any value to DRLO scans

[caporter]

We are getting ready to do a major electrical shutdown to service our 13.2 kv switchgear. While we are down there are serveral items that get done on a regular basis including the DRLO scan of the busses & feeders. We have IR scans done every year and I am wondering about the value of the DRLO scans. Is there still a good reason to do these that the IR scans don't cover?

 

[electricpete]

I can think of at least 2 reasons. Infrared can miss conditions when:
1 - connection is not carrying current at the time of the scan
2 - connection is not safely accessible for scan.

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(2B)+(2B)' ?

 

[ScottyUK]

IR scans find a problem after it gets hot. A DRLO may well pick up a problem before it gets hot, especially if you have original commissioning data to compare against.



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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[Zogzog]

Agree with both of these guys, A DLRO test of all your connections will find things IR can miss. I don;t feel IR scanning is very effective on MV equipment, if you are doing DLRO on a regular basis, you would be better off doing a PD scan on your MV equipment than IR.