Aerial Thermal Workflows¶
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Optimal Conditions for Aerial Thermal¶
- Irradiance ≥ 700 W/m² (clearer sky = better results)
- Array producing power (inverter on, grid connected)
- Time: 2 hours after sunrise through 2 hours before sunset (peak sun angle)
- Minimal wind (wind cools panels, reducing thermal contrast)
- Temperature: cooler ambient temperatures increase thermal contrast
Equipment¶
- DJI drone with thermal camera (M3T, M30T, or equivalent) — preferred
- Alternatively: standard drone + separate handheld FLIR with GPS logging
- If separate thermal camera: coordinate flight paths with thermal camera person on ground
Flight Parameters for Thermal¶
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 20–40 feet AGL (closer = better resolution) |
| Speed | 3–7 mph (slow for thermal capture) |
| Overlap | 30–40% |
| Camera angle | 45–90° nadir (straight down) |
Data Interpretation (Aerial)¶
Same temperature delta interpretation as ground thermal — see Thermal Imaging Workflow for delta T guide.
Aerial thermal can identify: - Hot cells and hot spots - Full-panel anomalies (uniform hot across one panel) - String-level issues (one string consistently hotter) - Bypass diode activation patterns
Deliverables¶
- Thermal image of full array (orthomosaic if using mapping software)
- Individual thermal images of anomalies
- Corresponding visible-light photos of each anomaly
- Temperature readings (°C) for each finding
- GPS coordinates of findings if possible