Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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

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.

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.

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 devices that requires infrared surveys are the bus ducts, the distribution center, the distribution panels, receptacle panel, the transformers, lighting system, switchgears, disconnects and other components that make up the system. If well done, the uninterruptable power supply can be achieved as there is no need to shut down the system. The process of inspection takes place under the normal load without any disturbance to normal supply.

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.

Given that thousands of devices can be tested within hours, it has proven to be more convenient, highly effective and very efficient method of maintaining electrical system replacing the physical inspection. It is also endorsed by the National Fire Protection Association and the InterNational Electrical Testing Association among other bodies that now advocates for its use.

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.

Part of the decision to use this cutting edge infrared detection technology requires that the companies you choose for your inspection job are certified. They should have experienced engineers for the job with a proven work record. With the correct inspectors, you will be able to significantly reduce unscheduled power outages and increase energy efficiency, safety and dependability in general.




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