Cheers to developments in technology, thermal images are now more affordable, easier to use and better deployed in industrial and commercial markets than ever before. ­­

This is a pleasant development for contractors looking into adding thermal imaging into their services, as most customers would have likely heard about thermal imaging and how it can improve their business.

Thermal cameras as the name suggests, produce thermal (heat) pictures of equipment which enables you to have a powerful demonstration to display indications that your equipment is about to fail.

For contractors, your edge is your experience in handling different types of equipment and failure scenarios. Like any troubleshooting scenario, the person using the thermal camera should draw on experience to analyze and understand the readings. With this, you can easily identify if the reading indicates that the electrical panel is hot and whether you should investigate the connections or the load.

Additionally, thermography is also helpful for regular maintenance and troubleshooting. It can easily help you identify which facility and units are critical to performance.

Thermal tools can easily be a part of your regular site inspections or during troubleshooting calls.

To maximize the effectiveness of your thermal imaging tools, it is also advisable to enroll in courses from reputable trainers on how to use them. This will give you a competitive advantage if you decide to offer thermal imaging as part of your services, as you will have the credentials, theoretical and practical knowledge on how you can get the best results from your thermal camera.

Here are just a few things on what you learn about in thermal imaging training:

• How to use the thermal camera
• Applications with the greatest return on investment
• How to properly perform inspections
• How to interpret results and generate meaningful and actionable reports
• How to safely conduct thermography inspections in an industrial work environment

Source: Fluke.com

In summary, it would be beneficial for contractors to be equipped with thermal cameras. To maximize your investment in buying one, make sure that you take the time to train on the basics of using it and train by learning by using the tool to improve your services. Remember, the more you use, the more familiar you become in using thermal imaging tools. Visit our website at www.presidium.ph to know more about our products. GET A FREE DEMO https://presidium.ph/contact-us/

Thermal imagers aren’t your typical cameras. In addition to the standard lens that comes with it, most of them are compatible with other optional lenses as well. Changing the standard lens with a macro, telephoto, or wide-angle lens effectively gives you a different camera. This means it can give you more range and accuracy in capturing images anywhere, whether it’s right across you or hundreds of feet away.

One camera for everything

While a standard lens can do the job perfectly for occasions such as performing a general inspection of electrical equipment around a factory, you’d be limited should you need to scan a larger area like the ceiling or roof of a factory or warehouse. A wide-angle lens would be needed in such cases and it would be really useful if you are also a home inspector and you would need to scan the outside of a house. When it comes to scanning overhead vents or ductwork or high power transmission towers, a telephoto lens is your best bet which can allow you to work from the ground. An infrared camera can do all of that, with all the lenses packed into one single camera.

Importance of infrared lens material

It is important that the lenses you use are engineered for the most efficient transmission of energy to the detector. The first choice for the quality of infrared lenses is Germanium because it is transparent in the infrared spectrum and has a high index of refraction. Germanium lenses are protected by engineered coating, provide the most efficient material to transmit energy to the detector, making high-quality infrared images.

If you can get “smart” add-on lenses that can be swapped and used among multiple compatible cameras without any special recalibration for each camera, you can save a lot of time and money in being able to quickly swap out lenses for whatever the situation calls for. For best Fluke Ti401 PRO Thermal Camera, get a demo at https://presidium.ph/product-category/products/fluke-industrial-group-tools/infrared-cameras/.

A successful project comes to a great strategic vision, even the little things or the tiniest details count if you put your job and craftsmanship.

With Fluke, they think what a successful project is because working with professionals who use the products are taken into a “little thing”. Hence, electrical leads and added features make them more versatile, durable, and above all, safer.

The new Fluke TL175 TwistGuard™ Test Leads is the world’s first adjustable length tips designed to be used for CAT II, CAT III, and CAT IV environments. For CAT III and CAT IV higher-hazard conditions, a twist retracts the tips to reduce the possibility of accidental contact with energized surfaces while for CAT II, it extends the tips for better access to hard-to-reach contacts such as within wall outlets. The Fluke TL175 TwistGuard™ shows the correct category rating whether the tips are retracted or extended.

A system for safe testing

Test instruments and accessories used for electrical testing comprise a safety system called the personal protective equipment (PPE). According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, test equipment is an important part of PPE. Each piece of equipment used for testing such as clothing, gloves, and eyewear to digital multimeters and test leads must be designed and approved to work safely in the testing environment.

Test leads and other accessories should make sure that are rated for safe use where you’re working. Leads should maintain its usage category (CAT) rating or as high as the multimeter you are using. If the test leads did not reach the multimeter, you are putting yourself in danger. But in today’s standards, does lead come with the product?

Double-insulated, extra-safe

The Test leads that gathered years ago may not be fitted with the insulation needed for today’s electrical environment. In relation, the test leads would likely suffer from wear and abuse that can damage the insulation such as leads that have been strained in a panel door or kinked due to sharp bends have decreased insulating capability at stress points.

Fluke TwistGuard™ together with the double-insulated WearGurad™ wires can provide a safer advantage. The inner contrasting color shows through if the outer layer of insulation gets nicked or worn means it is time to replace a new set of leads.

The wires which rated at temperatures of -20 °C to 55 °C (-4 °F to 131 °F) are insulated with silicone can withstand high temperatures and remains flexible in the cold and their universal input plugs are compatible with all instruments that accept standard 4 mm shrouded banana plugs. Accessories like the Fluke AC72 Alligator Clips simply slide onto the extended tips. The TL175 test leads also accept threaded accessories, such as 4 mm lantern adapters.

The Fluke engineers planned for another “little thing” which is durability because TwistGuard™ leads have extra-heavy-duty strain relief on both probe end and plug end that tested more than 30,000 bends without failure.

For best Fluke TwistGuard™ in the Philippines, check out our products at https://presidium.ph/shop/.

For anyone working around electricity, always make your safety a priority. How? One is, be wary about how you are dressed up, make sure to be guarded with safety suits, shoes, glasses, shields, hard hats, gloves, and especially the tools that you carry. And by tools, we mean insulated tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, cutters and other battery-operated tools.

Deenergizing the equipment is your first resort in working with electricity but sometimes it can be so risky especially that energized equipment has unknown energy pathways that may be fed on the equipment you are working on.

How insulated hand tools keep you safe?

High-quality insulated hand tools are duly designed to protect you in hazardous and unforeseen situations such as electric shock or may reduce the possibility of arc faults caused by short circuits.

But first, it is necessary to be familiar with both regular hand tools and insulated tools. The regular ones are mostly coated with rubber over plastic handles while the insulated ones are built with a special combination of materials that blocks potentially hazardous voltages.

According to NFPA 70E (National Fire Protection Association), using insulated tools is required when dealing with electricity beyond 50 V. This move is especially important for electricity-centered businesses as this could not just save an employee’s life but could also free you from additional expenses and liabilities caused by the accident.

Insulated tool certification

A certified insulated tool must pass through with international standards including IEC 60900 and ASTM F1505. They must undergo thorough testing by third-party labs and can withstand hard use, extreme temperatures and even live flame. They also need to achieve a 1000 ac rating so it can be used in a live panel but only if necessary.

Given that, Fluke insulated tools are engineered to reach that level of protection complying with international standards. We do the same line of stringent requirements and testing to our hand tools for safety, reliability, and ergonomics. They are built by CMV steel for superior durability and designed using the most state-of-the-art facilities and advanced techniques in Germany.

Safe and ergonomic

Fluke insulated hand tools are manufactured with best practice to serve the best way possible. They adapt to the hand so as to prevent you from getting motion injuries or fatigue. Our insulated pliers and cutters work with extreme gripping strength and slim enough to be held easier.

Again, if you work around electricity, you need to look for the best options around you for your safety. With Fluke, we got you covered. Visit our website at www.presidium.ph to know more about our products.

All electrical machines are powered by an electric motor. In fact, a common industrial plant may consume up to 46% of all generated electricity worldwide. That’s nearly half of the energy consumption that we use. Electrical machines are especially critical for industrial processes hence, any machine breakdown may cause a lot of disruption and a lot of money. Ensuring that motors are efficient and operating at their maximum capacity is one of the most important tasks that technicians and engineers deal with every day.

It’s safe to say that efficient use of electricity is mandatory especially for businesses as inefficiency may lead to financial losses. And since electricity is one of the highest consumers of energy in the industry, it has become a primary target for generating savings and maintaining profitability.

The traditional processes of testing machinery used to be costly and difficult to apply in the working process and at times, it might require you to completely shut down the machine which would mean downtime, just to technicians can check the machine. Luckily, electric motor testing tools that provide more accurate results and have easier processes are now available for us to use anytime.

Fluke 438-II Power Quality and Motor Analyzer

Testing tools such as the Fluke 438-II provides a streamlined and cost-effective method for testing motor efficiency while eliminating the need for external mechanical sensors and costly downtime. It provides mechanical measurements (motor rotating speed, torque, and efficiency) by applying proprietary algorithms to electrical waveform signals.

Using modern and advanced testing tools gives technicians the ability to decrease downtime and give them the opportunity to trend motor performance over time. This way, they are able to see the overall system health and performance. With this, you are sure to save a lot of time and energy consumption at a lesser cost.

Make sure you are buying authentic measuring tools. Visit www.presidium.ph for more product information.

Designed to communicate results and produce action, Thermal imaging inspection reports detect repair orders or requirements to monitor equipment.

This report usually includes thermal and digital (visible light) images and shows details such as the date and time of inspection, location of potential problems and even work order numbers.

On top of this, thermal inspection reports should present a summary that shows potential problems, locations and the corresponding level of urgency (how critical) the problems or issues are.

While the main purpose of the report is to point out issues, it is still crucial to take note that not everyone who reads the report are as well-versed in thermography.

This brings in the importance of having and using a thermal imaging analysis and reporting software to improve the image and make the results more visible to the untrained eye.

Here are the three easy ways of how experienced thermographers can enhance thermal images:

Adjusting level and span

Thermal images exhibit a hot spot and a cold spot, that may or may not be problematic. With a thermal imaging software, you can easily readjust the level (mid-point) and span (the difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures) of your image to highlight the area of concern.

Choosing the right color palette

Thermal imaging software allows you to change the palette in the camera or in the software. A monochromatic palette like grayscale or amber works great to show subtle differences. On the other hand, high contrast palettes make it easier to quickly find obvious anomalies.

Blending infrared and digital images

If your thermal imager is equipped with a built-in digital camera, it’s advised to set the blend to 100% thermal when you’re scanning the component. As the digital camera will still be capturing the visible image in the background, you can blend the digital and infrared images in the software to highlight any anomalies you want to call attention to in your report.

For the best Fluke thermal imaging solutions in the Philippines, check out our products at https://presidium.ph/shop/.

There are a lot of factors affecting the cooling performance of an air conditioning unit, such as the relationship between dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, and dem point temperature. Making sure that these facets are good to add to the overall performance of the unit and, essentially, occupant comfort.

To make sure that an air conditioning unit is running at maximum capacity, HVAC technicians usually use a sling psychrometer and psychrometric chart. These devices are also called “humidity” meters, and in order to make sure that your unit is still working great, you need measuring devices that are accurate, more convenient to use and can be used in various locations even unsuitable for sling psychrometers.

If you want to do an HVAC evaluation and diagnostics on your unit, you need a device, such as the Fluke 971- a measuring device that can calculate wet bulb temperature and dew point temperature.

To better understand how to properly measure and evaluate your air conditioning unit, here are key terms you need to be familiar with:

Wet Bulb

Closely related to enthalpy or the total heat in the air (dry bulb and wet bulb). In a psychrometric chart, the wet-bulb lines are nearly parallel to the enthalpy scale and values.

Dew Point

This is critical in both hot and cold weather evaluations. Duct surface temperature must be maintained above the dew point to prevent condensation whether inside or outside of the conditioned space.

Relative Humidity

This must be kept low enough to ensure inside wall and window surface temperatures do not approach dew point. If condensation appears on window or wall surfaces, condensation hidden within envelope walls will be likely.

If you want to do an HVAC evaluation and diagnostics on your unit, you need a device, such as the Fluke 971- a measuring device that can calculate wet bulb temperature and dew point temperature. Visit www.presidium.ph and view our wide range of measurement devices that will suit your needs.

No idea what kind of insulation resistance tester to use? Not sure which model is working with the best efficiency? We have conked-out our answers to your queries when it comes to deciding which is the best insulation resistance tester to use.

Make A List of Equipment for Testing

First things first, make a list of all the equipment you will need with their nominal voltage rating (seen on the equipment’s nameplate) for an insulation resistance testing. It is necessary to identify the nominal voltage rating so you could determine what test voltage is needed from the tester. Also, you will also need to indicate the number of insulation resistance tests you plan to perform in a year. As you go along the process, you will surely be surprised of how features of the tester work, the quality, and durability it brings as how it is designed to be, especially how relevant it is for everyone.

Identify Voltage Requirements

It is important to know that the output test voltage applied to equipment has to be based on the manufacturer’s recommended DC insulation resistance test voltage. However, if the test voltage is not indicated, you may refer to the International Electrical Testing Association’s table of recommendations. It is important to note down the most suitable insulation resistance tester that can supply the output test voltage needed. Also, not all insulation resistance testers are the same – some testers can only support somewhere between 5000 V dc – 10,000 V dc. Please refer to the table of recommended test voltages and minimum insulation values below.

Know Where Will the Testing Take Place

Knowing the testing environment and the other uses of your insulation resistance tester can greatly benefit you in choosing other additional features. A digital multimeter and the ability to use one instrument for both insulation resistance tests can also add convenience to the process.

Some insulation resistance testers can be very large and not portable, so there is a need for circuits and equipment to be verified as electrically de-energized first before an insulation resistance tester is connected to the equipment so it wouldn’t be a hassle for you to carry the insulation resistance tester to various locations.

What You Learn from an Insulation Resistance Test

Insulation Resistance Testing puts a qualitative value on both conductor insulation and internal insulation. It is done by applying a dc voltage to the conductor equipment under test.

There are a couple of things to remember as you go along the test and it’s essential to always be guided by these. First, as the charging current begins to build, it is normal to see a low value on the meter face. With more current flowing out of the test, the lower the megaohm reading.  A higher megaohm is directly associated with good insulation quality.

Absorption or polarization is the next current flowing towards the equipment. The amount of absorption is dependent on the contamination of the insulation. When there’s moisture in the insulation, the absorption value will be high and the resistance is low.

Experience Level

The ability of the test instrument will be as good as the person’s experience level on reading it. You must consider your expertise in selecting the insulation resistance tester that you must use. Though, insulation resistance testing training needs not to be extensive.

Also, make sure the insulation resistance tester that you will purchase must support the output test voltage and other functions.

If you having trouble choosing the correct resistance insulation tester, you must choose the ones that provide troubleshooting efficiency and complete maintenance records over time.

Learn more about the various products of Fluke Industrial Group and Fluke Calibration, check them out at Presidium.PH!

Infrared means “beyond red.” Thermography then pertains to a “thermal picture.” Put together, infrared thermography then means beyond a red temperature picture, which is taken by thermal cameras. This explains why in thermal imaging, we can see a gradient of red and purple captured in a photo.

Infrared, just like visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared just has a longer wavelength and lower frequency compared to visible light. Infrared thermography is the science of detecting infrared energy emitted from an object, which is then converted into apparent temperature, then displayed as an infrared image. This is what the thermal camera takes.

Any presence of anomalies is often an indicator of potential problems.

This is very helpful in detecting things not otherwise visible to the naked eye such as heat patterns and the infrared wave spectrum. It aids in identifying components that are going bad before they get even worse.

How does thermal camera work? Instead of giving a numerical test result with various test meters, a thermal camera (also known as a thermal imager) captures the image that you can enhance using different color palettes and highlighting tools in order to point out a problem. An advantage of the thermal camera is that you can capture an object when it is under load and is used as it allows you to take a picture without making direct contact.

Most of these thermal cameras are able to capture “radiometric” data which means you can see the temperate for each pixel within the range. Very useful in detecting an anomaly, you can drill down and see the temperature of the exact points in question and see if it is in the normal range or not.

Infrared thermography can be useful in seeing beyond what is visible the data that is found all around us. Get to see in infrared with Fluke’s Thermal cameras, the world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of electronic test tools.

Learn more about our products here at Presidium.PH or contact info@presidium.ph!

Thermal imagers are excellent tools for troubleshooting motor issues and monitoring the motor condition for preventive maintenance for power generation, manufacturing, and commercial plants. Infrared images reveal a motor’s heat signature to tell you about its condition.

What to Scan?

In building your heat profiles, it is best to start capturing good quality infrared images when the motors are running under normal conditions. Doing so will give you baseline measurements of the temperature of components.  Thermal imagers or infrared cameras can capture temperatures of all the crucial components: motor, shaft coupling, motor, shaft bearings, and gearbox.

However, working with loads can be more difficult as the indications of issues are subtler. Thus, a minimum of 40% design load is recommended (National Fire Protection Associate NFPA 70B), and it is better to have a higher load. When you are inspecting in low load situations, take note of all possible issues, be sure to note all possible problems, even if they reflect only a minimal temperature difference. When the load increases, the temperature rises too–and if a problem exists, assume larger temperature differences at higher loads.

What to Look For?

All motors should have the normal operating temperature listed on the nameplate. An infrared camera/thermal imager is unable to see inside the motor, but the exterior surface temperature is an indicator of internal temperature. When the motor is overheating, the windings rapidly deteriorates. As a matter of fact, every increase of 10°C on a motor windings’ designed operating temperature cuts the life of windings’ insulation by half even though the overheating is temporary.

If a temperature reading in the middle of a motor housing comes up abnormally high, an IR image of the motor can tell you where the high temperature is coming from. If a coupling is warm, there may be a misalignment.

There are three primary causes of abnormal thermal patterns:

• High-resistance contact surface, either a connection or switch contact, usually appears warmest at the spot of high-resistance, cooling off the further away from the spot.
• Load imbalances, normal or out of specification, appear to be equally warm throughout the part of the circuit that is overloaded or undersized. Harmonic imbalance also creates the same pattern. If the entire conductor is warm or hot it may be undersized or overloaded. Check on the rating or the actual load to know the cause.
• Failed components may also appear cooler than normally functioning ones. The most common example is a blown fuse. While, in a motor circuit, this can result in a single phase condition and the possibility of costly damage to the motor.

Practicing regular inspection routes including thermal images of all critical motor and/or drive combinations as well as tracking baseline images will help you know if a hotspot is unusual or not. It will also help you verify if the repairs were a success.

Interested in getting an Infrared Camera or Thermal Imager? Get it now at www.presidium.ph!