What is a test chamber?
Test chambers are enclosed units much like an oven that can be used to simulate a wide range of environmental conditions, giving you the options to control variables including temperature, humidity and light. They are used across multiple industry types such as aeronautical engineering, electrical components and polymer testing. There are a number of product ranges available and the most suitable depends on what parameters you are wanting to regulate, the level of programming control you wish to have over these and what other extra features are required for your application.
If you are unsure on whether you need a climate chamber, or if an incubator for example will suffice then continue reading, we will also provide answers to some of the most asked questions relating to test chamber purchases.
If you need help selecting the right type of test chamber for your application, please follow our other guide here.
What are the differences between a test chamber, incubator and oven?
With overlap in the operation, it can be confusing to work out the exact differences between test chambers, incubators and ovens. Below we summarise the key differences:
- Otherwise known as a climate chamber, environmental chamber and humidity chamber
- Controllable parameters : temperature, humidity, CO2, light
- Can have heating and cooling
- Will often work to higher temperatures than an incubator
- Designed for stability and ageing type tests. Models may have appropriate settings to perform tests in adherence with international testing guidelines
- Most commonly used in engineering type industries
- Controllable parameters: temperature and on some models CO2,O2 and humidity
- Can have heating and cooling Will generally work to a lower top temperature than a test chamber (typically no higher than around 80C).
- Designed for gentle heating and cooling and most commonly used in the life science and microbiology industries
- Some models are certified medical devices
- Controllable parameter: temperature
- Can only provide heating
- Can work to temperatures even higher than a test chamber (and incubators) but does not offer control on any other parameters.
- Vacuum models are available, lowering the temperatures needed by introduction of a vacuum pressure
- Can be commonly found across all industry types including life science, engineering, food testing and environmental.
Most asked questions
Below, we have compiled some of our most asked questions. If you have a question that is not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact us.
An external supply of demineralised low conductivity water is needed for steam generation in units with humidity. For exact water specifications, please consult user manuals.
Please check out our other guide here.
Request Information from a technical specialist
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The information provided is intended as a guide, please check exact product manuals and contact us if you are unsure on anything.