Solar Lattice

Tool

Thermal imaging camera

ID
tool:thermal-imager
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/tool/thermal-imager
Status
active
Also known as
IR camera, thermal imager, infrared camera
Category
Instruments
Tool kind
instrument

A thermal imaging camera picks up infrared radiation from a surface and turns it into a visible image. In a radiometric image, every pixel is a temperature reading. It measures without contact and shows the temperature across whole surfaces of electrical equipment, so it finds hot spots before failures or fires happen. Use it for infrared thermography of energized equipment under load. It can find high-resistance or corroded connections, overheated connectors, internal fuse damage, internal breaker faults and uneven load sharing. It scans whole components, which makes it less likely than a spot infrared thermometer to miss a critical problem. A reading can differ from the true temperature by the stated percentage or by the stated number of degrees, whichever is larger. The usual industry spec is plus or minus 2 percent or 2 degrees Celsius. To interpret images correctly you need to understand the physics and construction of the installation you are inspecting, so training is recommended. Analysis software is needed for spot and area temperature measurements, temperature difference checks, trending and inspection reports.

<!-- review notes

Claims

accuracy

c1 verified · fact nominal 2 PERCENT

Conditions: Current industry standard accuracy for thermal imaging cameras, stated as ±2% or ±2 °C, whichever is bigger

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24review note: possible conflict with c3 (same source; check the conditions)

c2 verified · fact nominal 2 DEG_C

Conditions: Current industry standard accuracy for thermal imaging cameras, stated as ±2% or ±2 °C, whichever is bigger

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24review note: possible conflict with c4 (same source; check the conditions)

c3 verified · fact nominal 1 PERCENT

Conditions: More advanced FLIR Systems thermal imaging cameras, stated as ±1% or ±1 °C, whichever is bigger

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24review note: possible conflict with c1 (same source; check the conditions); review: the compiler-flagged conflict (tool:thermal-imager#c5) is a scenario difference, resolved at review

c4 verified · fact nominal 1 DEG_C

Conditions: More advanced FLIR Systems thermal imaging cameras, stated as ±1% or ±1 °C, whichever is bigger

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24review note: possible conflict with c2 (same source; check the conditions)

c5 verified · fact nominal 2 PERCENT

Conditions: Satir Hotfind camera (384x288 detector, 8 to 14 μm spectral range), as listed in an IEA PVPS review table

verified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24review note: review: the compiler-flagged conflict (tool:thermal-imager#c3) is a scenario difference, resolved at review

Referenced by

Data