Continuous thermal monitoring reduces electrical fire risks while improving safety
Electrical fires continue to put human lives, property, and revenue at risk. In my last post we looked at examples of how common and how devastating these events can be. We also looked at how loose and deteriorating connections in electrical switchgear cause a large number of these fires, and how the resulting increase in contact resistance can cause this to happen. To reduce the risk of fires, regulatory bodies require regular thermal surveys, with infrared (IR) thermography being the common method used. As mentioned previously, this method can be very effective but has a few potential shortcomings. For example, a quickly deteriorating connection could be missed if it occurs between scheduled surveys. And the need to access the tight spaces of live equipment with thermal cameras can potentially put technicians at risk of arc flash . Continuous thermal monitoring technology is now emerging, which can offer a safer, more comprehensive, and more cost-effective way to detect thermal r...