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Community and Informative Series
From the
February 2008 issue of Alabama Living magazine
Article by Kay Marshall
Alabama Living Field Editor
Meet the newest addition to TEC’S technology family
 As many of you are aware, Tombigbee keeps up with the latest advances in technology-based equipment to further aid our employees and better serve you, our member-owners. We all realize that one of the biggest detriments to any electrical consumer is a loss of energy. Many times we can help you determine ways to save money through helpful tips, and other resources, but what about those things not easily visible to the naked eye? How can we help our customers and protect our equipment if we can not see, or determine, what the problem may be?
Now we have the tool to give us the edge in energy conservation and loss prevention. This tool is called the FLIR. The FLIR is a camera that can see problems using thermographic images. These images enable us to determine problems that exists and also helps prevent unplanned outages.
Let’s make this a bit easier by breaking it down.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THERMOGRAPHY?
FLIR Systems, the maker of this amazing camera, defines their product the following way.
Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to “see” and “measure” thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible because its wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye; it’s the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat.
Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat. Even very cold objects, like ice cubes, emit infrared. The higher the object’s temperature, the greater the IR radiation emitted. Infrared allows us to see what our eyes cannot by producing images of invisible infrared or “heat” radiation and providing precise non-contact temperature measurement capabilities. Nearly everything gets hot before it fails, making infrared cameras extremely cost-effective and valuable diagnostic tools. It also helps manage energy, improve product quality, and enhance worker safety - all of which are areas of upmost importance to TEC.
The image below shows how, by using the FLIR, we found a problem with the sub-station breaker that was undetectable by any methods that were currently available to us. With the use of the FLIR camera we were able to find and correct the problem!
If you will recall the article covering the newly installed AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) systems that sends daily meter reads, outage detection and high and low voltage readings; you will find it interesting to note that the FLIR camera also helps find problems within the AMR system as well thus adding to the overall success of the AMR’s!
WHY DID TOMBIGBEE NEED THE FLIR?
Tombigbee purchased the infrared camera to find problems such as bad equipment, bad connections, and equipment with problems that are undetectable to the human eye. Since the FLIR detects heat from an object the problem can be corrected before the equipment fails!
Sometimes the power may be turned off, briefly, to correct these problems but the FLIR helps us prohibit any extended down time. Our main goal, as always, is to provide better power quality to your home, business, or industry.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS CAMERA:
The FLIR camera type purchased by Tombigbee features a large ratio for accurate measurements and analysis. This enables the Tombigbee employees who trained on this camera to conduct quick, easy, and safe IR (infrared) inspections where high-voltage and hazardous conditions exist. It ncludes an integrated camera to aid in reporting. Infrared and visual images can be stored in standard JPEG formats for easy digital file sharing when necessary.
ARE THERE OTHER USES FOR THIS CAMERA?
The sample below shows how the camera was used on a building to measure heat loss to the roof that is in need of repair.
This extensive loss of heating and cooling could not have been detected with bare human eyes, but by using the FLIR camera this type of energy loss can now be detected and help our member-owners save money on their electric bills.
WHO WILL USE THIS GREAT CAMERA?
James Scott (Members Services) , Hunter Miles (Journeyman Lineman), and Mark Carden (Engineer) attended a week-long training seminar on how to use the camera for TEC customers – whether residential, commercial, or industrial. The seminar, held at the Mercedes Training Facility, in Vance, Alabama, was completed by these men with each receiving a certification on infrared training.
FREE ENERGY AUDITS TO OUR CUSTOMERS:
Good news TEC member-owners! TEC can now offer the benefits of the outstanding camera for home and energy audits; which, by infrareding the house will allow us to determine where energy loss is occurring in your home!
This is a free service for all member-owners of Tombigbee Electric whether your account is residential, commercial accounts and industrial.
This service is available for our customers immediately. Schedule your free energy audit by phoning our Service Center at 205.468.3325 X227.
FMI: Phone James Scott or Mark Carden, or our Service Center.
*photo of employees featured in this article by Buell Harris.
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