Can thermography detect a shorted conductor inside a cabinet?

Thermography is an effective technique for detecting temperature variations due to electrical issues, including shorted conductors. The correct answer highlights that thermography can detect problems only if the cabinet heats up. When a short occurs, it generates heat due to increased current flow and resistance. This heat can only be detected if there is a significant temperature rise that can be sensed by thermographic equipment.

In insulated cabinets, the insulation may prevent heat dissipation, allowing any generated heat due to a short circuit to accumulate, making it detectable with thermal imaging. If the cabinet does not heat up—due to either insufficient current flow or effective heat dissipation—the thermographic camera may not register any significant temperature difference, and thus detecting the shorted conductor would be impossible.

While it may seem logical to assume that thermography could be applied to detect issues regardless of the cabinet's heating, the absence of a temperature rise means there is no thermal signature for the thermographer to identify. This intricacy is what makes the understanding of heat generation critical in thermographic inspections.