Electrical Infrared Thermal Photos – Busbar Insulation
Electrical infrared inspections can reveal more then just what the thermal imaging camera can see!
One of the simple oversights that some thermograhers will make, is that they will run the infrared camera over the switchgear, but not their own eyes!
The types of faults you might find during a visual inspection are simple things like discolouration around the cable termination points, or in the case of the infrared thermal photo below, cracked busbar insulation…
The above photo is the exact reason why your switchboards should at least have a visual inspection bi-annually, because ‘things’ can happen in short spaces of time when high voltage is involved.
During an infrared electrical inspection, all ’anomalies’ should be tested with an ammeter to verify loads… as some areas may look like a ‘fault’ due to a glowing red image on the camera screen… but it’s simply just load running through within the limits of the cable’s maximum load capacity. Abnormally high temperatures around termination points are always a good indicator if a potential loose connection is present.
At the end of the day, some commercial buildings will have 100′s of switchboards that need to be imaged… and infrared thermal imaging survey is by far the quickest way to get through them in minimal time and maximum results.