New toy

[RF Lighting]

Bought my self a new toy.

Here's a couple of snaps so far.

Overheating heater plug

Overloaded circuit breaker

Heating pipes under a tiled floor

Studs in a partition wall

 

[Lectrician]

We hired one once to carry out a thermal survey on a site for the insurance company. Picked up several things you would not have noticed with out!

How much did that cost you?

 

[RF Lighting]

I got it second hand for £1300

It's a flir i7

 

[Lectrician]

Still expensive then! Think I will continue to hire

I keep thinking of getting one of these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hwCg-IycP8

 

[RF Lighting]

I've got one of those too! They aren't as good as the video makes out IMO.

 

[Monkeh]

Knew you'd like that toy!

 

[jamesmcbride]

Very nice!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Get yourself a few things with which you can load up circuits and you'll be able to see where buried cables are. And possibly dodgy buried joints, changes in cable size...

 

[JBR]

You can use it for medical diagnosis too.

Seriously! I know for a fact that they used to use something very similar for diagnosing certain conditions, and they probably still do.

(Yes. Just googled it. They do.)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

As in "I wonder if (s)he has the hots for me?"?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

So just out of interest, regarding the thermal images posted.
What was the diagnosis, I can visually see two cables in the 16A MCB (not particularly a non-conform)
I know you may not of got to the meat and bones of the issues just yet but interested in the results of findings.

 

[Lectrician]

Here's a few from the survey we did:

 

[ricicle]

Like all diagnostic equipment though you need a comparitor. Just because something looks 'hot' on the screen it might still be within normal operating limits, it's just everything around it is unloaded.
But on the other hand if you see, for instance, a contactor supplying a balanced 3 ph load and one terminal looks hot then you know something is amiss as you would expect them to all be equal.
All in all though they are probably the best way of inspecting equipment in installs where it is difficult or time consuming to do a thorough visual inspection or downtime is to a minimum.
We used to find them very useful looking at our old busbar systems as you could open the tapboxes easily and safely while still powered up and there were hundreds to do.

 

[sergeantash]

Like all diagnostic equipment though you need a comparitor. Just because something looks 'hot' on the screen it might still be within normal operating limits

If you look at the first few shots, you'll see there's a temperature key, this is perfect for considering whether normal operating limits are in play or not.

VERY cool toy, I want one! I'd point it at my Swedish girlfriend, she's hot

 

[ricicle]

If you look at the first few shots, you'll see there's a temperature key, this is perfect for considering whether normal operating limits are in play or not.

Yes I know, but you still need an informed decision on whether it is only hotter than the surrounding cables due to the circuit being at it's near maximum rather than 'overloaded' as the cable looks adequate for a 16A mcb so the breaker should have operated rather than the circuit continue to be overloaded.