Drone · PV thermal inspection
Hot spots on panels and overheating connectors can't be seen from the ground. By the time a problem is visible, it's often already scorched, melted or tripping the system. Catch small problems while they're still small — let a drone take a look first.
01 · FlyA planned flight path covers every row of the array.
02 · ScanEach module is captured in thermal and normal images as the drone passes.
03 · LocateAbnormal heating is pinpointed and marked on the array.
04 · Close-upAfter the flight, a handheld thermal camera checks the inverters up close — terminals and cooling.
05 · ReportEvery finding is ranked by priority, with normal and thermal images side by side, in a written report.
Nobody walks on your panels, and nobody takes risks on the roof.
The system has to be generating for accurate readings — you keep using power as usual.
Factories and warehouses are covered row by row, with every panel photographed.
A normal photo and a thermal photo of the same view make it easy to see where the problem is.
IllustrationReal inspection images
On the left is what you see every day. On the right is what the temperature shows. In the normal photo the array looks neat and even; in the thermal image one spot is clearly hotter than its neighbours — that is the kind of point an inspection is there to find.
Aerial view of an 18-module rooftop array. Module A shows a small, sharply defined hot area; the visible-light photo of the same module shows nothing unusual. Flagged for on-site verification.
The cost of not checking
Hot panels quietly produce less.
A panel with hot spots produces less, and can hold back others in the same string. The system keeps running and the app may show no error — you simply save a little less every month.
IllustrationHot connections keep getting worse.
A loose or poor connection keeps heating up — the hotter it gets, the worse the contact becomes. It usually happens on the roof or in the ceiling space, where nobody looks.
IllustrationSmall fixes turn into big replacements.
Found early, the fix may be cleaning or re-making one connection. Left until it burns, it can mean replacing a panel or a whole switch box, plus downtime waiting for parts — and after the warranty ends, it's all at your own cost.
Suppose your system saves you RM 400 a month on electricity —
None of this shows up on a bill to warn you.
Figures are an example for illustration only and do not represent your system.
How small problems grow
Problems on the roof fall roughly into five levels. Not every problem goes all the way to level 5 — but without checking, you won't know which level you're at.
IllustrationLevel 1
Bird droppings, leaves or dust cover part of a panel, and that area starts to heat up.
IllustrationLevel 2
Part of one panel runs much hotter than the rest, and its output drops noticeably.
IllustrationLevel 3
A poor contact keeps heating, while the outside still looks fine.
IllustrationLevel 4
Casings turn black, cables melt, and the system trips and stops.
IllustrationLevel 5
The worst case: fire reaches the roof and spreads to the building.
Levels 1 to 3 are almost invisible to the eye.
By the time you can see a problem yourself, it is usually at level 4 or 5.
Thermal imaging is for finding problems at levels 1–3.
Straight talk
We don't want to scare you into thinking your roof could burn at any moment — research shows fires are rare. But the ones that do happen mostly start at connectors, DC switches and poorly installed parts — places that tend to show up as heat first.
≈ 1 in 10,000
In Germany, only around one in 10,000 PV systems has caused a fire with significant damage.
Fraunhofer ISE & TÜV Rheinland, 2013
36%
In an investigation for the UK government, about 36% of fires caused by PV systems were attributed to poor installation practices.
BRE National Solar Centre for BEIS, 2018
DC switches & connectors
The same investigation found DC isolators were the most common origin (26–28 incidents), followed by DC connectors (5–12) — both are points thermal imaging can check.
BRE National Solar Centre for BEIS, 2018
Arcing
German research found that poorly made or poorly installed DC connectors can loosen and arc, which can directly start a fire.
Fraunhofer ISE & TÜV Rheinland, 2013
The exact scope is agreed for each site, based on the equipment installed, safe access and what can be seen without opening live equipment.
Hot spots, hot areas, soiling and shading patterns
Heating at visible connectors and cables
External temperature, where safe and agreed
Surface temperature and ventilation
Enclosures are not opened unless this is agreed in the scope and it is safe to do so.
Inverters, battery cabinets and distribution boards work every day, and most sit indoors — in a garage, store room or warehouse. Loose connections and poor ventilation show up as heat first. Besides the roof, we check the inverter and battery close up with a handheld thermal camera.
Illustration
Illustration30-second self-check
Tick the ones that match your situation.
0Nothing ticked yet.
01
Location, roof photos and system size — plus the number of modules and any issue you have noticed.
02
We schedule around the weather — readings need enough sun — and check access and flight conditions.
03
The drone takes a normal photo and a thermal photo of every panel from the air. Inverters and batteries are checked on the ground with a handheld thermal camera.
04
Professional analysis software separates normal heating from abnormal heating; real issues are marked, described and given a priority.
05
Locations marked, findings ranked and explained in plain language — then we walk you through it.
Prices cover the on-site inspection. The written report and travel are charged separately — we quote the total before scheduling.
Currently available in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan.
Request an inspection1 – 10 kWp
RM 799
Above 10 kWp, up to 20 kWp
RM 1,500
Above 20 kWp
Quotation on request
Every finding comes with photos, a location and a plain-language explanation — a report you can keep, share with your installer, or use when discussing a warranty claim.
Exact deliverables follow the scope agreed with you.
IllustrationOne cell in this panel is much hotter than its neighbours, and the lower half of the panel is also warmer — output may already be affected. We suggest a close visual check first, then further testing once dirt has been ruled out.
Sample page for illustration — the content is an example, not an actual inspection result.
🔴 Act promptly
Significant abnormal heating, or heating at connections or protection devices. Arrange an on-site check promptly.
🟠 Schedule a check
A clear panel-level anomaly. Plan verification and, where relevant, a warranty discussion.
🟢 Keep monitoring
Minor or diffuse patterns such as soiling or shading. Recheck after cleaning or at the next inspection.
Example priority scheme — final criteria are stated in each report.
A thermal image shows where temperature differs; it does not on its own identify the cause. Typical next steps are:
Why now
Thermal imaging needs strong, steady sunshine. With afternoon thunderstorms and the monsoon months, suitable flying days become fewer.
Lost generation can't be recovered. The earlier a problem is found, the less you lose.
Finding problems while still under warranty — with photos and locations on record — makes a replacement claim with the supplier much easier.
We provide independent third-party thermal inspections, with reports you can share with your clients or use for your own records.
Partner arrangements and report branding are agreed case by case.
Discuss a partnershipWhile sunny days are still frequent, give your panels a “temperature check”. Send us these details and we'll take a first look, then advise how to arrange it:
IllustrationImages marked “Illustration” show situations that can occur; they are not results from any client site. Only images marked “Real inspection images” come from an actual inspection. Thermal images provide clues to anomalies; on their own they cannot confirm the cause of a fault, nor guarantee that fire or other damage will be avoided. Sunlight, weather, shading and how the system is operating all affect results, and further checks may be needed. Drone flights depend on site conditions and applicable regulations. Amounts in the “quick sum” are an example.
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