- SwitchMon™
- Products
- Sensors
- Base Units
- Add-Ons
- Hubs
- How It Works
- Placement
- API & Protocols
- Accessories
- Support
Infrared Thermography Sensors
for detecting thermal anomalies & runaways
Standard Series - Available in XS, S, M, L version
Cylindrical Series - Available in S
A regular temperature sensor provides you with the temperature of the air surrounding the sensor. The thermography sensors provide you with the temperature of the objects & equipment it sees.
We offer them in 2 versions:
- standard series thermography sensors (S series)
- cylindrical series thermography sensors (C series)
The standard series require our base units to operate. Up to 5 thermography can be connected with the optional EXP-8HUB.
The cylindrical series can have up to 2 thermography sensors connected to a EXP-CHUB.
The Standard series thermography sensors require the base units to operate (BASE-SM-5, BASE-PI-5, BASE-SM-6 or BASE-PI-6).
The Cylindrical series require the EXP-CHUB to operate.
thermography sensor versions
Model
Series
Resolution
Price range
C-THIMG-SM
Cylindrical
Small
$
THIMG-XS
Standard
X-Small
$
THIMG-SM
Standard
Small
$$
THIMG-ME
Standard
Medium
$$$
THIMG-LG
Standard
Large
$$$$
object temp
-40 C to 300 C
-40 C to 300 C
-40 C to 300 C
0 C to 120 C
0 C to 120 C
thermography size
768 pts
(32x24 pixels)
192 pts
(16x12 pixels)
768 pts
(32x24 pixels)
4800 pts
(80x60 pixels)
19200 pts
(160x120 pixels)
zones per thermal image
4
4
4
4
4
temperature reporting per zone
min & max temp
min & max temp
min & max temp
min & max temp
min & max temp
NFPA 70B: delta temperature between zones (bus bars)
NFPA 70B: delta temperature with ambient
horizontal Field of View
110° (wide)
110° (wide)
110° (wide)
51° (narrow)
95° (wide)
vertical Field of View
75°
75°
75°
63°
71°
max object distance
<5m
<2m
<5m
45m
45m
accuracy
±1°C
±1°C
±1°C
±5°C
±5°C
industrial IP protocols*
Modbus TCP
SNMP
MQTT
Modbus TCP
SNMP
MQTT
Modbus TCP
SNMP
MQTT
Modbus TCP
SNMP
MQTT
Modbus TCP
SNMP
MQTT
other industrial protocols
Modbus RTU over
RS-485
native support with EXP-CHUB
Modbus RTU over
RS-485
with BASE-XX-6
Modbus RTU over
RS-485
with BASE-XX-6
Modbus RTU over
RS-485
with BASE-XX-6
Modbus RTU over
RS-485
with BASE-XX-6
* requires the base unit for the industrial IP protocols (BASE-SM-5, BASE-PI-5, BASE-SM-6, BASE-PI-6)
A picture is worth a thousand words
A traditional temperature sensor tells you what it feels. However a Thermography sensor tells you the temperature of anything it sees; up to a distance of 50 yards or 45m.
One image can contain 192 temperature measurement points (Extra-Small version) , 768 (Small), 4800 (Medium) or 19200 points for the Large version.
The thermography is refreshed every 2 seconds. Minimum and maximum temperature data is available to industrial and IT automation platforms via Modbus TCP, RTU (RS485) or SNMP.
Switchgear & electrical panels monitoring
Traditionally switchgear is monitored using contact based temperature sensors. They report the temperature at the point where the sensor is mounted. Switchgear also needs to be periodically checked using thermal camera guns. One hopes to catch an issue when it just appears and that it doesn't show up just after a periodic scan.
With our patented thermography sensors a user can monitor switchgear and electrical panels 24x7 in an automated way. No need for individual temperature sensors.
Logical thermal sensors using zones
identifying each bus bar or feeder cable
The thermography from the sensor can be divided into 4 different logical temperature sensors. This enables to report via Modbus TCP each bus bar, feeder cable or other equipment part as a discrete temperature sensor.
For the Medium & Large versions, the sensor will report the MIN and MAX values in each zone. For the Small and Extra-Small versions, the sensor will report the MAX temperature value in each zone as a different sensor.
Detect thermal unbalance
between the different phases
Thermography, or the use of our Thermography sensors, can be used to detect phase unbalance in switchgear by detecting temperature differences between the phases.
In
a three-phase electrical system, the current flowing through each phase should be balanced, with equal amounts of current flowing through each phase. If there is a phase unbalance, it can cause one phase to carry more current than the others, leading to overheating and potentially damaging the switchgear.
A Thermography sensor can detect temperature differences on the surface of the switchgear, automatically identify hot spots that could indicate a phase unbalance. By comparing the temperature of each phase, the sensor will generate a thermal imbalance sensor which computes the temperature difference.
Overall, thermography is a useful tool for detecting phase unbalance in switchgear, as it allows maintenance staff to identify the problem early and take corrective action before it causes significant damage. With our sensors, staff can monitor it 24x7, automatically.
Automate IR windows monitoring
Currently IR windows are monitored through periodic manual inspections using thermal guns.
By using our infrared thermography sensors, you can not only automate the monitoring process but also perform it non-stop 24x7. The IR window mount kit enables you to plug a thermography sensor on common 2", 3" or 4" thermal windows.
Not only do you monitor constantly your equipment, by no longer needing manual inspections you reduce your total cost of ownership.
Benefits of thermography sensors
in thermographic inspections
Thermographic inspections are a useful tool for identifying potential problems with switchgear equipment. Overheating is a common issue in switchgear and can be caused by a variety of factors, such as loose connections, overloaded circuits, or malfunctioning components. If left unchecked, overheating can lead to equipment failure or even a fire.
InfraSensing's Thermography sensors can detect temperature differences on the surface of the switchgear, allowing maintenance staff to identify hot spots that could indicate a problem. This can help identify issues before they become serious problems, allowing maintenance staff to take corrective action and prevent equipment failure.
Rather than relying on periodic inspections, with Thermography sensors issues can be detected 24x7.
In addition to identifying overheating issues, thermographic inspections can also help to identify other problems with switchgear, such as faulty insulation or damaged components. Overall, thermographic inspections are a valuable tool for maintaining the safety and reliability of switchgear equipment.
By default all sensors are connected to the SensorGateway (BASE-5) using a CAT6 or higher RJ45 cable.
Using the optional Wireless Hub & Node modules, any sensor can be turned into a wireless sensor.
Wireless Hub & Nodes
custom color & logo
Not a fan of orange? Want the sensors to match the color of your mission critical infrastructure equipment? Want to reflect your corporate color? Want to feature your own logo?
custom enclosure
Need the sensors in a custom enclosure to fit your application? Together with our partners, we can help to design special enclosures to meet your requirements.
Contact us for pricing & more info
Do you need the sensor to be customized to meet specific requirements?
Do you need features added or changed?
Do you need different enclosures?
Do you need to combine multiple sensors?
Whatever your project is, let us know what you need. Together with our engineering team we can make the product that you need.
Contact us to discuss your project & requirements
Looking to integrate this sensor with your own gateway or industrial control system? For large accounts customers or OEMs we now do offer a RS-485 version of this sensor. It has the same specs as the normal sensor. However rather than talking to our base unit and then communicate over industrial protocols with 3rd party systems, this version allows for native integration bypassing our base units.
It offers the same features as our regular sensors but with following differences:
- RS485 Modbus RTU output
- individually addressable using dial switch
- 256 addresses available
- 12-24v DC input
Contact us for pricing & more info