Electrical faults usually give off heat long before they fail. A connection that has worked loose, a breaker carrying more than it should or a phase that is badly out of balance will run hotter than the equipment around it. A thermal imaging camera makes that heat visible, which is why thermal scanning of switchboards has become a standard part of preventive maintenance on commercial and industrial sites.
Why thermal scanning matters
Hot joints are a common cause of switchboard fires and unplanned outages. They cannot be found by looking at a board with the covers on, and they often do not show up during testing because the problem only appears under load. A scan done during normal operation catches them while they are still cheap to fix.
It is also a practical record for insurers and asset managers. A dated report with thermal images shows the condition of your main switchboard and distribution boards at a point in time, and repeating scans shows whether things are getting better or worse. Our article on thermal imaging for switchboards goes into what the images can and cannot tell you.
What we do
- Scan main switchboards, distribution boards, motor control centres and other agreed equipment
- Carry out the scan while the site is operating normally, so the equipment is under real load
- Where it is safe, remove escutcheons with appropriate controls in place to view terminations directly
- Record the temperature of each hot spot and compare it with similar components nearby
- Note obvious other defects, such as missing covers, damaged cabling or poor labelling
Scanning does not require a shutdown. Any repairs found are quoted separately and scheduled at a time that suits your operations.
What you receive
You receive a report with a thermal image and a matching standard photo for each finding, the measured temperatures, the likely cause and a priority rating, so you know which issues need attention now and which can go into the next planned shutdown. Boards with no findings are recorded too, giving you a complete picture of what was checked.
After repairs are carried out, we can rescan the affected equipment to confirm the problem has been resolved. That closes the loop in your records and shows an insurer or auditor that findings were acted on, not just reported.
Where it fits with our other trades
Because we are electricians, we can fix what the scan finds: tightening terminations, replacing failing breakers, rebalancing loads or planning a switchboard upgrade. We also scan the electrical supply to HVAC plant, where overheating contactors and terminals are a frequent cause of air conditioning breakdowns.
Most clients scan annually and include it in a maintenance contract alongside test and tag and emergency lighting testing.
To book a thermal scan, call (02) 9832 9871 or send us your site details and the number of boards.
What's included
- Scan of agreed switchboards under load
- Temperatures recorded for each hot spot
- Thermal and standard photo for each finding
- Priority rating for every issue
- Record of boards with no findings
- Quoted repairs by our own electricians