When do I need a three-zone chamber instead of two-zone?

Choose the three-zone design when you'd rather not move the product in a basket during the test, since it switches hot and cold air with dampers instead, or when your qualification programme follows ISO 26262 or IEC 61508, which Sonacme lists for the three-zone series. For standard MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-883 or IEC 60068-2-14 hot/cold transfer testing, the two-zone design is sufficient.

What's the advantage of a liquid-to-liquid configuration over air-to-air?

Liquid immersion transfers thermal energy to and from the test article faster than air, producing a more severe and rapid thermal transition. It's used where a test standard or the product's actual service environment specifically calls for liquid-medium shock testing rather than the standard air-to-air transfer method.

Does the choice of refrigerant affect test results?

No — the LOW GWP R-449A refrigerant is a lower-environmental-impact substitute that also reduces energy consumption, but it doesn't change the thermal shock performance delivered to the test article. It's a facility efficiency and environmental consideration rather than a test-method variable.

Thermal Shock Test Chambers

Rapid Hot/Cold Transition Testing to MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-883, and IEC 60068-2-14

Solder joints, encapsulation, and bonded material interfaces can survive gradual temperature cycling that would reveal a defect immediately under a rapid, extreme transition — which is exactly the gap thermal shock testing is designed to close. Rather than ramping temperature within one chamber, thermal shock testing exposes the product to a near-instantaneous step between hot and cold, stressing interfaces and joints far more aggressively than a slow ramp would.

Sonacme's thermal shock chambers come in two-zone and three-zone designs, each in six sizes from 50L to 1000L. The two-zone chambers move the product in a basket between a hot zone and a cold zone, and cover MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-883, IEC 60068-2-14 and applicable JEDEC methods. The three-zone chambers use damper switching instead of a moving basket, and Sonacme lists them against MIL-STD-883, ISO 26262 (road vehicle functional safety) and IEC 61508. Sonacme also offers vertical, horizontal and liquid configurations.

Within each design, temperature performance is the same across the range, so the choice of model comes down to test space and load capacity. The tables below compare every model and link to its full specifications.

The chambers use LOW GWP R-449A refrigerant, cutting energy use by up to 40% compared to standard refrigerants, and DANFOSS and SAGINOMIYA solenoid valves for reliable refrigerant flow control across the repeated, high-cycle-count operation thermal shock testing typically demands.

Sonacme two-zone thermal shock test chamber, studio product photo

Two-Zone Thermal Shock Chambers (SS/2 Series)

Basket-transfer thermal shock between a hot zone (up to +200°C) and a cold zone (down to −65°C). Six sizes from 50L to 1000L.

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Common to every model

Hot zone range	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone range	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C (choose the grade when ordering)
Transfer method	Basket moves between the hot and cold zones
Standards referenced	MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-883, IEC 60068-2-14, JEDEC

Which model do I need?

Temperature performance is the same across the range, so choose by test space (the largest product or fixture you need to fit) and load capacity (the total mass in the basket). Check the external size against your floor space. Click a model for its full specifications.

Model	Volume	Test space W×H×D (mm)	Max load	External size W×H×D (mm)
SS/50/65/2	50L	350×400×350	30kg	965×2010×1524
SS/100/65/2	100L	450×500×450	30kg	1050×2050×1650
SS/200/65/2	200L	650×460×670	50kg	1300×2050×1900
SS/300/65/2	300L	960×460×670	50kg	1700×2050×1900
SS/500/65/2	500L	960×650×800	100kg	1700×2350×2150
SS/1000/65/2	1000L	1100×900×1000	100kg	2000×2550×2400

Model specifications

50L · 30kg

SS/50/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Volume	50L
Test space (W×H×D)	350×400×350mm
External size (W×H×D)	965×2010×1524mm
Test area load capacity	30kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Transfer	Basket switching between zones

Enquire about SS/50/65/2 →

100L · 30kg

SS/100/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Volume	100L
Test space (W×H×D)	450×500×450mm
External size (W×H×D)	1050×2050×1650mm
Test area load capacity	30kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Transfer	Basket switching between zones

Enquire about SS/100/65/2 →

200L · 50kg

SS/200/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Volume	200L
Test space (W×H×D)	650×460×670mm
External size (W×H×D)	1300×2050×1900mm
Test area load capacity	50kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Transfer	Basket switching between zones

Enquire about SS/200/65/2 →

300L · 50kg

SS/300/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Volume	300L
Test space (W×H×D)	960×460×670mm
External size (W×H×D)	1700×2050×1900mm
Test area load capacity	50kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Transfer	Basket switching between zones

Enquire about SS/300/65/2 →

500L · 100kg

SS/500/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Volume	500L
Test space (W×H×D)	960×650×800mm
External size (W×H×D)	1700×2350×2150mm
Test area load capacity	100kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Transfer	Basket switching between zones

Enquire about SS/500/65/2 →

1000L · 100kg

SS/1000/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Volume	1000L
Test space (W×H×D)	1100×900×1000mm
External size (W×H×D)	2000×2550×2400mm
Test area load capacity	100kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Transfer	Basket switching between zones

Enquire about SS/1000/65/2 →

Sonacme three-zone thermal shock test chamber, studio product photo

Three-Zone Thermal Shock Chambers (SS/3 Series)

Damper-switched thermal shock: hot and cold air is switched into the test area instead of moving a basket. Same six sizes, with Sonacme citing ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 for this series.

Enquire About This Series →

Common to every model

Hot zone range	+60 to +200°C
Heating time	Ambient to +200°C within 15 minutes
Cold zone range	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C (choose the grade when ordering)
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C in 40–50 minutes, depending on size
Switching method	Damper switching
Standards referenced	MIL-STD-883, ISO 26262, IEC 61508

Which model do I need?

As with the two-zone series, choose by test space and load capacity. Larger chambers take a little longer to pull down to −75°C, and the three-zone cabinets are wider than the equivalent two-zone models.

Model	Volume	Test space W×H×D (mm)	Max load	Cool-down to −75°C	External size W×H×D (mm)
SS/50/65/3	50L	350×400×350	30kg	40 min	1330×2010×1524
SS/100/65/3	100L	450×500×450	30kg	40 min	1450×2050×1650
SS/200/65/3	200L	650×460×670	50kg	40 min	1650×2050×1900
SS/300/65/3	300L	960×460×670	50kg	45 min	1980×2050×2000
SS/500/65/3	500L	960×650×800	100kg	45 min	1980×2250×2400
SS/1000/65/3	1000L	1100×900×1000	100kg	50 min	2050×2250×2400

Model specifications

50L · 30kg

SS/50/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

Volume	50L
Test space (W×H×D)	350×400×350mm
External size (W×H×D)	1330×2010×1524mm
Test area load capacity	30kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C, ambient to +200°C within 15 min
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C within 40 min
Switching	Damper switching

Enquire about SS/50/65/3 →

100L · 30kg

SS/100/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

Volume	100L
Test space (W×H×D)	450×500×450mm
External size (W×H×D)	1450×2050×1650mm
Test area load capacity	30kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C, ambient to +200°C within 15 min
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C within 40 min
Switching	Damper switching

Enquire about SS/100/65/3 →

200L · 50kg

SS/200/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

Volume	200L
Test space (W×H×D)	650×460×670mm
External size (W×H×D)	1650×2050×1900mm
Test area load capacity	50kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C, ambient to +200°C within 15 min
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C within 40 min
Switching	Damper switching

Enquire about SS/200/65/3 →

300L · 50kg

SS/300/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

Volume	300L
Test space (W×H×D)	960×460×670mm
External size (W×H×D)	1980×2050×2000mm
Test area load capacity	50kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C, ambient to +200°C within 15 min
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C within 45 min
Switching	Damper switching

Enquire about SS/300/65/3 →

500L · 100kg

SS/500/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

Volume	500L
Test space (W×H×D)	960×650×800mm
External size (W×H×D)	1980×2250×2400mm
Test area load capacity	100kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C, ambient to +200°C within 15 min
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C within 45 min
Switching	Damper switching

Enquire about SS/500/65/3 →

1000L · 100kg

SS/1000/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

Volume	1000L
Test space (W×H×D)	1100×900×1000mm
External size (W×H×D)	2050×2250×2400mm
Test area load capacity	100kg
Hot zone	+60 to +200°C, ambient to +200°C within 15 min
Cold zone	A: −40 to 0°C · B: −55 to 0°C · C: −65 to 0°C
Cooling time	Ambient to −75°C within 50 min
Switching	Damper switching

Enquire about SS/1000/65/3 →

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the two-zone and three-zone chambers?

Both cover the same hot (+60 to +200°C) and cold (down to −65°C) ranges in the same six test-space sizes. The two-zone chambers move the product in a basket between the hot and cold zones. The three-zone chambers switch the air with dampers instead, and Sonacme lists them against ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 as well as MIL-STD-883.

How do I pick a size?

Start with the largest product or fixture you need to test and the total mass you'll load. The 50L and 100L chambers carry up to 30kg, 200L and 300L up to 50kg, and 500L and 1000L up to 100kg.

How fast do the three-zone chambers reach temperature?

Ambient to +200°C within 15 minutes. Ambient to −75°C takes about 40 minutes for the 50–200L chambers, 45 minutes for 300L and 500L, and 50 minutes for 1000L.

Thermal Shock Test Chambers

Two-Zone Thermal Shock Chambers (SS/2 Series)

Common to every model

Which model do I need?

Model specifications

SS/50/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

SS/100/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

SS/200/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

SS/300/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

SS/500/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

SS/1000/65/2 Two-Zone Chamber

Three-Zone Thermal Shock Chambers (SS/3 Series)

Common to every model

Which model do I need?

Model specifications

SS/50/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

SS/100/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

SS/200/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

SS/300/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

SS/500/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

SS/1000/65/3 Three-Zone Chamber

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