Electrical

320 × 240 pixels.Recommended minimum for electrical work

The industry standard for electrical scanning is 320 × 240 pixels and above. It’s the most important spec when you choose a camera for electrical work, and every camera on this page meets it.

A thermal camera shows the heat you can’t see in an electrical system: loose connections, overloaded circuits and failing parts, before they cause damage.

Most electrical faults come down to too much current or too much resistance. Both turn electrical energy into unwanted heat, and undersized conductors, loose connections or overloaded circuits can run hot enough to melt components. Scan with the system running under normal load, and a thermal image shows the problem early, while it’s still a cheap fix.

SwitchboardsCustom switchboard reportingPower lines and transformersSolar panels
Overheating wiring on a switchboard.
Overheating wiring on a switchboard.
A slight temperature difference on a switchboard.
A slight temperature difference on a switchboard.
An overheating cable, more than 100° above the rest of the board.
An overheating cable, more than 100° above the rest of the board.

Switchboards

Loose connections, undersized conductors and overloaded circuits all run hot before they fail. A thermal camera shows that heat while the board is live and under load.

A 42° wide-angle lens takes in a whole board from close up, and a 24° lens picks out single breakers from further back.

Cameras for switchboards

Advanced switchboard scanning

For large commercial and industrial sites, and contractors scanning boards every day.

  • Up to 640 × 480 pixels on the i64, and 464 × 348 on the E86
  • FlexView on the E86: one button switches between a 24° view and a 14° close-up
  • 42° wide-angle lens on the E76, to take in a whole board from close up
  • 30 mK sensitivity on the E86 FlexView and E76, and up to 1,500°C on the E86 FlexView
  • SwitchReport runs on the i64
FLIR E86 FlexViewFLIR E86 FlexViewBoards of every size. One button switches between a 24° view and a 14° close-up, with no lens change.464 × 348 · FlexView 24° + 14° · 30 mK · up to 1,500°C$19,495.00 ex. GSTViewFLIR i64FLIR i64High-detail switchboard reports in SwitchReport.640 × 480 · up to 550°C Original price was: $12,495.00.Current price is: $11,870.25. ex. GSTViewFLIR E76FLIR E76Wide-angle switchboard scanning, and reports on a Thermal Studio template.320 × 240 · 42° lens · up to 650°C$11,495.00 ex. GSTView

Premium switchboard scanning

For regular commercial switchboard work and reporting.

  • 320 × 240 pixels, meeting the electrical standard
  • 24° lens on the E54 for detail from further back, 33° on the E8 Pro
  • 40 mK sensitivity
  • SwitchReport runs on the i34, and the E54 and E8 Pro work with an Infratek Thermal Studio template
FLIR E54FLIR E54Narrow switchboard scanning from further back, and reports on a Thermal Studio template.320 × 240 · 24° lens · up to 650°C$8,495.00 ex. GSTViewFLIR i34FLIR i34Switchboard reports in SwitchReport.320 × 240 · up to 450°C Original price was: $6,995.00.Current price is: $6,645.25. ex. GSTViewFLIR E8 ProFLIR E8 ProSwitchboard reports on a Thermal Studio template.320 × 240 · 33° lens · up to 550°C Original price was: $5,350.00.Current price is: $4,995.00. ex. GSTView

Entry-level switchboard scanning

For occasional checks, or a camera that’s always in your pocket.

  • 320 × 240 pixels in a pocket-size camera
  • Measures up to 450°C
  • Works with an Infratek Thermal Studio report template
FLIR C8FLIR C8Pocket-size checks with Thermal Studio templates.320 × 240 · pocket size · up to 450°C Original price was: $1,495.00.Current price is: $1,395.00. ex. GSTView

Custom switchboard reporting

Finding the fault is half the job. The report is what your customer reads, and insurance companies currently expect thermal scanning on insured industrial, commercial and residential property as part of general maintenance.

If you send thermal reports to clients, they should look like they came from your business. There are two ways we can set that up, depending on where you write your reports: on your computer in FLIR Thermal Studio Pro, or on a FLIR iXX camera with SwitchReport.

FLIR Thermal Studio Pro Current camerasCustom reporting for FLIR’s 320×240 pixel resolution camera range.Works on FLIR 320×240 cameras and above →New camerasSmart AI reporting for FLIR’s app-enabled camera range.Works only on app-enabled FLIR cameras →
Heat differences on a power line.
Heat differences on a power line.
A loose contact on a transformer.
A loose contact on a transformer.

Power lines and transformers

This work is usually done from the ground, at a safe distance and often in full sun. The FLIR T865 and T560 are built for it.

640 × 480 pixels.Recommended minimum for power lines and substations

The T865, T560 and E96 all meet it.

All three give 640 × 480 detail, so a small hot connection still shows from a distance. One button switches to the 14° telephoto view for a closer look at a pole or a transformer, with no lens change, and the rotating lens block on the T865 and T560 lets you aim up at the lines and still see the screen. The T865 adds a viewfinder, so the image stays clear in bright sun.

Cameras for power lines and transformers
FLIR T865 FlexViewFLIR T865 FlexViewPower lines, transformers and substations, even in full sun.640 × 480 · FlexView 24° + 14° · viewfinder · up to 2,000°C$51,495.00 ex. GSTViewFLIR T560 FlexViewFLIR T560 FlexViewPower lines, transformers, substations and high-voltage yards.640 × 480 · FlexView 24° + 14° · rotating lens · up to 1,500°C$39,195.00 ex. GSTViewFLIR E96 FlexViewFLIR E96 FlexViewHigh-volume electrical and industrial work.640 × 480 · FlexView 24° + 14° · up to 1,500°C$23,595.00 ex. GSTView
A defective cell on a solar panel.
A defective cell on a solar panel.

Solar panels

A defective cell runs hotter than the cells around it, so a scan finds the faulty panel while the system is running, without testing each panel by hand.

Tell us about your solar work and we’ll recommend the right camera.

Ask about solar scanning

Free training with every camera

Bret Jones, Certified Thermographer, has over 30 years’ experience in camera selection, training and switchboard reporting. Not sure which camera fits your work? Talk to Bret first.