Pole-mounted thermal checking of solar panels

Flir, thermal imaging, solar energy, renewable energy

To help use thermal imaging for inspecting solarPV panels on roofs, Visiotherm, a building-services company in Belgium, has developed a retractable pole system for use with the Flir T640 thermal-imaging cameral When extended to maximum reach, the aluminium pole is about 12 m long, enabling it to be used for most residential buildings and low-rise industrial buildings.

This non-contact method enables panels to be scanned while they are working, with the location and type of fault shown on the thermal image.

On top of the pole is a remotely controlled pan-and-tilt mechanism for the camera. The mechanism also enables the optimum angle to be achieved to eliminate reflections that might skew results. The camera is controlled via a wireless connection to a tablet PC running the Flir Tools application software.

The T640 is an uncooled camera with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. It can measure temperatures from -40 to 2000°C with a thermal sensitivity of 0.035 K, making it possible to assess the performance of the cells under the glass surface of the panels.

For more information on this story, click here: Sept 2013, 171
Related links:
Related articles:



modbs tv logo

Commercial landlords face MEES compliance crunch

Two-thirds of UK commercial real estate (CRE) owners admit they are “not fully compliant” with energy efficiency regulations, according to new research from smart buildings specialist LMG. 

Recognising outstanding achievements at CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2025

The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London came alive on 27th February 2025 for the prestigious CIBSE Building Performance Awards.