August 18, 2016

Infrared Electrical Inspection – So hot right now!

There’s a lot of buzz around infrared, or thermographic, inspection right now, and for once the hype is justified. If you run a factory, shopping centre, commercial building or even a large office, an annual infrared electrical inspection can potentially save you a packet.

As one of Western Australia’s leading exponents of infrared electrical inspections, PRF Electrical’s Phil Fraser knows just how valuable it can be.

‘It’s about catching issues before they become problems,’ said Phil recently. ‘Our guys go in with a Fluke TiS series thermal imager – basically the best you can get for image quality and clarity – and conduct a fast, non-invasive inspection of switchboards, distribution boards, isolators, lighting contactors, and even whole machines. We come away with images that tell us exactly what’s going on in the components tested. But it’s a bit like an xray – the real expertise is in reading it and determining where the problems lie. Luckily, our infrared operators are highly trained and experienced.’

Phil said that the thermal images that result from the inspections help experienced readers locate hotspots that in wiring, switches, isolators and other components. These hotspots can be caused by defects in connections or in the components themselves, but the important thing is that an infrared inspection can identify these issues before they fail.

Increased heating or overheating is the telltale signature of imminent failure, and it identifies precisely where the failure will occur.

That gives you the opportunity to replace faulty or otherwise exposed items before they breakdown, and potentially cause much greater damage.

The causes can range from loose or deteriorated circuits, to unbalanced loads, overloading, open circuits, harmonics or simply from old or faulty equipment, but the benefits are clear. An infrared inspection can ensure you fix the issue before it causes a system failure, or worse. The advantages are:

  • Avoid unscheduled downtime.
  • Prevent failures that can cascade through the system.
  • Extend the serviceable life of equipment.
  • No stoppages or interruption required for the inspection.
  • Lower repair costs and simplified maintenance.
You could even enjoy lower insurance premiums thanks to the reduced losses and ensured continuity of production that an infrared inspection can provide.

Phil said that the PRF Electrical team is ready to take on infrared imaging inspections at short notice, and that his operators have the experience necessary to get the best results. ‘We’ve dealt with everything from factories to regional shopping centres, to office buildings,’ said Phil. ‘We know what we’re doing, and we’d be happy to show anyone who’s interested a sample report so they know what they’re getting into,’ he said.

If you’re interested in discussing how an infrared imaging inspection could help your business, contact Phil Fraser.

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Commercial Electrical Advice, Electrical Advice, Industrial Electrical Advice , ,