Sunday, March 2, 2014

Using Electrical Infrared Inspection Is A Sure Way To Save Time And Money

By Lisa Williamson


Proper management of an electrical system is a basic requirement considering just how a small mistake can turn out to be the cause of a disaster. Malfunctions can be caused by human errors during installation, vandalism or damages from physical elements. The only way out is periodic inspection with the aim or reveling flaws, points of weaknesses and other potential disasters well in advance for early repair. This process does not have to be time consuming and labor intensive as is normally the case when physical testing is done, instead it is prudent to resort to electrical infrared inspection that is highly effective and a significantly cheaper alternative.

It is a good practice to inspect all electrical system components twice a year or at least every 12 months at minimum. When properly conducted, it is possible to detect and prevent accidents well in advance before they occur. For the equipment and the control systems that are subjected to movements and vibrations, every six months inspection is not optional.

Excessive heat is normally an indication of the underlying problem that must be handled before a disaster. Other than mechanical damages to power lines and other electrical devices, there are several causes of overheating but the common ones include faulty assembly, loose connections, wear and tear, ground faults, contamination and corrosion. Most of these results from exposure to physical elements and thus calls for periodic inspection.

The most common system components that are subject to periodic surveys include the bus ducts, the distribution panels, distribution centers, receptacle panels, the sub-feed panels, transformers, the switchgears, the lighting system, uninterruptible power supplies, the disconnects and several other related components. With infrared surveys, the faults, loose connections and any potential hazards in these components can easily be detected with the minimal time and cost.

This is the best way in terms of cost and time to inspect almost all electrical components. The most common components that need regular inspection include transformers, switchgear, bus ducts, power correcting banks, variable frequency drives, the disconnects, distribution centers and panels, sub-feed panels, the motor control centers, the uninterruptable power supplies, the lighting and the receptacle panels among several other components.

With the endorsement and approval from the InterNational Electrical Testing Association and the National Fire Protection Association and other related regulatory authorities, it is a mistake to continue depending on the manual method of testing.

There are several benefits that comes with infrared surveys among which include the ability to pinpoint the real hot spot, the reduced down time, elimination of unplanned power outages, ability to cut down on the cost of maintaining electrical system and minimization of possible hazards and related disasters. This all translates to an efficient and reliable electrical system with reduced cost of power supply.

In order to fully benefit from this cutting edge technology, you must be very keen on the companies you choose for the job. At minimum, the prospective company must have some proven record of good job done on previous assignments. For a good choice, the level of experience of staff also matters.




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