Why Our Industry Needs Certified Thermal Electricians — And How Bad Information Hurts Us All
Why Our Industry Needs Certified Thermal Electricians™
Thermal imaging is one of the strongest diagnostic tools in the electrical industry, but without real electrical understanding behind the camera, even a clear thermogram can lead to bad assumptions, exaggerated claims, and misinformation that hurts everyone.
The Problem: Cameras Without Electrical Knowledge
As thermal cameras have become more affordable, more people are calling themselves “thermal experts.” Many can capture impressive images, but they may not understand the electrical behavior behind what they are seeing. This is where problems begin.
Online, it is common to see dramatic posts showing a hot termination with a bold claim such as: “This 0.1-ohm defect is burning $18,720 a year in wasted energy.” It sounds impressive, but unless that individual actually measured the current, calculated the I²R losses, and understood the duty cycle, the number is pure speculation. A thermal camera shows heat – it does not directly show current, real power, or annual energy cost.
How Untrained Thermographers Spread Misinformation
When a thermographer does not understand electrical theory, several types of misinformation tend to appear:
Quoting huge “energy savings” without actual load or current data — just to impress the customer.
Declaring issues “critical” based only on color palettes, not electrical understanding.
Using assumed numbers in formulas instead of real-world measurements.
These habits may not be malicious, but they are still harmful. When facility managers or electrical contractors later realize that the numbers were unrealistic, they start to doubt thermal imaging itself — not just the person who produced the report.
What Makes a Certified Thermal Electrician™ Different?
A Certified Thermal Electrician™ (CTE™) is more than a thermographer. A CTE is an electrical professional trained to interpret thermal patterns through the lens of real electrical principles and NEC-based knowledge.
CTEs are trained to understand:
- How load current and conductor size affect temperature rise.
- How I²R losses and resistance faults truly behave.
- The difference between surface temperature and underlying cause.
- NCEC/NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance and evaluation methods.
Because of this foundation, a CTE does not guess. They do not invent big savings numbers. They base their conclusions on electrical science, not speculation.
Example: A Loose Connection That Really Does Cost Money
A CTE discovers a warm termination on a commercial feeder. Further evaluation reveals that the connection was slightly loose, adding about 0.02 ohms of resistance. The measured load was 80 amps, operating around 12 hours per day.
Power wasted: P = I²R = 80² × 0.02 ≈ 128 watts
Daily waste: 128 W × 12 hours ≈ 1.536 kWh
Annual waste: 1.536 × 365 ≈ 560 kWh
Annual cost (@$0.14/kWh): ≈ $78.48
This is not hype — it is real electrical math based on real measurements. The energy waste is modest, but the risk is not. Loose connections deteriorate over time, increasing heat, damaging insulation, and potentially causing catastrophic equipment failure.
Beyond Dollars: The Real Cost of Loose Connections
The bigger risk of a loose connection lies in:
- Progressive oxidation and heat rise.
- Insulation degradation.
- Breaker or equipment failure.
- Unplanned downtime.
- Arc-flash or fire risk.
These consequences go far beyond any exaggerated “energy savings” number. A CTE communicates these realities clearly and professionally.
Protecting the Reputation of Thermal Imaging
When untrained thermographers publish exaggerated or impossible claims, they unintentionally damage the credibility of thermography itself. Customers deserve accurate, science-based information — not theatrics.
Why choose a Certified Thermal Electrician™?
• Real electrical expertise behind every thermal image.
• NEC and NFPA 70B–aligned methodologies.
• Accurate, defensible findings you can trust.
• Reports focused on safety, reliability, and truth.
Thermal cameras do not lie — but people without proper training often misinterpret them. This is why the Certified Thermal Electrician™ standard exists: to ensure accuracy, professionalism, and integrity throughout the electrical thermography industry.
