-leveling
• Enables firmware updates to TruSense camera heads
• No internal battery
• Drum/cable parameters are factory-programmed and permanent

Common Issues & Diagnosis

• Distance counts backward
  • Counter circuit board is installed backward.
     → Remove and flip board to correct orientation
• Monitor displays dashes (----):
  • See CountPlus troubleshooting above
• Distance frozen or not incrementing:
  • See CountPlus troubleshooting above