CHAPTER
10 Troubleshooting With Infrared Thermography
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nfrared thermography (also called thermal scanning) is an important diagnostic tool for troubleshooting electrical equipment and systems. Overheating can be a symptom of many different kinds of problems, and equipment typically goes through a stage where it gives off heat before an actual physical failure occurs. This heat is infrared radiation, in energy wavelengths (invisible to the human eye). Infrared thermography uses infrared cameras to “see” and measure the thermal energy being emitted by overheated electrical equipment. This information is used to pinpoint electrical problems before failures occur. Infrared cameras, in effect, take photographs of electrical equipment by detecting heat energy rather than visible light. Infrared thermography is used to detect the following general types of electrical maintenance problems: Poor Connections: Vibration and thermal cycling can cause electrical connections to loosen. Moisture and contamination can corrode connections. 209
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