Maintaining the electrical system in your building is important so you can avoid hazardous situations and tripped breakers. You may want to do routine monitoring as well as more in-depth inspections if you suspect there's a problem with your panels or equipment. An easy way to check your system without having to take everything apart and disrupt your operations is to have an electrical scan done. Here's how it works.
How A Thermal Camera Works
A thermal camera is used to do the scan. The camera makes heat map images, so the electrician can tell the temperature of the wiring without having to touch anything. The temperature is important information since bad wiring and short circuits produce heat.
To check an electrical panel, the electrician might open the panel and position the camera in front of it to view the circuit breakers. The breakers will be different colors based on their temperatures. This helps the electrician find a breaker that's hot due to an electrical issue. Some cameras have laser pointers on the back so it's easier to pinpoint the exact spot of heat when looking at the camera monitor.
Where An Electrical Scan Can Be Done
The electrician can perform a scan anywhere electricity is used. This might be in electrical panels to check circuit breakers, along wiring to find hot spots, and even on machinery to look for overheated motors. An electrical scan can find hazardous situations that require immediate attention, and they can also find problems early that can be scheduled for further investigation during routine maintenance.
Why An Electrical Scan Is Beneficial
An electrical scan is fairly easy to do, although it can be time-consuming if you have a large operation. Still, you don't need to shut down the equipment to do an electrical scan, so it's a convenient way to assess your building's electrical system and electrical equipment.
By finding hot spots early, you can prevent a fire, avoid an electrical outage, and avoid burning out motors. Routine electrical scans make your building safer and they may even help with your insurance coverage.
When you get a scan, the electrician prepares a report that may include photos or videos of hot spots. This report lets you know if you need immediate repairs so you can approve the work right away. If no problems are found, you'll have peace of mind that your electrical system is in good shape. The electrician can let you know a good schedule for future scanning. This often depends on the type of commercial operation you have.
You might want an electrical scan done before you buy a building and on a regular basis thereafter. The scan might be part of a routine complete building inspection that you document along with maintenance records.
For more information, talk to your electrician about an electrical scan.
Share11 May 2022
When you hear the word "electrician," what comes to mind? Some people imagine a contractor holding a sparking wire in their hands. But in fact, electricians do their best to avoid sparking and zapping anything. They spent a lot of time learning how to avoid such issues as they can be dangerous, leading to fires and injuries. Electricians do work hard to run wires through homes, install outlets, and mount lights. The just aim to do so without zapping anyone! If you'd like to learn more about electricians and their work, then you're invited to read the articles on this blog.
