Should you need your product to be reliable under any temperature conditions, you will need to test them using a temperature chamber. In the United States there are quite a few manufacturers of this type of equipment.



Most of these manufacturers also manufacture other types of environmental test chambers which could include: Thermal Shock Chambers Temperature Humidity Chambers Salt Spray Chambers Altitude Chambers Space Simulation Chambers Temperature Plates Liquid Nitrogen Cooled Temperature Chambers Liquid Carbon Dioxide Cooled Chambers AGREE Temperature Chambers HALT Test Chambers Industrial Ovens Laboratory Ovens Liquid to Liquid Thermal Shock Chambers

Here are some well known brands of temperature chambers: Thermotron Tenney Environmental Associated Environmental Blue M Espec Bemco Lunaire Despatch TestEquity Sigma Systems ESS Cincinnati Sub Zero Delta Design Ransco Russells

Temperature chambers have a temperature range depending mostly on the type of cooling provided. Mechanical refrigeration compressors can have a maximum temperature range of -70c to +170c if the compressors are in a a "cascade" configuration (two compressors). With only one compressor, the temperature range will be far less: Normally -35C to +170C.

Beside mechanical compressors, CO2 or LN2 can also be used to cool a chamber. The temperature range obtainable using CO2 or LN2 is normally -70c to +170c.

Most temperature testing includes temperature cycling. This will subject the product being tested to a range of temperatures in a specified time period. Most mechanically cooled temperature chambers have a temperature ramp rate (both up and down) of about 2C per minute (air air temperature) for a specified maximum product load. Should temperature ramp rates beyond this be required, this can be achieved by using larger compressors or CO2 or LN2. It is not unusual for a chamber using larger compressors or CO2/LN2 to achieve temperature ramp rates of up to 15C per minute or more.

To facilitate automatic temperature cycling for a temperature chamber, a programmable controller will be required. The Watlow F4 controller is a good example of this type of controller. Often chamber manufacturers design their own controllers as well. RS-232 and IEEE-488 Interfaces optional for most controllers.

Most temperature chambers are offered with the following optional items: Window in the Door Circular temperature chart recorders Feed-Through Ports Castors for easy movement of the chamber Water or air cooled compressors Dryer package to remove moisture and prevent condensation when chamber is cooled