LabCompanion WGD/SH Series Constant Temperature & Humidity Environmental Test Chamber

Overview

The LabCompanion WGD/SH Series Constant Temperature & Humidity Environmental Test Chamber is an engineered solution for accelerated environmental stress evaluation of materials, components, and finished products under controlled thermal and hygrometric conditions. Designed in strict accordance with GB/T 2423.3—China’s national standard equivalent to IEC 60068-2-78 for constant damp heat testing—the chamber provides stable, repeatable exposure environments essential for reliability validation, quality assurance, and regulatory conformance in electronics, automotive, aerospace, and packaging industries. Its operational principle relies on dual-loop PID-controlled air circulation combined with precision steam humidification and cascade refrigeration, enabling precise maintenance of temperature (typically −40 °C to +150 °C) and relative humidity (20–98% RH) across the working volume. The chamber’s thermodynamic architecture ensures uniformity ≤ ±2 °C in temperature and ≤ ±3% RH in humidity (per ISO 16750-4 Annex A verification methodology), supporting both long-term stability tests and short-duration qualification cycles.

Key Features

• Robust structural design: External enclosure fabricated from cold-rolled steel with electrostatic powder coating for corrosion resistance; interior chamber constructed from mirror-finished SUS304 stainless steel to withstand continuous condensation and chemical exposure.
• High-precision climate control: Fuji Electric PXR-series digital PID controller with dual-sensor feedback (Pt100 RTD for temperature, capacitive polymer sensor for RH), offering programmable ramp-soak profiles, real-time deviation alarms, and manual/auto mode switching.
• Reliable refrigeration system: Imported hermetic scroll compressor paired with copper-aluminum finned evaporator and high-efficiency condenser, ensuring consistent cooling performance even at high-humidity setpoints.
• Comprehensive safety architecture: Integrated multi-layer protection including thermal fuses, earth leakage circuit breakers (ELCB), fan motor overheat detection, compressor discharge temperature monitoring, and three-phase motor overload relays with voltage/current/temperature sensing.
• Flexible integration capability: Standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces allow seamless coupling with universal tensile testers (e.g., Instron, MTS, or local OEM systems) via analog 0–10 V or RS485 Modbus RTU signal synchronization.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The WGD/SH series accommodates test specimens up to 500 mm × 500 mm × 500 mm (custom volumes available), supporting PCB assemblies, polymer enclosures, lithium battery modules, adhesive bonds, and coated metal substrates. All units undergo factory calibration traceable to CNAS-accredited laboratories and conform to GB/T 2423.3 requirements for steady-state humidity maintenance, temperature gradient limits (<2 °C across load zone), and recovery time specifications (<30 min after door opening). While not certified to UL 1995 or IEC 60068-3-5 out-of-the-box, the platform supports third-party validation for ISO/IEC 17025-compliant test labs conducting GLP-aligned environmental qualification per MIL-STD-810H Method 502.7 or automotive standards such as GMW 3172 and VW 80101.

Software & Data Management

The embedded controller logs temperature and humidity data at user-defined intervals (1–600 seconds) into non-volatile memory with timestamping (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS). Optional USB export enables CSV-formatted reports compatible with Excel, MATLAB, or LIMS platforms. For enterprise deployment, LabCompanion offers optional Ethernet-enabled data acquisition modules supporting Modbus TCP and OPC UA protocols—enabling integration into centralized MES or QMS systems compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and signatures. Audit trail functionality (user login, parameter changes, alarm events) is configurable per ISO 13485 and IATF 16949 documentation requirements.

Applications

• Accelerated aging of conformal coatings and potting compounds under 40 °C / 93% RH for IPC-J-STD-020 moisture sensitivity level (MSL) pre-conditioning.
• Stability assessment of lithium-ion battery cells during storage qualification per UN 38.3 Section 4.4 (high-humidity soak prior to vibration/impact).
• Validation of seal integrity in medical device packaging using ASTM F1929 dye penetration after 7-day exposure at 55 °C / 90% RH.
• Thermal cycling support for automotive ECUs undergoing ISO 16750-4 combined temperature/humidity stress profiles.
• Corrosion resistance evaluation of galvanized fasteners per ASTM B117 salt spray correlation studies.

FAQ

What standards does the WGD/SH series comply with by default?
It meets the technical requirements of GB/T 2423.3 for constant damp heat testing and includes built-in verification routines aligned with ISO 16750-4 Annex A for chamber uniformity and stability.
Can the chamber operate continuously for 1,000-hour tests?
Yes—designed for unattended long-duration operation with redundant safety interlocks, automatic defrost sequencing, and predictive maintenance alerts based on compressor runtime and sensor drift trends.
Is remote monitoring supported without additional hardware?
Basic USB data download is standard; Ethernet connectivity and cloud-based telemetry require optional communication modules ordered at time of purchase.
Does LabCompanion provide IQ/OQ documentation packages?
Yes—validated installation and operational qualification protocols (in English) are available upon request, including equipment specification sheets, calibration certificates, and test protocol templates aligned with GMP Annex 15 and ISO/IEC 17025.
What is the typical lead time for custom chamber configurations?
Standard WGD/SH models ship within 4–6 weeks; chambers with extended temperature ranges (e.g., −70 °C), larger volumes (>1 m³), or specialized internal fixtures require 10–14 weeks from order confirmation.