Thursday, 13 March 2014

Understanding The Importance Of Electrical Infrared Inspection

By Lisa Williamson


It is the duty and desire of electricians to have all components functioning in the most optimal level. Malfunction is often caused by damages, poor installation work, corrosion or even contamination. The most common sign of a problem in the system is excessive heat resulting from poor conductivity. If left unchecked, the results can range from unnecessary and costly power disruption to very catastrophic events such as electrocution and fires. Initially, more costly and time consuming physical inspection was the only dependable way to keep the system safe but engineers are now migrating to electrical infrared inspection method which has proven not only cheaper but more effective.

The general recommendation is that all parts of electrical system that are exposed to vibrations and or any other movements are inspected at least every six months while the rest are inspected on annual basis. For the system exposed to earthquakes, frozen winter conditions, very strong winds and tsunamis, there is a need for more frequent testing.

The target is to pinpoint any damages or potential threats resulting from improper installations, points of weaknesses, contamination, corrosion or worn out devices. The other problems can result from ground faults and improper assembly leading to increased resistance which is the recipe for overheating which on its own is a danger to the rest of the system and the surrounding objects. If left unchecked power outages are the least of problems that can result.

The other benefit of this survey is that there is no need to shut down the system. It is a non-contact a nondestructive form of testing (NDT) that allows for work continuation without interrupting system production. The equipment get inspected under normal loads and the normal operating condition by scanning devices to reveal the existing and emerging problems before it is too late.

Using the state of the art equipment deployed for scanning, thousands of components get inspected in a matter of hours with very accurate results. With very high rate of efficiency and effectiveness, most of engineers are now using this form of inspection. It cut down on staff needed for the job and increases profitability by a big margin. In fact, it has one to four returns on investment and as such, companies that hope to survive into the future have to adopt this technology.

This form of inspection is endorsed and recommended by several associations and regulatory bodies such as the InterNational Electrical Testing Association and National Fire Protection Association among several others. It has 1 to 4 returns on investment for both the labor and material used. It is this cost benefit analysis that make is a viable business for many companies that now offer this service.

This form of testing and survey therefore saves engineers millions of dollars improving profitability and significantly decrease the expenses in the areas of operations, testing and maintenance in general. With this convenience and financial benefits, this is a technology you cannot afford to miss in this century if you think of remaining in business.

It is important to trust the surveying services to a company that has expert engineers, the necessary machinery for the job and well proven track record in order to enjoy the full benefits of this new technology.




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