At APT Sound Testing we undertake infrared thermal imaging of machinery and electrical panels, this helps to detect faults before they become major production issues. This is extremely useful within the facilities management Industry.
Our ‘state of art’ thermal imaging cameras produce accurate real time high resolution images; enabling Level 3 certified engineers to detect problems that otherwise might go unnoticed. This gives you a chance to undertake remedial works prior to costly system failures or production stoppages occur. Using infrared thermography is effective across all industry sectors helping to reduce maintain costs and even identify process improvements.
Infrared Thermography inspections to Electrical Installations
Infrared Thermography is ideal for carrying out Electrical Safety Inspections, be it to find that loose connection or a potentially overloaded component in your main electrical panel.
We all understand the consequences of electrical system failure and the associated costs of having no power. Whilst an electrical fault may in itself only cost a small amount to repair, if left to fail the expenditure for that same fault may run into thousands of pounds in lost production, downtime, wages, insurance excesses, injury claims etc.
A previous survey by the Safety Assessment Federation found that nearly a third of all electrical installations had a defect and 15% of all inspected had one or more faults. The highest percentage of electrical faults involved the incorrect earthing of an installation and the highest category of incident involved cabling or wiring.
Regular electrical installation thermal inspections can highlight electrical anomalies so that planned maintenance or corrective action can be taken to prevent electrical based incidents. Typical problems include:
- Incorrect voltage loads
- Deterioration due to equipment
- Using underrated equipment or overloading equipment
- Defective Connections
- Defective Fuses
- Corroded or loose connections
- Imbalanced Loads
- Insulation Damage
- Blocked or poorly ventilated equipment
- Exceeding the recommended temperature rating
Infrared Thermal imaging is an extremely low impact fault diagnosis tool for electrical fault finding. It requires no contact being made with the components which means that the components can be checked in a live state with little danger to the user, there is no effect on the components or interruption in any processes the electrical system may be controlling, thus no downtime for server rooms and/or manufacturing plant etc.
Electrical faults can lead to breakdowns and the potential for fire hazards. In both cases the losses due to downtime and repair costs can become hugely costly.
To carry out an electrical thermal survey circuits should be operated at full working load to ensure the highest operating temperature is measured and the full extent of any faults can be seen.
Our level 3 certified thermographer’s will use their knowledge of the components in question and compare them to similar components operating under the same conditions to determine the extent of any faults.
A typical survey of electrical equipment might include:
- Motors and motor control panels
- Control equipment
- Cable runs
- Substations
- Transformers
- Circuit operating devices
- Thyristor banks
- Switches, fuses and circuit breakers
- Distribution boards
If you would like more information in regards to Thermography Surveys on Electrical equipment, please contact us now at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk or call Darren direct on 07775 623464.
Alternatively if you would like more information on how to prepare you building for a BREEAM Thermal Survey please click on our Thermal Survey checklist.