Solar Panel Inspections

Hot Spots Are a Fire Risk You Can't See From the Ground

Faulty solar panels can develop dangerous hot spots that remain undetected for months—or even years. These hot spots are typically caused by cracked cells, failed bypass diodes, or poor electrical connections, leading to concentrated heat that can damage panels, degrade system performance, melt components, and in severe cases, ignite roof fires. With solar-related fire incidents on the rise, most system owners remain unaware of issues until a failure occurs.

CBD Electrical are CASA-approved and fully licensed drone pilots, utilising advanced thermal imaging technology to scan your entire solar array safely from the air. This allows us to detect heat anomalies across every panel—faults that are completely invisible during standard visual inspections.

If your system is three years or older, a thermal inspection is one of the most effective steps you can take to safeguard your property, optimise performance, and protect your investment.

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Why Drone Thermal Inspections

A drone-based thermal scan is the fastest, safest, and most accurate way to assess the health of a rooftop solar system.

• Detects hot spots, cell damage, and connection faults that cause fire risk
• No ladders, scaffolding, or roof access needed
• Non-invasive with no need to disconnect or shut down your system
• Professional reports with annotated thermal images and recommendations

How the Inspection Works

We complete all required job safety analyses and documentation, and obtain CASA and Airservices Australia approvals where necessary before commencing any inspection.

Our team then deploys a commercial-grade drone equipped with advanced thermal imaging to scan your rooftop solar array. The system captures detailed heat signatures across every panel, allowing us to accurately assess performance.

We analyse the thermal data to identify overheating cells, faulty connections, and underperforming or failing components. You’ll receive a comprehensive report with annotated images, precise fault locations, and clear, actionable recommendations for next steps.

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What We Inspect

Our drone thermal inspections cover the full PV system, not a quick visual check from the ground.

• Hot spot detection and fire risk assessment
• Cracked cell and micro-crack identification
• Bypass diode and junction box faults
• Panel-level and string-level performance comparison
• Wiring and connection integrity
• Inverter output checks
• System output vs expected generation
• Full FLIR report with annotated thermal images

If Your System Is 3+ Years Old, Get It Checked

Solar panels naturally degrade over time, and faults can develop without any visible warning. A drone-based thermal inspection typically takes less than an hour for most residential systems, providing a complete, system-wide view of performance and potential risk areas.

We deliver Level 1 certified thermal imaging reports suitable for warranty claims, insurance documentation, or simply giving you confidence that your system is operating safely and efficiently.

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