I NFRARED TRAI NI NG CENTER
Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 2 March, 2000
W H E N Y O U \ u 2 0 1 9 R E WARM , Y O U \ u 2 0 1 9 R E H O T ! By Robert Rogers, itc
itc
Level II,
Infrared Course Instructor
T
here are a number of factors and considerations to determine what temperatures measured on electrical circuits constitute a problem. The initial design of electrical equipment is the foundation, good or bad, that determines the types of thermal anomalies encountered at each site. One factor is wire size. Wiring of an electrical circuit is based on the load current / demand and whether a motor is connected to the circuit which would require large start-up currents. Other considerations are the wire type, insulation type (THHN etc.), and the current load on the circuit.
Inside this issue: ing and poorly maintained electrical equipment that is important. This is the reason why annual infrared inspection Focus on Applications: is so important to detect thermal New Starter Problems anomalies before they become major Meet the Staff problems.
The following is a thermogram of a About the itc 1200 Amp 3\u00d8 main circuit breaker with a measured temperature rise of 25 C\u00ba
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\u201cTraveling only 15 feet from the building Upcoming Classes to my vehicle, I heard a loud explosion
2 2 3 3 3
and the building lost power. The breaker had exploded!\u201d
Continuing Education for Thermographers
over ambient on the \u201cB\u201d phase. This temperature had been reported every year to management as a problem, that due to its \u201cindirect\u201d temperature September 24-27 Electrical problems become worse when implications, should be corrected assoon-as possible. The first year of the Orlando electrical circuits, due to increased cirannual infrared scan, the temperature cuit demands, are expanded to include measured on the \u201cB\u201d phase was www.inframation.org 10 C\u00ba additional loads. It is when these loads/ circuits are added that overloaded conditions develop and are compounded every time a circuit is added. Often the total load current at the circuit breaker or fuse disconnect switch which feeds the circuit/ load is never measured by the installing electrician. This condition is just as imThe last visual and thermal images of the 1200 Amp breaker ever taken! portant in a residential or an industrial setting. It is (Continued on page 2) the increase in heat due to circuit load-
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W H E N Y O U \ u 2 0 1 9 R E WA R M , Y O U \ u 2 0 1 9 R E H O T C O N T \ u 2 0 1 9 D (Continued from page 1) was a VERY SERI OUS problem, indirect temperature rise on elecover ambient. The second year, and the electrical circuit should be trical switchgear! ! the temperature rise was 15 C\u00ba shut down, I finished the report far over ambient. Last year, the temaway from the electrical switchperature rise was 25 C\u00ba over amgear and left the building. Travel\u201cIndirect temperatures must be taken bient! Indirect temperatures must ing only 15 feet from the building seriously as they represent be taken seriously as they repreto my vehicle, I heard a loud exsent temperatures that are only a plosion and the building lost temperatures that are only a fraction of fraction of the actual temperature power. The breaker had exploded! the actual temperature inside an inside an electrical device. After electrical device.\u201d stating to management that this Give serious consideration to any
F O C U S O N A P P L I C AT I O N S By Richard Harrison, itc Level I, Cummins Engine Company
I
attended the i t c IR School in Boston during the December 1999 session and subsequently received my Level I Thermographer Certification. I was very impressed with the classes.
- N E W S TA R T E R P R O B L E M S
a hot spot on one of the motor starters. Not only could this have caused unscheduled downtime, but also was a potential fire hazard.
\u201c\u2026 just because you have new equipment, doesn't mean it's right.\u201d
It was replaced and then rescanned to make sure the problem was corrected. This case not only proves the value of having an IR program, but shows how, just because you have new equipment, doesn't mean it's right. ! Richard receives an \u201cIR Thinking\u201d T
I do all the predictive maintenance shirt for his contribution. Thank you including vibration analysis, infra- Richard! - Editor red, & oil analysis at the Cummins Engine Company Consolidated Diesel Plant here in North Carolina. I monitor the machine line drilling, milling & grinding machinery. Here is a case I worked on a few weeks ago. I was starting to check all electrical panels on a newly (within 2 years) installed machine line, when I discovered a potential problem. While I was scanning a machine control panel, I detected
Note damaged terminalon old starter
IR Images of Starter Before and After Replacement
M E E T T H E S TA F F - L I S A W E S T
M
s. West is the i tc International Manager and holds a B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering and computer science. She worked for Pacific Telesis and Intel before joining FLIR Systems in 1992. Lisa spent her first 6 years as an applications engineer,
and traveled extensively in support of customers. She leads the ITC International with real world experience in technology, products and applications. She has published numerous articles and is an active member of the infrared community, both as a speaker and committee member. !
Lisa West
ii tt c c
U.S.A., BOSTON
ii tt c c
INTERNATIONAL, SWEDEN
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