Electrical Contractor

Many thermal imagers feature wireless storage, and the range of models can meet almost every heat-detection and measuring requirement electricians encounter. Thermal imaging has been incorporated into some multimeters, essentially creating two tools in one.

“Once a costly ‘nice-to-have,’ ther-
mal imagers now are an affordable
‘must have,’” said Tony Shockey, thermal
product specialist, Fluke Corp. “Thermal
imagers today are a minimum profes-
sional requirement for most electrical
contractors and not only help to identify
potential problems but are also used to
document that identified problems have
been properly fixed.”
Thermal imaging is designed to be a
first-line troubleshooting tool for electri-
cal equipment that can check hot spots of
high-voltage equipment and transformers
from a safe distance and detect heating of
fuses, wires, insulators, connectors, splices
and switches. Imagers provide a heat map
that can quickly and safely locate hot spots
before repairs begin and can validate that
all problems are fixed after the fact.

The latest thermal imaging cameras are easy to use.

“Simple, intelligent menu design
allows technicians to easily navigate the
on-screen menu interface even while
wearing gloves,” Shockey said. “Smart
battery systems with LED charge indi-
cators help prevent unexpected loss of
power while on the job, while remov-
able SD memory cards store thousands
of images, more than enough for typical
work periods. Designed for industrial
environments, an electrical contractor
can simply point and shoot and capture
needed images, and quickly move on to
the next inspection.”
For basic electrical circuit breaker
scans at approximately 4 feet, Shockey
recommends a camera with 160-by-120
resolution.

“This meets the minimum standard
requirements for professional interpreta-
tion of thermal images,” he said. “For more
in-depth analysis of panels and small wir-
ing that requires you to get either closer
or further away to conduct a safer inspec-
tion, users should look for cameras with
260-by-195 resolution, manual focus and
a better DS [distance to spot].”
A thermal multimeter that combines
two tools into one thermography product
is an easy-to-carry, first-line trouble-
shooting tool. Such a tool also makes
users more productive. Wireless con-
nectivity and cloud storage allow image
and reading sharing from the field, saving
time and effort in resolving issues.

Fluke thermal-imaging products include the affordable and easy-to-use Performance Series models; the Professional Series, which offers superior image quality and advanced features; and the Expert Series, which gives users premium viewing, an extensive feature set and highly detailed images. Expert Series models come standard with Fluke Connect to store asset images in one location for comparison over time and get work-order approvals or questions answered without leaving the field.

Sam Ruback, product manager at Flir Systems, said thermal imaging can help electrical contractors troubleshoot complex and compounded issues by enabling them to quickly find warm or overheating connections, and locate the root—not just the fault—of a component’s problem.

Thermal imaging can help electrical contractors sort the list of potential issues, including the following:

• Finding unseen panel hazards in an electrical assembly before getting in to the area to perform the work

• Providing a quick scan of the panel, which can identify additional areas of work to add to a current work order

• Confirming new equipment is operating within specified temperatures and to validate work after a repair

Thermal Imagers

THERMAL IMAGING is a well-established method of detecting potential problems and issues in electrical systems. The thermal imagers that perform these vital tasks have changed significantly over the past several years, moving from expensive specialty tools to smaller, easier-to-use, more affordable models with broader capabilities.