Thermal imaging gets even easier at Medite plant29 September 2010

Any potential for confusion, during preventative thermal imaging work at medium density fibreboard manufacturer Medite, has been eliminated by using Flir's Bluetooth system.

Bob Berry, of imaging consultancy Thermal Vision, is a certified Level 3 thermographer and says that, with the sheer number of inspections he performs, it has been all too easy for readings from different instruments to be lost or mixed up.

And he adds: "The more time it takes me to assimilate the information, the longer the report generation process becomes. That means I have less time to spend in the field, which is where I need to be to earn a living."

He is now using Flir's recently introduced Meterlink facility, which is now available on a several Flir infrared cameras, including the T425 mid-range model, used at Medite.

"Meterlink allows the camera to receive data automatically from an Extech EX845 clamp meter and this is a function that is easier to use than I expected. Its effectiveness is obvious, both in the field inspection and at the post-report processing stage," says Berry.

"The clamp meter is simply fitted to the first phase and the infrared image frozen, complete with embedded current reading. The camera then prompts you to add more current readings, one at a time, each being stored in the appropriate image," he explains.

As a result, for three phase current readings, the system means no notes and no danger of readings being attributed to the wrong job, or lost. Berry concedes that the approach might, in some cases, require slight changes to the inspection routine, but he reckons that can be a good thing. "It makes you really focus on what you are doing," he states.

Brian Tinham

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