In the Field with Thomas Wire, NETA IV Technician – UV Camera Demonstrations
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UV Camera Fault Demonstration Using Insulators
Thomas Wire, a certified NETA IV Technician, shares a series of real-world demonstrations using UV cameras to detect controlled faults on insulators. These videos show how UV inspection technology can complement traditional IR methods to enhance grid reliability and maintenance strategies.
In this video, Thomas simulates specific faults using an insulator and a voltage source to show how these issues appear through a UV camera. It’s part of a broader video series designed to illustrate the unique value of UV inspections as a predictive maintenance tool.
As Thomas explains:
“UV inspections like IR inspections are a tool that we can use to help us find potential faults. Each look for different issues and are not the same, but they complement each other well.”
Preventive Maintenance with UV Camera: Insights from the Field
In this video, Thomas Wire dives deeper into the value of ultraviolet inspections for preventive maintenance. As a NETA IV Technician, he demonstrates how UV cameras detect corona discharge and surface degradation – often without needing a shutdown – making them a powerful tool for substation reliability and early fault detection.
This video highlights real-world examples of how UV inspections can identify issues such as insulation breakdown and surface contamination caused by corona. Thomas explains the broader impact of corona, including electromagnetic interference with radios and TVs – making UV scanning a potentially valuable diagnostic tool in the field.
He notes that UV inspections are especially relevant for systems over 1000V, and while a dedicated training course is ideal for full proficiency, this overview shows the practical applications.
As Thomas says:
“Ultraviolet inspections can also be performed without a shutdown! Corona itself damages insulation, so UV scans can help identify if insulation is failing or if there is surface contamination.
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