Can I Inspect Stud Walls when the Weather is Warm?

"Am I right in thinking that the weather/ delta T are not in my favor for stud wall analysis during the summer?"
 
 
This is a question many new thermographers have. If you think about the heat transfer, the answer is you should be able to get good images from an external wall providing you have sufficient Delta T.  

Right now it is hot outside.  So, if you are observing the exterior wall of an air conditioned residence, you should have a Delta T of 10°C or 18°F or better, if the interior temperature is about 70°F and the exterior is about 88°F or more.  Remember that the air temperature does not necessarily have to be 88°F, if the sun is heating the wall (and has been for a few hours), that will work too. If the building does not have air conditioning and the windows are all open, this would certainly make things more difficult.

Here is an infrared image of an exterior wall taken during a hot day (taken from the interior of the building). Notice the hot studs (vs. the cold studs you would see during the heating season).

You can learn more about this application in the Building IR Basics course.

Wire Insulation Temperature Limits

The temperature rating of a wire or cable is generally the maximum safe temperature that the wire can carry full-load power without the cable insulation melting, oxidizing, or self-igniting. A full-load wire does heat up due to the metallic resistance of the wire. The table below illustrates the maximum absolute temperature that different insulation types can withstand.

Note: Electrical equipment should be serviced and inspected only by qualified personnel. No responsibility is assumed by the Infrared Training Center for any consequences arising out of the use of this material. This document is not intended as an instruction manual for untrained persons.

Wire Conductor Ampacity to Temperature Rating

Maximum Operating Temperature (ref. NEC table 310-16)
Insulation Types	Insulation Types	Insulation Types
60°C (140°F)	75°C (167°F)	90°C (194°F)
TW, UF	FEPW, RH, RHW,	TBS, SA, SIS, FEP,
	THHW, THW, THWN,	FEPB, MI, RHH,
	XHHW, USE, ZW	RHW-2, THHN,
		THHW, THW-2,
		THWN-2, USE-2,
		XHH, XHHW,
		XHHW-2, ZW-2

Live IR Imaging of Iceland Volcano

A FLIR A320 infrared camera was shipped to the Icelandic Mila company and is now installed to monitor Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The camera is installed approx. 10 kilometers away.

View live visible and infrared imagery of the volcano at the link below.

LIVE VOLCANO IR VIDEO 

New On Demand FLIR Reporter 8 Course

This course will introduce you to FLIR Systems premier report and analysis software, FLIR Reporter Pro 8.

The FLIR Reporter 8 online course is aimed at infrared camera owners who want to leverage the power of FLIR Reporter software.

Regardless of the type of FLIR infrared camera that you use, FLIR Reporter software is the simplest and quickest way to communicate the critical details of an infrared inspection. The Introduction to Report Writing Course teaches infrared camera owners how to leverage the power of FLIR Reporter software to generate inspection reports and perform detailed infrared image analysis.

By the end of the course students will have an excellent understanding of how to quickly produce a detailed and professional report using FLIR Reporter. Students will also understand how to change critical IR image parameters in the report and how to use the vast array of measurement tools at their disposal. Finally, students will understand how to modify an existing template to meet their specific needs. FLIR Reporter is a powerful tool and, when utilized to its full potential, can optimize the report writing process.

Additional modules will be added to this course over time. Your tuition will allow you to access these modules when they are available at no additional charge.


 Register for the FLIR Reporter Course.