Solar
Inspection, O&M
Identifying Issues on Installed Photovoltaic Systems Using Thermal Imagery
1 - 2 hours
to complete
Instructor-led
Last updated 08/2025
About this course
This comprehensive course provides an overview of using thermal imaging technology to identify performance issues, safety concerns, and maintenance needs in photovoltaic (PV) systems. Led by Fred Brooks, a certified energy auditor, certified energy manager, and certified thermographer with over 15 years of experience in PV operations and maintenance, this course combines real-world expertise with practical field techniques.
Since founding Pacific Panel Cleaners in 2009 - the first dedicated PV maintenance company in the Hawaiian Islands - Fred has been at the forefront of thermal imaging applications in solar energy systems.
What You'll Learn
This course goes beyond basic thermal imaging to provide a methodology for conducting professional-grade PV system inspections. You'll learn about the art of distinguishing between true thermal anomalies and false readings, understanding when a hotspot indicates a genuine safety concern versus environmental factors like bird droppings or debris.
The curriculum covers essential pre-inspection procedures, safety protocols, and the systematic approach needed to conduct thorough thermal surveys. You'll learn to identify hotspots, diode failures, combiner box issues, inverter problems, and microinverter/optimizer malfunctions using both handheld thermal cameras and drone-mounted thermal imaging systems.
Bonus Module: Drone Program Development
In addition to the main thermal imaging content, this course includes a 20-minute interview with Lea Wong, Operations Specialist at Pacific Panel Cleaners. Lea shares her expertise in establishing and scaling a successful drone program for solar inspections, covering:
- Step-by-step process for establishing a comprehensive drone program
- Required and recommended certifications for regulatory compliance and effective drone operations
- Essential safety protocols and risk management
Who Should Take This Course
This course is designed for PV professionals, O&M technicians, system installers, and anyone involved in solar PV maintenance and inspection. This course provides the practical knowledge needed to implement thermal inspections as a core component of your PV maintenance services.
Learning Objectives
- Understand systematic pre-inspection procedures including site walkthroughs, safety assessments, and equipment verification to ensure optimal thermal scanning conditions and distinguish between true thermal anomalies and false readings
- Identify critical PV system component issues using thermal imaging, including inverter malfunctions, combiner box problems, and microinverter/optimizer failures through proper thermal signature recognition
- Detect and assess PV panel hotspots and diode failures understanding when thermal anomalies indicate safety concerns versus normal operational variations, and recognizing critical temperature thresholds
- Apply proper safety protocols and measurement techniques throughout thermal inspections, including PPE requirements, irradiance measurement correlation, and safe electrical testing procedures
- Create effective inspection documentation with proper mapping, image capture, and technical data collection needed for warranty claims and professional reporting
- Understand drone program fundamentals for scaling thermal imaging services, including regulatory requirements, operational workflows, and best practices for establishing drone-based inspection capabilities
Course outline
4 modules
1 - 2 hours to complete
1:18 hours
of video lectures
Welcome • 3 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 3 assignments
Orientation Materials
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
- Connect with Fred, your instructor, on LinkedIn
Module 1 • 14 assignments
Identifying Issues on Installed Photovoltaic Systems Using Thermal Imagery
Module 1 • 14 assignments
Identifying Issues on Installed Photovoltaic Systems Using Thermal Imagery
Fred Brooks, a thermal imaging expert, explains the process of identifying problems in photovoltaic systems using thermal imagery. In this module, he covers a variety of topics, including how PV systems work, tools and techniques needed for thermal scanning, identifying and diagnosing system anomalies, and the importance of clear skies and clean panels during inspections. Fred also discusses detailed inspection protocols and shares real-world examples of PV system anomalies.
- Presentation Slides (.pdf)
- Welcome to Class! (03:31 minutes)
- Quick PV Overview (02:43 minutes)
- Items Needed to Perform a Proper Thermal Scan of a PV System (02:51 minutes)
- General Procedure for Starting an Inspection (08:35 minutes)
- Inverters (04:27 minutes)
- Combiner Boxes (06:11 minutes)
- PV Panel Identifiers - Hot Spots (09:05 minutes)
- PV Panel Identifiers - Diodes (06:45 minutes)
- Microinverters and Optimizers (06:30 minutes)
- Important Items for a Report (06:50 minutes)
- Thermal Drone Flyover Example #1 (01:56 minutes)
- Thermal Drone Flyover Example #2 (55 seconds)
- Thank you! (01:12 minutes)
Module 2 • 7 assignments
Interview with Lea Wong: Running and Developing a Successful Drone Program
Module 2 • 7 assignments
Interview with Lea Wong: Running and Developing a Successful Drone Program
In this module, Lea Wong, Operations Specialist at Pacific Panel Cleaners, shares her experience managing a comprehensive drone program. She'll walk us through her professional background and explain how her company established and scaled their drone operations. Lea will also cover the key challenges they encountered, the certifications required for compliance, essential safety protocols, and their strategic planning workflow."
- Meet Lea (01:24 minutes)
- Starting Their Drone Program and Its Challenges (03:13 minutes)
- Certifications & Skills Needed for Drone Operators (02:18 minutes)
- The Drone Inspection Workflow (03:50 minutes)
- Standardization & Their Approach to RFPs (02:17 minutes)
- Safety & Insurance (02:33 minutes)
- Criteria To Consider When Getting Your Drone and Infrared Camera (01:24 minutes)
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- Interested in Becoming a Certified Thermographer? Here's a 10% Off Code
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Continuing Education Units
Approved NABCEP CEU Hours
| NABCEP Credential | Advanced Hours for Exam | Recertification CEU Hours | NEC | JTA | RE Elective | Building or Fire Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Instructor
Fredrick Brooks
General Manager, Pacific Panel Cleaners
Fred Brooks is a distinguished professional with over 8 years of dedicated service in the United States Navy's Engineering Department. He holds a BS degree in Environmental Science from HPU, complemented by extensive coursework in photovoltaic engineering. Fred embarked on his journey in the photovoltaic industry in 2006, quickly establishing himself as a pioneer in...
Frequently asked questions
Full FAQHow does this course work?
You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This course is delivered entirely online. Pre-order courses are available on launch date. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. During your year of access the instructor will be in the course answering questions on the discussion board every Tuesday. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world. After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Will the instructor really answer my questions during this course?
Yes! This is an instructor-led online course. You can ask questions on the discussion board and get prompt answers from your instructor. It varies by instructor and by course but typically instructors check-in between daily and weekly to check quiz results or project work, review and respond to discussion board questions and read survey responses. Check the enrollment page for specific information about each instructor's check-in frequency.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, please visit our For Teams page to get a group discount.