Planck Vision Systems manufactures thermal imaging solutions for portable inspection and 24/7 monitoring of commercial applications including: Early Fire Detection, Manufacturing, Substations and Tunnels, Electrical Panel/Cabinets, Storage Facilities, Data Centers and Elevated Body Temperature Screening. Our company is headquartered in Santa Barbara CA, the capital of infrared sensing technologies in the United States.
On January 5, 2025, a heatwave caused fires at substations in the Greenwood Park and Izinga Ridge areas of eThekwini, resulting in widespread electricity outages. The fire at the substation in Ward 34 caused significant disruptions, particularly in Izinga, with multiple substations being affected. The city has deployed additional repair teams, and restoration times are expected to be longer than usual due to the high volume of faults. Estimated losses from the fires and damages to the infrastructure could reach $2 million.
NEWS
On January 5, 2025, eThekwini city faced severe power disruptions due to a series of fires that broke out in substations caused by an intense heatwave. Areas such as Greenwood Park and Izinga Ridge were heavily impacted. According to local reports, substations in both Ward 34 and Ward 35 caught on fire, with the most significant damage occurring at a substation in Ward 34, which led to a widespread electricity outage affecting the Izinga area.
The fires, attributed to the ongoing heatwave, caused significant damage to critical infrastructure. As a result, multiple substations across the city were impacted, contributing to an already strained power supply. The electricity outages were widespread, with several neighborhoods left without power for extended periods of time. The city authorities confirmed the situation, noting that repair teams had been dispatched to fix the network, but restoration times would be longer than usual due to the high volume of faults.
The estimated financial impact of these fires and outages is projected to reach approximately $2 million. This figure includes costs related to infrastructure repairs, as well as indirect losses caused by the disruptions to residents and businesses.
The incident highlights the need for more robust monitoring systems to detect and prevent such fires before they escalate. In this context, Planck Vision Systems’ thermal imaging cameras offer a critical advantage. The advanced TRX600, TNC20 fixed mount, and TNC400PT cameras provide 24/7 surveillance of substations, continuously collecting and analyzing data with software that identifies potential threats, trends, and anomalies. These cameras can cover large areas, delivering crisp thermal images that ensure timely interventions to prevent fires from causing widespread damage.
Early fire detection is crucial, and Planck Vision Systems’ technology ensures that substations are always monitored at the right time and place. By using such systems, companies can mitigate the risk of costly failures and avoid extensive infrastructure damage, especially during extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves.
Early intervention and consistent monitoring can significantly reduce the chances of a major fire or electrical failure, safeguarding both the assets and the surrounding community.
source：citizen.co.za
Predictive maintenance for Substation Monitoring
Planck Vision Systems thermal imaging cameras offer 24/7 monitoring to constantly gather and analyze data with software that identifies trends and anomalies. Fixed mount or pan/tilt drive cameras can survey large areas of a substation with crisp thermal images. Planck Vision Systems cameras will always be in the right place at the right time to eliminate the potential for costly unexpected substation failures.
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