A New Installation... with an Unexpected Fault

Background

During our annual thermographic inspection at a hospital, we were inspecting the facility's electrical distribution panels.

When we noticed a recently installed electrical panel, we decided to include it in the inspection. The client explained that this was probably unnecessary, as the panel had only just been installed.

Since we were already standing in front of the panel, we carried out the inspection anyway. Within seconds, the thermal imaging survey revealed an abnormal hot spot.

The Fault Identified

The inspection revealed a localised hot spot on a terminal connection.

Further investigation confirmed that the cause was a loose connection.

At first glance, there were no visible signs of a problem. However, this type of defect can gradually worsen over time and eventually lead to equipment failure.

Why Was It Important?

This electrical panel supplied power to a sterilisation autoclave.

Although the defect was unlikely to cause an immediate failure, a loose connection can generate progressive overheating. If left uncorrected, it can damage the electrical contact and, in the most severe cases, become the source of an electrical fire.

In a hospital environment, where the reliability and availability of critical equipment are essential, identifying this type of issue before it leads to an unplanned outage is key.

Corrective Action

The defect was reported to the client, who promptly arranged for the connection to be checked and tightened.

A straightforward corrective action that secured the installation before the defect could develop further.

Key Takeaway

A new installation is not necessarily a defect-free installation.

It took only a few minutes to identify an issue that would most likely have gone unnoticed without a thermographic inspection.

That is the value of predictive maintenance: identifying defects before they develop into failures.

Good to Know

During a thermographic inspection, the temperatures recorded depend, among other factors, on the electrical load at the time of the survey. In this case, the equipment was not operating at full load. Under maximum operating conditions, the hot spot would likely have been even more pronounced.