IR Scanning
Infrared Thermography for Transformers & Substations
What IR Scanning Reveals
Infrared thermography detects heat signatures and thermal anomalies in your transformers and substation equipment that visual inspection and oil testing alone can't catch. Small temperature variations can signal loose connections, cooling failures, overloaded circuits, and emerging faults — long before they cause outages, fires, or safety events.
Combined with oil analysis and visual inspection data, IR scanning gives you a complete, correlated picture of your fleet's health — and the confidence to act on it.
What IR Scanning Can Detect:
- Overloading and unbalanced loads
- Low liquid levels
- Cooling system and radiator defects
- Oil circulation issues
- Malfunctioning temperature or level gauges
- Hot spots on tanks, bushings, and connections
- Load tap changer (LTC) and no-load tap changer (NLTC) issues
Spot Issues Early
Detect developing faults early before they escalate into costly outages, permanent damage, or safety events.
Build a Complete Diagnostic Picture
Your Transformer Dashboard® brings together IR data, oil analysis, and visual inspection results, empowering you to make more accurate diagnoses and smarter decisions.
Protect Your Team and Equipment
Identify energized safety risks and thermal anomalies proactively so you can act on your schedule, not during an emergency.
Extend Asset Life
Catch accelerated insulation aging, cooling issues, and overloading early to protect your transformers and maximize their operational lifespan.
How Our IR Scanning Process Works
01
Consult
We start by understanding your fleet, your facilities, and your specific concerns so every IR scan is purposeful, targeted, and focused on what matters most to your operation.
02
Scan
Our trained Field Inspection Technicians (FITs) use state-of-the-art infrared cameras to capture thermal images from every critical angle, often during your oil sampling visit to minimize site trips.
03
Analyze
04
Act
You receive a detailed report with severity ratings, likely causes, and clear recommendations so you always know what to do next.
See Your Fleet's Health at a Glance
Combining human expertise with powerful data visualization.
Your data, your way. Whether you're managing one transformer or an entire fleet, Transformer Dashboard® helps you stay ahead of potential issues and make informed decisions fast.
Our secure, web-based Transformer Dashboard® gives you:
- Easy access to test results anytime, anywhere
- Visual trend analysis that spots problems before they escalate
- Maintenance planning tools to optimize your resources
- Real-time insights backed by expert interpretation
From raw data to strategic action, all in one intuitive platform.
IR Windows
Save time and save lives with IR inspection windows
Traditional IR inspections require opening energized switchgear, breaker panels, and cabinet doors — increasing arc-flash risk, PPE demands, and inspection time. In many cases, it's simply not practical.
IR thermography windows eliminate these risks, making thermal imaging safer, faster, and cost-effective so IR becomes a practical, repeatable part of your predictive maintenance plan. Our technicians can specify and install IR windows at your facility, giving you safer access and better trending quality on every future inspection.
Experience the SDMyers Difference
Get more out of your IR scanning services.
IR scanning is just one part of your transformer fleet reliability journey. We pair thermal imaging with visual inspection and oil analysis — giving you a correlated, complete view of your fleet's health in one visit, documented directly to your Transformer Dashboard®.
Certifications & Partnerships
Powered by industry-respected accreditations, certifications, and partnerships to deliver accurate testing, sound diagnostics, and safe fieldwork.
Get Started with IR Scanning
Uncover hidden threats before they become costly failures.
Call (330) 630-7000 or fill out the form to connect with an SDMyers transformer expert today.
