powerline inspection

[outlawcr]

opinions on best drone and cameras for powerline inspections?

 

[TreeLineView]

I would keep an eye on the Mavic 3T. It has Thermal and zoom capabilities. The question will be how it handles around objects with high EMI. I a still testing mine. I'll post some pics when I collect some data from Hight tension wires

 

[RamSchulz]

Hallo! The software for modelling of towers is also important. E.g. not all SW can model a grid mast.

 

[Linval Ebanks]

Here are some examples. I've been visually Inspecting 230 kv lines without any interference with my Mavic 3 now for about a year, prior to that I was using my p4p v2, also no issues. Now I just tested today with the Mavic 3T, most of the pictures I would say I was at least 25 ft. away.

 

[JCDIAZ]

Any new stories around the M3T doing powerline inspections?

I saw the pictures (both visible and thermal) from Linval and was really impressed. Were they just from 25 ft away? I would have thought that distance was to near the powerlines and EMI would appear.

More feedback is appreciated. I want to offer this service ASAP.
Regards

 

[Anthony Ivory]

The DJI 3 T is a good option same camera as the 30 T at 1/3 the price.

 

[JCDIAZ]

The question is if the M3T is "protected" from EMI produced by high (+200KV) power lines.

@Linval Ebanks said he was having the 3T around 25ft away. That sound too near...

Any other comments about jobs done with the M3T inspecting high voltage power lines?

 

[Anthony Ivory]

Sometimes we forget that we have an outstanding ZOOM camera. Test out the zoom to avoid the EMI. I’m outside the US and we never get closer the 30 feet. We noticed signal interference began inside 50 ft. A new guy lost one of our drones at 20 feet. He wasn’t use to cameras with good optical zooms. If you need thermals you’ll have to find a sweet spot that works for you.

 

[JCDIAZ]

Thanks Anthony. It seems a good EMI protection should mean to fly beginning at 50ft (16mts) away.
Regards

 

[Linval Ebanks]

I loved the M3T when I had it but I wanted be able to do things even if the weather was not optimal for that drone, but if I didn't need weather resistance I would still be using the M3T because my M3E does most of my visual inspections on the same 230 kv lines that I inspect twice a year I perform the thermal portion with my M30T now!