Model: SOLARBOX 1500/1500E/3000/3000E

Maker: Cofomegra - Italia

Radiant energy in the SOLARBOX is provided by a single superior air-cooled Xenon Lamp generating an irradiance level up to two times the sun one. Irradiance is the rate at which light energy falls onto the samples.

A weathering tester must  control irradiance if it  is to achieve accurate and reproducible test results.

SOLARBOX offers constant measurement and control of irradiance during every test, compensating for lamp and UV filter ageing via a closed loop irradiance narrow-band sensor control system.

Irradiation uniformity is guaranteed by a  parabolic reflector chamber with the Xenon Lamp in the focus, the best design for a reliable flat-bed xenon exposure system and very good agreement with rotating drum xenon exposures.

Temperature Control:

Temperature  is  another  component  of  the  end  use  environment  which  plays  a  key  role  in  material degradation. Heat in the natural environment comes from the infrared portion of natural sunlight.

An object exposed to direct sunlight is always warmer than the air surrounding it. Your product is exposed in the same manner in our SOLARBOX tester.

The radiant heat received from the Xenon Lamp is continuously monitored and controlled by a B.S.T. (Black Standard Thermometer) built in the plane of test panels near your samples.

In SOLARBOX 1500e and 3000e there is the control and display of the black standard temperature between 35°C and 100°C. The importance  of temperature in  the weathering degradation process is that the  kinetic reaction rate doubles for every 10°C temperature increase.

Consequently, because the temperature produces an accelerated ageing, it is essential to be able to control of B.S.T. during exposure to filtered Xenon radiation.

Simulating the effect of rain and moisture:

A flooding system for conducting weathering tests with freely selectable flooding interval is an available option for SOLARBOX 1500e and 3000e:

•       water level indicator
•       continuous flooding possible
•        flooding   intervals   selectable   between   1   and   999 minutes throughout the test program
•       water temperature of 30°C to 50°C.

During flooding, the Xenon Lamp can be programmed on or off.

The flooding system operates  with demineralised water from a closed recycling circuit so to minimize the need of demineralised water but offering the same test results of a high consumption spray system.

PVC and corrosion-resistant materials ensure long life of this tank pump system: capacity up to 50 litres.

Xenon lamp and UV filters combination optimize sunlight:

The SOLARBOX 1500-1500e and SOLARBOX 3000-3000e are 4 ultimate filtered Xenon light exposure and weathering instruments which simulate realistic natural outdoor weathering conditions.

The large dimensions of SOLARBOX 3000 and 3000e test chamber can accommodate 3 dimensional objects and finished industry products.

Accelerating the process requires the accurate reproduction of the sun’s rays.

The air cooled Xenon Lamp in the SOLARBOX replicates the total spectrum of the sun and not just the short wavelength UV, as we have using UVA or UVB fluorescent lamps.

Easily interchangeable light filters allow the reproduction of the specific spectral distributions found in your product’s end-use environments.

Features of the solarbox 4 models:

SOLARBOX 1500/3000 standard versions include the following equipment:

–     timer and time elapsed meter for accurate control of test sequence

–     superior air cooled Xenon Lamp

–     rotary knob to adjust irradiance level

–     control system for constant irradiance

– basic 290 nm. filter for maximum UV radiation effect.

SOLARBOX 1500e/3000e enhanced models are additionally equipped with microprocessor control of irradiance,

heat and flooding cycles, monitoring and controlling the test process:

–     microprocessor controls for programming the test parameters

–     LCD with 4 lines to display the test parameters and program menus

–     control and monitoring of irradiance and black panel temperature

–     optional measurement and display of temperature and relative humidity in the test chamber

–     free programming, up to 15 different test programs, input via keyboard

       link-up with programmable flooding system accessories.

Radiometer and black panel standard thermometer:

The UV MULTIMETER is a battery operated radiometer and thermometer, specially developed for use with the SOLARBOX,

but it can control the output of any UV Lamp in many industrial applications.

It is portable and together with its case, can easily be returned to the  manufacturer (CO.FO.ME.GRA)

for re-certification of calibration to an official national laboratory standard.

The UV MULTIMETER measures either irradiance or temperature using the following easily interchangeable, good cosine response sensor:

•          UV 295 - 400 NM large band sensor
•          UV 340 NM narrow band sensor
•          UV 420 NM narrow band sensor
•          Black Standard Temperature sensor.
•          Illuminance sensor spectral response similar.

C.I.E. photopic luminosity curve. Measuring range up to 2 MEGALUX.

Test report:

With SOLARBOX 1500e and 3000e the test conditions and all the parameters are periodically saved in a PC or sent to

a printer through a RS 232 serial interface: a simple but powerful tool that fully documents the test.

Technical Data:

Hust Vietnam