How to Inspect a Solar Carport with a Drone - Complete Guide

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In this video we will be inspecting a 2.6MW solar carport with a drone using thermal imaging. We will first take a walk around the perimeter to check for any possible obstacles that could affect the flight. Next, we talk you through the drone equipment for this inspection along with the importance of preparing for weather conditions including checking for wind speeds with an anemometer and how we use a solar irradiance meter to determine the watts per meter squared (W/M2).
This carport has a unique angle for the arrays, so setting up the gimbal pitch is an important part of preparing for the flight. We also touch on the importance of knowing your surroundings, especially if your flight is in public spaces. Having someone else with you throughout the inspection to answer questions as people approach you will allow you to continue working uninterrupted.
Once our equipment is set up we go over the flight plan for this mission and finish up our flight checklists. Part of this discussion is how we determine the inspection flight altitude using the height of the panels from the ground, and why we need this information.
Next, we start the flight and show you the image capture screens live as we fly. While we fly we speak into the importance of these solar carport installations along with the benefits they provide such as shade, lighting, and electric vehicle charging stations.
As we progress through the flight we walk through several anomalies that were spotted during the inspection including cell hot spots, bypass diodes, and several obstructions. Finally, we will deep dive into thermography color palettes, explaining how they work, and which one is the best for solar inspections. As we close out this inspection we will debrief the workflow and mention a few helpful resources to learn more about using drones to inspect solar panels.
#drone #dronemapping #dronesoftware
►Resources
Drone Thermal Cameras: Everything You Need to Know - thedronelifenj.com/drone-thermal-cameras-everything-you-need-to-know/
6 Major Benefits of Aerial Thermography for Solar Inspections -
thedronelifenj.com/benefits-of-infrared-drone-solar-inspections/
►Equipment Used in this Video
BT - 100 Pro Anemometer - amzn.to/3gH9O0c
DBTU1300 Solar Irradiance Meter - amzn.to/2Y3FBSh
►Our Must-Have Drone Equipment Checklist
✅ Budget Friendly Ground Control Points (GCPs) - bit.ly/3nAT2pH
✅ Most Reliable SD Card for Drone Mapping - bit.ly/3lZOhWn
✅ Heavy Duty Landing Pad - bit.ly/3zt1hXA
✅ Collapsable Orange Safety Cones - bit.ly/40Tr2fp
✅ OSHA Certified Safety Vest -bit.ly/3KsycSt
✅ Wind Speed Anemometer Gauge - bit.ly/3ZCaYO5
✅ Best Flight Planning Tablet - bit.ly/40Dci4q
✅ Handheld VHF Airband Transceiver - bit.ly/40AyLPP
►About The Drone Life
The Drone Life is an industry-leading UAS service provider that provides turnkey aerial data solutions nationwide. We proudly specialize in the industrial, environmental, renewable, and construction industries. Our team consists of highly experienced, dependable, and licensed drone professionals that are committed to safety, quality, and customer success.
Website - thedronelifenj.com
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-life-nj
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Facebook - thedronelifenj
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thedronelifenj
►Chapters
Intro - 0:00
Flight Procedures - 1:01
Inspection Factors - 4:01
The Role of Solar Carports - 8:01
Flying & Reviewing Anomalies - 9:43
Thermography Color Palettes - 12:53
Inspection Recap - 15:25

[@thedronelife]

Claim Your FREE GUIDEBOOK to Maintaining Solar Assets with Drones 👇 bit.ly/3V3LI4P

[@JonMac-f4x]

Keep up the good work! All the best to you and your career.

[@percyprempeh-mann8013]

Awesome video! As always great explanation on the data collection. Keep the momentum up!!!

[@liannabunting8320]

Your best video yet!!!! Awesome job!

[@BGIS2000]

I do love your informative videos. Please keep educating us. All the best!

[@ericwells2864]

Thanks for uploading. Great information.

[@terencehayes8427]

Awesome video, with great content and information.

[@Mavrick36]

Well done 👍🏻 thanks for sharing

[@LearningInVR]

This is so helpful thanks

[@drone6337]

Great video John, thanks for the heads up on the tape measure!!

[@thedronelife]

;)

[@mid-atlanticdroneservices]

great video

[@overallvisiondrone]

cool job

[@LearningInVR]

laser measure might work for solarport height

[@tesla.lives-channel]

thanks for great information love from india

[@piotrzyto8176]

Nice :)

[@kasperhofmanperto5308]

Hi, great video. Do you have a guide to pricing when doing these jobs? Thanks!

[@DavidWilliams5th]

These videos are great. I am interested in getting into the business. I plan on retiring in a few years and have some ideas.

[@drumatruka]

Isn't it difficult getting these big solar farm inspection jobs? I am under the impression that there are a few mega companies that get most of the work. Either that or these facilities or more so the builders of these facilities do their own inspections. It seems like massive opportunity. There are solar panels everywhere. And more being built every day. Also is my Mavic enterprise 3T worthy of professional data collection? Thank You.

[@SimpleMeFPV]

In accordance with part 107. How can you do sustained flight over people during a parking lot inspection when the area can not be secured and bystanders are not under cover? For example , at the jail

[@MatthewManzella]

I have my Part 107 License but have no idea how to get started in this. Any advice would be so helpful

[@MDC.42]

Hi, so hepful your video, thx ! Which software do you use on your remote control ?

[@thedronelife]

GS Pro

[@gregariousgreg8413]

Good day, What temperature range do you use for the IR sensor?

[@sergiothephotographer]

Do you subcontract or do you do this job directly?

[@DroneManMurphy]

Love the video. BUT for measuring roof heights I’ve got 2 simple words for you: “laser measurer”! 😊😊😊

[@thedronelife]

Great idea! We always reference the site drawings to find the height, so the tape measure was more of a joke lol. But a laser measure tool could definitely help!

[@DroneManMurphy]

@@thedronelife 👍 I used to work with Leica selling their Distos back in the early 2000’s when finding a reliable laser meter was a hard thing to do. My distributor got to sell several units to and work with the crew that did the oceans 11 movie. They used them to check the clearance in the water tunnel shots that they did along with others. Nowadays, you can get a reliable one online or even at Home Depot. But do check it to make sure that it’s giving accurate measurements, especially if you’re in bright sunlight. Let me know if I can help you in that area at all. I’m also interested in may be helping. You do some inspections if possible. Maybe you can reach out to me at some point in time. This isn’t a spam or lame attempt to stand on your shoulders; I sincerely appreciate the videos you do am impressed with the attention to detail that you have, and I might like to work with you sometime in the future. 🤷‍♂️ [e-mail].

[@Aussie-Phill]

How much would you charge per hour or per job for these drone thermal imaging jobs?

[@m4tiger12]

Are you flying the grid with DJI Pilot or DJI GCS? And how do you handle non participants entering the areas underneath the drone during inspections to abide by non ops over people restrictions? Thanks

[@LearningInVR]

For me the parking lot looks kinda empty . If they were walking under they likely be protected by panels but he'd prob stop the mission Looks like he know what he's doing

[@HURLEY7130]

add a laser measure tool to your kit, so much easier than trying to use a tape measure for vertical needs

[@thedronelife]

Great idea! We always reference the site drawings to find the height, so the tape measure was more of a joke lol. But a laser measure tool could definitely help!

[@sergiothephotographer]

What drone is that?

[@thedronelife]

DJI Matrice 210V2

[@ant9240]

քʀօʍօֆʍ 💔