Atlas Introduces Ci5000E Weather-Ometer for Testing Powered Electronics

­Atlas Material Testing Technology, the global leader in weathering testing technology, has introduced the Ci5000E Weather-Ometer®, a new configuration of its Ci5000 xenon arc platform designed specifically for accelerated testing of powered electronic devices and components. Developed to meet the evolving accelerated weathering requirements of the electronics industry, the Ci5000E allows manufacturers to keep electronic specimens powered and operating during controlled xenon arc exposure.

Operating electronic components generate their own heat, carry electrical loads and perform active functions that are not present when the components are evaluated while they are unpowered. Powered testing can help manufacturers evaluate how displays, sensors and other electronic functions respond to light and heat while under operational load.   

“The challenge was not simply getting power into the test chamber," said Chelsea Todd, Product Marketing Manager at Atlas. "It was doing so while maintaining the proven exposure performance, uniformity and repeatability of the Ci5000 platform.”  

The Ci5000E incorporates several design features that make powered testing possible while maintaining controlled exposure conditions:  

• Cable-access porthole for routing power and signal connections into the test chamber
• Slip-ring-enabled power delivery through the specimen rack while it remains in motion during testing
• Oscillating specimen rack that replaces the platform's continuous rotation, supporting irradiance and temperature uniformity while allowing power and signal cables to be routed and managed without winding
• Air-baffle design that supports consistent chamber airflow and exposure conditions  

Built on the Ci5000 platform widely used for accelerated xenon arc testing in automotive and other demanding applications, the Ci5000E delivers the same controlled light and temperature conditions while adding the ability to power and operate electronic specimens during exposure. It retains the largest test chamber in the Weather-Ometer family, providing room for powered specimens and their associated cabling and connections. The Ci5000E configuration does not include the Ci5000 specimen-spray option.

For more information or to request a demonstration, visit the Ci5000E webpage.