Insulation testing is by far the most important testing that you may perform on electric motor and motor circuits. There are several different tests and variations of those tests.

Often during the building inspection process, one will discover issues the building owner does not necessarily want to be found. These issues include, but are not limited to, air leakage, moisture, and conductive heat gains or losses. The issues found are going to cost money to correct, some more than others. The cost of these faults or anomalies can be quite high, to the point where some building owners may try to discredit your findings. While many property owners want to be made aware of the problems that exist in their structures, it is the cost of repairs that can be discouraging.

One of the things we are most often asked about is reporting content and how to format it. We supply summaries of several IR-related standards in the Level I course manual, including ASTM E-1934; Standard Guide of Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with IR. One of the topics discussed therein is reporting. To order ASTM E-1934, go to www.astm.org.

A -“T” Leads, B-Local Disconnect, C-Motor Connection Box (above)

Electric motor test instruments are designed specifically for motor testing. However, when in the hands of a properly trained and savvy technician or engineer, they can be utilized for considerably more testing and diagnostics. In this testing tip, we will discuss how to utilize motor test instruments to diagnose problems with the cabling and distribution circuit of the motor.

Solar loading is not just a warm-weather concern for building thermographers. We must deal with its impact year-round, regardless of the season. Additionally, when it comes to the sky conditions, solar loading is not only a problem on sunny days. Even when it is cloudy, solar loading still affects thermographers when inspecting buildings, especially from the exterior. As we learn in Level I, heat transfers from where it is to where it isn’t, so solar loading on the exterior will cause transfer into the structure, and that can lead to some confusing patterns.

When I was growing up, Dad was good about teaching me all the things a young man would benefit from knowing. The usual stuff: baiting a hook to fish, how to change a car tire, that kind of thing. Every once in a while, he would show me something and preface it with “hey, lemme show ya this ol’ army trick”. I was a teenager before I learned that my dad never spent a day in the Army. Apparently, I took things pretty literally as a kid.