If you are using infrared windows and/or viewports, I'd love to communicate with you about your experiences. We are continuing to update our learning materials to reflect the most recent"”and now fairly widespread"”use of these devices. This is especially vital as we anticipate the new NFPA70E standard, to be published in Q1-09, will speak directly to and accommodate the use of both kinds of devices.

Please contact me at 800-636-9820 or at <jsnell@snellinfrared.com> if you can share any of your experiences with us.

Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820

Would also like to have information shared here as this is a great conduit for over 10,000 maintenance and reliability professionals.

Learning from your experiences is what this board is all about!

Thanks

Terry O

My apologies, Terry. OF COURSE I meant to say that info should be posted here as well. I also hope, when I've pulled together the details, to be able to share them in a comprehensive fashion will all of you via this website.

We are using Mikron View Ports for our MV Switchgear Panel inspection. we are quite satisfied with adopting / remainin compliance with NFPA 70E.


thanks

The use of infrared sightglasses, ports, windows, whatever they are called, I guess it depends on the manufacturer, is such a thorny problem.

I believe anyone who limits their installation to a port, a moniker which I will use for all these devices which are being manufactured , that only allows the use of one camera is cheating themselves out of a comprehensive solution to a dangerous problem, arc flash. Versatility is the answer to any type of PdM program, any camera brand and model, should be able to be used in order to get the infrared inspections completed. A properly trained thermographer will be able to make the proper adjustment to his camera to compensate for the transmission losses incoported with the use of these devices. To me safety is the paramount consideration not cost.

We are using HAWK IR windows. They work great and we are making it an engineering standard that they are installed in the panel before new ones are shipped to us. This makes it allowable from all safety regulations. If you install it in the field you have changed that panel and it does meet 70e. Is that correct guys?

Thanks John

Geoff - excellent point! Glad to see you here. Sorry it took an economic melt down to give you a little time!

In the news department - Hawk IR has been acquired by Fluke. Weren't they the ones who sold FLIR their windows?

Should be fun.

Terry O

"What most people forget is there is one other component with a good IR program it is the visual component that the thermographer brings into the mix, if that is hindered and he cannot identify what he is looking at, how can he make a good diagnosis. With IR ports/sightglasses that are being specially made, smaller ports, the opaque plastic, or the mesh, and being sold today, you cannot see what you are looking at. You have eliminated a key component of the inspection the "visual", which in my mind is key to a good inspection. If you have not seen the interior of the cubicle or are not familiar with the components contained within, how can you identify what you are looking at. With the larger crystal ports/sightglasses you can have a look inside to see what you scanned and with the right digital camera and lighting even take an image of the interior. A digital image with your IR image puts things into perspective and helps identify the components that have problems for the people who recieve the report.
Safety is another key component in the use of ports/sightglasses, as I understand it the UL rating applies to cubicles built at the manufacturing plant where rating is done before shipping to the installation site, not to ports/sightglasses installed in the field, that is another inspection and rating that has to be done in the field by the safety authourities, this applies to all manufaturers of ports/sightglasses."

You are totally correct GGgeneral. You cannot put the camera in the hands of a green employee and expect great results. Experience is key and the knowledge of the imager is also very important.