• You are here:
• Home
• /
• Services
• /
• Reliability Testing and Maintenance
• /
• Infrared Surveys, Prevention, Oil Testing, SF6

Infrared surveys are an important part of National Switchgear proactive and predictive maintenance that extends equipment life, maximizes return on maintenance dollars, and requires no shutdown. Planned inspections afford the opportunity to take corrective action as a part of routine maintenance.

Excessive heat is often an indication of impending failure, and infrared inspection can detect abnormal heat increases before the problem triggers an unscheduled shutdown. Equipment routinely tested by this method includes overhead transmission lines, substation transformers, capacitor banks, switches, fuses, circuit breakers, bus, motors, and motor control centers.

National Switchgear’s infrared surveys are conducted by certified thermographers and engineers experienced in distinguishing between heat resulting from normal operation and abnormal heat increases. Results are delivered prior to scheduled maintenance shutdowns and presented in comprehensive reports that include digitized photographs and thermograms, along with recommendations for correction or repair.

High resolution thermal imaging can detect temperature differentials within +1oC, and real-time imaging enables the scanning of many pieces of equipment in single day. There is no physical contact between the equipment and infrared camera and there are only two, simple requirements:

• Enclosures must be open and provide a direct line of sight to equipment being scanned
• Scanned equipment must be carrying a load current during inspection.

Insurance companies and the ANSI/NFPA 70B 1900 Electrical Equipment Maintenance Standard all recommend annual infrared inspections.

Download PDF:
Infrared Surveys