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The design and evaluation of a Multi-Spectral Imaging Camera for the inspection of transmission lines and substation equipment
By R Stolper and Jaco Hart, CSIR and N Mahatho, Eskom, South Africa

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CoroCAM 504
The Ultimate Daylight UV Corona Detection Tool

The CoroCAM 504 is a development of the very successful CoroCAM IV+ and daylight system with many improvements and additional features. These include on-board data storage and background UV noise reduction. It features the same solar blind optical system but is housed in a modern sleek compact and very light weight body. The ergonomic design ensures that the control buttons fall nicely to the users’ hand in the palm-strap.

Features of CoroCAM 504

• Can operate in daylight or at night (with artificial light).
• Solar blind for full daylight operation.
• Lightweight.
• Very portable.
• High quality colour viewfi nder display.
• On-board data storage by fl ash card.
• Multiple high resolution video outputs.
• Integration mode to increase sensitivity and reduce noise.
• Menu selectable image processing to enhance corona display.
• All menu driven functions easily selectable by single thumb operated joy stick.
• Photon event counting and display.
• UV image overlay on visible channel.
• Manual or auto focus of both channels.
• Multiple zoom on both channels.
• GPS option.
• Ambient temperature measurement.
• Interfacing to different display and recording peripherals.
• Software upgrade via fl ashcard (when available).

MultiCAM

With MultiCAM development now completed, production readiness phase is now commencing and production will start in Q4 of 2006.

UV/IR Multispectral Daylight Camera

The MultiCAM System provides a simultaneous video image of an infrared spot and corona. This information assists the user in determining the location of the hot spot and/or corona and also, by a close examination, its possible cause. Since the video provides a moving image, it is possible to determine the seriousness of the hotspot (i.e. how the pattern develops over time), the characteristics of the corona source and to identify the type in question.

Features of MultiCAM

• It is a diagnostic tool that enables the user to locate and identify corona discharge and infrared hot spot activity on electrical equipment.
• It can operate in daylight or at night (with the help of artifi cial light).
• It produces a video image of the hot spots and of a corona discharge which is superimposed on the object. This allows the user to determine the exact location of the hot spot and of the corona in respect of the real image.
• It is portable, i.e. it fi ts into a carry-case and is powered by a rechargeable battery lasting approximately 40 minutes per charge. The battery is fi tted into the camera housing.
• It is a pick up and go device requiring little or no assembly on removal from its carry case. It is easy to carry the camera on board an aeroplane.
• Its output is a standard composite video signal and it can be connected to a suitable portable video recorder that allows for the recording of results on site.
• Ergonomic design ensures that control buttons fall easily to hand when operating.
• High quality colour viewfi nder display.