The Q-Lab Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE Flat-Array Xenon Arc Test Chamber with Humidity and Chiller is a full-size xenon arc weathering tester for laboratories that need controlled full-spectrum light, temperature, relative humidity and lower chamber air temperature capability. The Xe-3-HCE model uses three 1800 W full-spectrum ozone-free xenon arc lamps, a large flat-array specimen tray, SOLAR EYE irradiance control and a separate chiller to support lower temperature exposure conditions than standard Xe-3 humidity models. It is designed for technical buyers testing coatings, plastics, automotive materials, packaging, sealants, printed materials, textiles and three-dimensional components where sunlight, heat and humidity must be simulated under repeatable laboratory conditions. For laboratories comparing Q-SUN Xe-3 configurations, the Xe-3-HCE is the humidity plus chiller version without water spray, back spray or dual spray.
Test Standards Supported
The Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE supports xenon arc weathering and lightfastness methods where the selected cycle can be run with irradiance, chamber air temperature, black panel or insulated black panel temperature, relative humidity and chiller-supported temperature control. Because this HCE configuration does not include spray, method cycles requiring water spray should be reviewed against Xe-3-HSE, Xe-3-HSCE, Xe-3-HDSE, Xe-3-HBSE or other spray-capable Xe-3 configurations before purchase.
- ASTM G151, exposure of non-metallic materials in accelerated test devices using laboratory light sources.
- ASTM G155, xenon arc exposure of non-metallic materials.
- ISO 4892-2, plastics exposed to laboratory xenon arc light sources.
- ISO 16474-2, paints and varnishes exposed to laboratory xenon arc light sources.
- ASTM D2565, xenon arc exposure of plastics intended for outdoor applications.
- ASTM D4459, xenon arc exposure of plastics for indoor applications.
- ASTM D6695, xenon arc exposure of paints and related coatings.
- ASTM D7869, xenon arc exposure of automotive coatings, subject to cycle requirements.
- SAE J2412, accelerated exposure of automotive interior trim components.
- SAE J2527, accelerated exposure of automotive exterior materials.
- AATCC TM16 and AATCC TM169, textile lightfastness and weather resistance methods.
- ISO 105-B02, ISO 105-B04, ISO 105-B06 and ISO 105-B10, textile colour fastness and automotive textile exposure methods.
- GB/T 16422.2 and JIS K 7350-2, xenon arc methods for plastics and related materials.
- ICH Guideline Q1B, photostability workflows where the selected test conditions match the Xe-3-HCE configuration.
Configuration Notes
- This Xe-3-HCE model includes relative humidity control and a separate chiller for lower chamber air temperature operation.
- This model does not include front water spray. For spray plus chiller, review Xe-3-HSCE.
- This model does not include dual spray. For dual spray configurations, review Xe-3-HDSE or related DS models.
- This model does not include back spray. For back spray configurations, review Xe-3-HBSE or related BS models.
- This model supports simultaneous chamber air temperature and black panel or insulated black panel temperature control.
- Method suitability depends on the selected optical filter, irradiance control point, temperature setpoint, humidity setpoint and whether the method requires spray.
Key Features
- Full-size Xe-3 flat-array chamber for high-capacity xenon arc weathering and lightfastness testing.
- Three 1800 W full-spectrum ozone-free xenon arc lamps for realistic simulation of sunlight across ultraviolet, visible and infrared wavelengths.
- Relative humidity control from 20-95% for test cycles where humidity affects material degradation or drying behaviour.
- Separate chiller for lower chamber air temperature operation, supporting temperature-sensitive samples and lower-temperature exposure cycles.
- Large 45 x 72 cm flat specimen tray for standard panels, larger specimens and selected three-dimensional parts.
- SOLAR EYE irradiance control with selectable 340 nm, 420 nm or TUV control points for repeatable light exposure.
- Model E feature set with dual touchscreen displays and improved irradiance/lamp efficiency.
- AUTOCAL UC20 calibration compatibility for irradiance control and black panel thermometer calibration.
- Air-cooled xenon lamp design for lower maintenance complexity compared with water-cooled lamp systems.
- Standard Ethernet datalogging plus USB data transfer and software update support.
Performance Specifications
- Chamber type: full-size flat-array xenon arc weathering test chamber.
- Light source: 3 x 1800 W full-spectrum ozone-free xenon arc lamps.
- Specimen capacity: 55 specimens at 51 x 102 mm.
- Specimen area: 45 x 72 cm, depth x width.
- Specimen orientation: 10° measured from horizontal.
- Maximum evenly distributed specimen weight on tray: 23 kg.
- Black panel temperature range with chiller: 35-110 °C in light, 30-90 °C with IR filter and 15-50 °C in dark.
- Insulated black panel temperature range with chiller: 36-120 °C in light, 31-100 °C with IR filter and 15-50 °C in dark.
- Chamber air temperature range with chiller: 25-65 °C in light and 15-50 °C in dark.
- Relative humidity range: 20-95%.
- Humidifier water consumption: 44 L/day, with actual use dependent on test and laboratory conditions.
- Xe-3 chamber external dimensions: 91 x 178 x 99 cm.
- Chiller external dimensions: 78 x 94 x 94 cm.
- Xe-3 chamber weight: 190-233 kg, depending on configuration.
- Chiller weight: 85 kg.
- Electrical requirements: 208 V or 230 V, 3-phase at 44 A, 50/60 Hz.
Specimen Capacity and Configuration
The Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE uses a large flat-array specimen tray with a 45 x 72 cm exposure area and capacity for 55 specimens at 51 x 102 mm. The near-horizontal 10° specimen orientation is useful for weathering tests where light, heat and humidity exposure need to be applied to flat panels, larger specimens or selected three-dimensional parts. Q-Lab notes that the Xe-1 and Xe-3 specimen capacities are listed without specimen holders, so holder selection should be confirmed during configuration.
The Xe-3 chamber is also useful for laboratories that need to expose larger or more complex samples than a tabletop Xe-1 can practically accommodate. The listed maximum evenly distributed specimen weight is 23 kg when the specimen tray is used. If the specimen tray is removed from the Xe-3, the chamber floor can hold evenly distributed specimens up to 90 kg, which can be valuable for selected product parts, assemblies and non-standard samples where the test method permits that arrangement.
Operating Specifications
The Xe-3-HCE is a non-S and non-W configuration, so it follows Q-Lab’s water requirement for non-spray, non-immersion models: inlet water pressure of 0.7-6.2 bar, resistivity greater than 200 kΩ.cm, conductivity less than 5 μS/cm and total dissolved solids less than 2.5 ppm. Q-Lab also recommends maintaining pH 6-8 for best performance. Because this HCE model does not include water spray, water use is related to humidity control rather than spray exposure, with humidifier consumption listed at 44 L/day under typical conditions.
For facility planning, the Xe-3 chamber external dimensions are 91 x 178 x 99 cm, and the separate chiller dimensions are 78 x 94 x 94 cm. The chiller is a separate floor-standing unit, so the installation space should allow for both the main chamber and the chiller, as well as service access and ventilation. Q-Lab notes that the rear Xe-3 vent duct can be removed to reduce the chamber depth from 99 cm to 88 cm for movement through small doors.
The electrical requirement for the Xe-3-HCE configuration is 208 V or 230 V, 3-phase at 44 A, with voltage tolerance of plus or minus 10% and 50/60 Hz operation. Q-Lab’s recommended laboratory ambient condition is 23 ± 5 °C and 50 ± 25% relative humidity. The chamber should not be operated in laboratory ambient conditions above 36 °C or above 80% RH, as operation outside the recommended range can cause temperature, humidity or other faults.
Why Choose the Q-Lab Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE?
The Q-Lab Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE is a strong choice for laboratories that need full-size flat-array xenon arc testing with relative humidity control and lower chamber air temperature capability. Compared with Xe-3-HE, it adds the separate chiller for applications where lower CAT ranges are needed. Compared with spray-capable Xe-3 models, it focuses on light, heat, RH and chiller-supported temperature control without adding water spray hardware that may not be required for the target method.
For technical buyers, the main commercial value is controlled exposure flexibility. The Xe-3-HCE combines three air-cooled xenon lamps, SOLAR EYE irradiance control, humidity control, BP or IBP plus CAT control, chiller-supported temperature ranges, AUTOCAL calibration and a large flat specimen tray. This supports repeatable, documented weathering and lightfastness testing for quality control, R and D screening, supplier comparison, formulation validation and customer specification work.
John Morris Group supplies Q-Lab capital test equipment across Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the Pacific Islands, supporting customers with model selection, facility planning, calibration workflow, installation considerations and after-sales support. Contact John Morris Group for a quote on the Q-Lab Q-SUN Xe-3-HCE Flat-Array Xenon Arc Test Chamber with Humidity and Chiller, including confirmation of the correct optical filters, detector assembly, specimen holders, calibration accessories, water supply, electrical services and installation requirements for your test programme.
