Spent $140 on a thermal camera attachment, it caught a failing relay before takeoff

Picked up a FLIR One for my phone to check heat signatures on circuit breakers and relays. Was doing a preflight on a Cessna 172 and spotted a relay running 30 degrees hotter than its neighbor. Opened it up, sure enough the contacts were pitted and about to weld shut. That thing paid for itself in one inspection. Anyone else use thermal imaging on the bench or are we all still trusting the smell test?

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jana58418d ago

Wait until you find a bad connection in a breaker panel with one. Total game changer.