The co-op's distribution system is exposed to everything Mother Nature can throw at it, including hot summers, chilly winters, rain, intense sunlight, and lightning. Exposure to lightning and heating and cooling all the time can loosen connections and cause deterioration. Lightning really stresses the system. A bolt, sleeve or clamp damaged by lightning might emit more heat, and it will stand out in an infrared image like a beacon on a stormy night. Crawford said the main purpose for purchasing the infrared camera was its use as a outage prevention tool.
System reliability is very important.
Our plan is to examine our entire system. Crawford said two employees will attend classes to learn more about how to use the camera. Right now we're just looking at raw data. The camera's software package enables co-op personnel to download thermal images to a computer and manipulate the images to improve their usefulness. Short messages can also be attached to the images.