Introducing the CoroCAM which was developed in Pretoria, South Africa by the M&M Tek division of the Centre for Integrated Sensing Systems (CSIR) to meet the predictive maintenance needs of electric utilities, industry and other applications including fire location. Contact Specialized Camera Sales at Ox Creek Energy Assoc. Inc. to begin development of your insulator and conductor maintenance program using the CoroCAM(r) models that best suit your needs. With 5 CoroCAM models and sales pricing, or rentals we can also meet your budget needs, and provide an upgrade if your needs change.

The CoroCAM Model 504 bi-spectral cameras allow you to see ultraviolet emissions such as electrical corona, arcing, hydrogen fires, alcohol fires, brush fires, flourescent light cover "leakage", tungsten-halogen lamps, mercury vapor UV emissions and other sources of UVc during daylight or darkness because the cameras use a solar-blind filter in the ultra-violet (UVc) spectrum. There are other phenomona that emit UV that sunlight overwhelms that may be imaged by the cameras.

The CoroCAM 504 and 4+ cameras will only "see" the wavelengths between 240-280nm. The ultraviolet emissions are detected thru a special "solar-blind" filter. The CoroCAM 4+ cameras are typically used for electric utility predictive maintenance of systems at distribution voltages (7kV) and above. The solar-blind filter allows work to be done during the day when it is safer to work around energized high voltage and typically less expensive then crews working at night. The CoroCAM 504 or 4+ camera can see electrical corona at voltages as low as 3,500 VAC/DC normally and at reduced atmospheric pressures as may be encountered in vortices or electric motors as low as 1,000 volts.

Arcing can occur at lower voltages (arc-welding can be at 30VAC and hundreds of amps) and this is a potentially short-term destructive problem because it produces heat which can increase the problem. The heat produced from a small arc inside a connector up on an overhead distribution line is typically not detectable by infrared cameras during the day due to solar-heating over-whelming the small area heated. If the arc is line-of-sight visible to the corona camera we are able to see a stable "ball of light" where the arc is. An arc indication is different from a corona indication (typically random spots), but care must be taken not to dismiss a very small arc as a reflection, larger arc's you won't have that problem they tend to fill the viewer. The more power (kVA) in the arc the larger the UV indication.

Solar-blind filters were first developed in the U.S.A. in the 1930's and development continues thru today including UV focal plane arrays. The CoroCAM 504 or 4+ cameras image in the ultraviolet C band (240-280nm) where the UVemission picture FOV is overlaid onto a visible camera picture (400-700nm) identical FOV and output as a video image for viewing or recording.

TheCoroCAM 504 or 4+ bi-spectral (UVc and visible) cameras with high sensitivity will be used in the laboratory or field and with high UV frame (60fps) speeds from rotary or fixed-wing aircraft to locate electrical corona, arcing, fires (brush, alcohol during daylight, hydrogen, etc.). The ultraviolet light radiated from these sources is typically much easier and less expensive to see at a distance then with infrared (long range lens cost) including thru smoke.

The image takes one path for the visible and one path through the special ultraviolet (solar blind) filter and both (identical FOV) are overlaid for display or recording. The CoroCAM 504 and 4+ camera video output images are at NTSC standard of 30 frames per second which is typically termed "real-time." The CoroCAM 504 UV scan rate of 60 frames per second is overlaid onto the color visible image at 30 frames per second.

CoroCAM Commentary

The CoroCAM 504 or 4+ bi-spectral camera is currently available. The CoroCAM 504 or 4+ camera includes image processing for lab and field survey work to analyze the corona observed:

• photon counting, instantaneous photon counting lets you scan the substation in real-time and if you pass a photon emitter (corona source) the counter indicates the instantaneous photon activitiy level, this activitiy level indicates the damage potential,
• image processing, integration of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 successive frames, integration of UV images eliminates spurious UV flashes caused by random noise sources which allows locating continuous weak signals and isolating the source from noise,
• corona see-through, the corona image can also be selected to be displayed as opaque or transparent allowing you to look thru the integrated corona at the source,
• manually adjustable UV gain, allows quick continuos adjustment to isolate corona sources,
• UV frame speed, which at 60 frames per second captures more corona events crossing the camera sensitivity threshold
• the CoroCAM 504 or 4+ sensitivity threshold has been measured at 30dB (RIV) @ 1 MHz referenced to 1 uV across 300 ohms at a voltage of 140kV, see NEMA Publication No. 107-1987 entitled "Methods of Measurement of Radio Influence Voltage (RIV) of High Voltage Apparatus",
• visible x25 stabilized optical zoom with corona overlaid on the image,
• storage of images and audio descriptive clips to Flash card,
• USB download of stored images and audio to a computer,
• remove memory card for download or replace,
• rechargeable, replacebale battery,
• CoroCAM 504 is hand-held, about 4 lbs with a 2-hour battery

Corona cameras don't answer the question "OK you found corona, what is causing the corona? Is it a problem? Quantified corona (by ultraviolet emissions or ultrasound) provides a measure of the corona activity but some of the causes of corona activity can be:

• the result of poor design,
• improper installation,
• temporary contamination by icing, salt sprays near highways, other chemicals, fog, agricultural chemicals, etc.
• damage due to storms, lightening,
• damage due to vandalism,
• cumulative damage due to corona activity due to weather conditions (RAD),
• cumulative damage due to contamination by nearby sources,

Check out the Corona Technology Course for more information about corona.

The five models of the CoroCAM ultraviolet imaging cameras include:

This is the next generation of corona cameras ( CoroCAM) incorporating the latest ideas, they are available in several models including a basic viewer model (CoroSMART) for sales personnel to demonstrate to customers why they need your services to clean large electric motors and generators, electric utility field supervisors to look for problems and other CoroCAM models add more features from field experience to minimize operational complexity. Field experience says complex, cumbersome equipment is not used. The CoroCAM equipment is just right!

@ Lease budget is based upon 48 monthly payments, $1 buy-out at lease end, first and last months payment and origination fee at lease start, upon equipment delivery.

+ Rental agreement, ship & ins., First rental includes 8 hours of on-site training.

# Rental (maximum 1 month) is applied to reduce purchase price of a new camera if purchased within one year of rental.

A sturdy tripod (is recommended for image integration or for R&D) which adds 5 lbs. to the field ready camera weight. Other camera options are available including pistol-grip, sling mount, and battery belt for some models.

For CoroCAM camera quotation or demonstration or availability for sale or rental or for Corona Technology Course info please call Specialized Camera at 1-888-322-9368 or contact us by Email at cameras@maqs.net

Optional Video Storage Device Websites for more information (Cameras can include sets (recorder, batteries, CD's, tapes, interconnect cables, etc. ready for 8 hours operation.) Kanguru Solutions for CoroCAM 504 (Flash card to CD burner) Moritex PalmScope for CoroCAM 1,3,4+,504 Moritex Palmscope for CoroCAM 1,3,4+,504 Sony GV-D1000 audio-video recorder & Search GV-D1000

UV Links in our site

Specialized Camera Homepage	CSIR CoroCAM Homepage -Quality- ISO 9001 & ISO 14000	Corona Technology Course	Demo Equipment Sales	Request CoroCAM Information, Videotape or Demo	CoroCAM on Display, 2006 Show & Training Schedule	CoroCAM Training Schedule
Daylight Corona Camera	Electrical Corona Images & Video Clips	UV Camera Images	Corona Camera Information	Custom Camera Carriers, Personal, Aerial, Vehicle	CoroCAM Corona Survey Services	CoroCAM Distributors
CoroCAM I Corona Camera	CoroCAM III Corona Camera	CoroCAM IV+ Daylight Corona Camera	CoroCAM 504 Daylight Corona Camera	MultiCam Daylight Corona & Infrared Camera Introduction	AirCam Daylight Corona Camera	CoroCAM-MultiCAM Options

©2008 Ox Creek Energy Assoc Inc

Last update: June 7, 2008