Infrared thermal imaging should be used  for the commissioning of commercial  arrays as well as residential PV installations.  Solar energy and its kilowatts of power from a photovoltaic panel can only be useful, if it efficiently and safely gets delivered from the roof through a chain of electrical components into the control and distribution electronics located at ground level. A failure anywhere in the electrical distribution chain can cause problems ranging from reduced efficiency to damage of the system and/or structure.

In addition to an electrical scan of the power generating and distribution components, a pre installation Infrared roof scan is required to detect moisture and other latent defects when the panel array is to be mounted on a flat roof, as is the case on most commercial buildings. The life expectancy of an array can be 15-20 years, if the roof has a latent moisture problem it may require the removal of the array to repair the roof just a few years after installation or even sooner. Removing the solar panels to fix the roof will add significant cost to the roof repair, loss of power/revenues for the building owner and possible problems maintaining the panels’ warranty, if they aren’t damaged in the removal process.

In any electrical system, problems are most likely to occur at interconnects where power is transferred from one component to another. In a PV system, there are many places where interconnects must be made and where a loose connection or defective component can have disastrous results.

Some of the places in a PV system where problems can are the connections to cabling, buss bars, AC/DC circuit breakers, combiner boxes,  fuses and fuse blocks, PV Ground fault protectors, surge protectors, lightning arrestors, converters, batteries, battery cabling, inverters and a wide array of wire connection accessories.

A thermographic commissioning scan uses a high resolution, infrared camera to inspect all of the power carrying components of your PV system for excess heat which is a leading indicator of a poor or failing connection.  The scan is done immediately after installation once the system is operational and generating power. A report is created showing an infrared image and visible light picture of any component which with an abnormal thermal signature. This report can be given to the installing electrician to be used as a guide for making immediate repairs.

To find out more contact Infrared Imaging Services LLC  and ensure your PV power is being delivered efficiently and safely throughout the system’s components.