[RE-wrenches] Thermal imaging

[Andrew Truitt]

Thanks all!

Jeff - I like the price point on that Fluke VT02!  It seems like it would
do the trick for most electrical applications.  Have you tried locating hot
spots on modules with it?

Bill - The Flir E-series looks awesome but is a little out of my price
range.  I looked at that SEI course but it just completed.  However, I see
that you are one of the instructors!  Any idea when the next class will
be?  Is there any way for me to access the course materials?

Randy - The Flir i7 clearly can handle both the electrical and the module
hot-spot duties.  Thanks for the great image!


For a brighter energy future,


Andrew Truitt
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™ (ID# 032407-66)

Principal
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting, LLC****

(202) 486-7507

LinkedIn Profile <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713>

Company Website <http://truittreconsulting.weebly.com/>
 <%28202%29%20486-7507>****


[image: 24 copy.jpg]

"Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"

~William McDonough










On Wed, Jun 12, 2013 at 9:14 AM, Randy <randy at positiveenergysolar.com>wrote:

> Andrew,****
>
> We purchased the Flir I7 based on Bill Brooks recommendations.  It has
> worked well. Plenty of battery life for doing large arrays****
>
> ** **
>
> We have evaluated over 400kW of arrays and we have found issues – we found
> modules that show hot cells. We learned the temperature impact of shading
> and dirt or bird poop on the module.  We discovered 7 modules at one 120kW
> site and when we did IV curves we found  only one module had reduced
> output. ****
>
> ** **
>
> See attached photo as an example.****
>
> Good luck.****
>
> Randy****
>
> ** **
>
> Randy Sadewic****
>
> Positive Energy****
>
>  ****
>
> Office: 505 424-1112****
>
> Cell:    505 570-0137****
>
> *From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:
> re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Andrew Truitt
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 11, 2013 4:55 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Thermal imaging****
>
> ** **
>
> Wrenches - I am considering the purchase of a thermal imaging camera for
> PV system commissioning applications.  Prices seem to range from $1,000 to
> $10,000+.  Primary manufacturers seem to be Fluke and Flir, with Extech,
> Ideal and Milwaukee offering a few products as well.  It seems to me that
> the key factors to consider are temperature range, thermal sensitivity,
> screen resolution, screen size, battery life, type of image capture and
> price.  Does anyone have experience with using thermal imaging to identify
> temperature irregularities in modules and/or electrical equipment?  What
> temperature range, thermal sensitivity, and screen resolution is needed for
> both/either of these tasks?  What have been the key factors/specifications
> in terms of ergonomics and functionality?  Any preferences in terms of
> manufacturer?****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> For a brighter energy future,
>
>
> Andrew Truitt
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™ (ID# 032407-66)****
>
> Principal
> Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting, LLC****
>
> (202) 486-7507****
>
> LinkedIn Profile <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713>****
>
> Company Website <http://truittreconsulting.weebly.com/>****
>
>
> [image: 24 copy.jpg]
>
> "Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
> to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
> safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
> ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"
>
> ~William McDonough****
>
> ** **
>
>
>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
>   ****
>
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