Views: 0 Author: LIB Team Publish Time: 2026-10-13 Origin: Site
A car can sit at -40°C on a winter night, then see +125°C near the engine two hours later. Every ECU, sensor and
connector inside must survive that swing thousands of times. So how can a factory prove it before the car is sold?
This article explains how Automotive Environmental Stress Screening ESS Chambers recreate real vehicle conditions, which standards they meet, how Mercedes-Benz uses LIB Industry equipment, and how to choose between ESS and drive-in equipment.
A customer from Norway shared his experience after using LIB Industry's Automotive ESS Chamber: “Everything is proceeding smoothly now. The machine is now operative.” The customer also confirmed the chamber's program operation during 100-cycle testing with LIB Industry's technical support.
This equipment compresses years of road stress into days. It does this in five ways:
① Fast temperature change. It runs from -70°C to +150°C at 5°C/min, 10°C/min or 15°C/min as standard, and up to 20°C/min when customized. Solder cracks and weak connections appear in hours instead of years.
② Real humidity. Optional control from 20%RH to 98%RH allows the well-known 85°C/85%RH test for corrosion.
③ Stable accuracy. PT100 Class A sensors and PID control keep fluctuation within ±0.5°C and deviation within ±2.0°C.
④ Repeatable profiles. The controller stores 120 programs with 100 steps each, so thousands of cycles run without an operator.
⑤ Durable build. The SUS304 stainless steel interior resists corrosion during long wet and dry cycling.
1. Standards and General Test Methods
The equipment supports ISO 16750, IEC 60068, LV 124, VW 80000, GMW3172, SAE J1455 and GB/T 28046. These standards check heat, cold, damp heat and rapid change. Most tests use 6 samples and strict hold times.
| Standard | Test | Typical Method |
|---|---|---|
| LV 124 K-05 | Thermal shock | Tmin to Tmax, 15 min hold, transition ≤10 s, 300 cycles |
| LV 124 K-08 | Damp heat, cyclic | 55°C upper limit, 144 h, 6 cycles |
| LV 124 K-14 | Damp heat, steady state | 40°C/93%RH for 21 days |
| IEC 60068-2-1 | Cold test | -65°C to +5°C, dwell 2/16/72/96 h |
| IEC 60068-2-14 | Temperature change | Nb ramp at 1, 3 or 5°C/min |
| IEC 60068-2-78 | Damp heat | 40°C/93%RH for 4/10/21/56 days |
2. LIB Industry as a Reliable Supplier for Automotive Parts and Electronics
LIB Industry has built environmental test equipment since 2012 and serves customers in more than 60 countries. Its products carry CE, RoHS and CSA certification. Each unit passes performance testing, safety inspection and commissioning before shipment. Partners include Mercedes-Benz, BYD, Aptera Motors, Magna, Nidec, Fluid Routing Solutions and Electricite de France. Support includes a 3-year warranty, lifetime technical service and 24/7 English help.
Mercedes-Benz Tests Battery Packs with LIB Industry Customized Equipment
In September 2021, a Mercedes-Benz engineer asked for equipment to test battery pack performance under high and low temperature and oil immersion. LIB Industry supplied a customized T-350C unit with battery fixtures, power connection openings and a high-power heating tube for the oil tank. The purchase agreement came in September 2022, and the equipment ran from November 2022.
A typical test runs in six steps:
① Mount the pack on the custom fixture and connect power.
② Set the profile from -40°C to +85°C at 10°C/min.
③ Hold 15 min at each extreme after the pack reaches equilibrium.
④ Repeat the cycle on the programmed schedule, such as 300 cycles for LV 124 K-05.
⑤ Heat the oil tank and run the immersion test.
⑥ Check function, then export the data by USB or Ethernet.
Mercedes-Benz was satisfied for these reasons:
① High safety. Over-temperature, compressor, phase, leakage and emergency stop protections.
② Certified. CE and IEC compliant design.
③ Accurate. ±0.5°C fluctuation and ±2.0°C deviation.
④ Free customization. Fixtures, openings and sizes are made to the test need.
⑤ Peace of mind. A 3-year warranty and lifetime service.
⑥ Patient support. Technical staff answer quickly and offer on-site training.
⑦ Corrosion resistance. SUS304 interior and coated steel exterior.
⑧ Good value. One unit covers many tests at a competitive price.
| LIB popular Temperature Humidity Chambers | |||
Standing temperature humidity chamber Precise climate simulation, Reliable long-term stability testing |
Combined Climate and Vibration Chamber Simulate temperature, humidity, and vibration stresses in one test |
Small temperature humidity chamber Compact footprint design, High-accuracy environmental control |
Walk-In temperature humidity chamber Large-capacity testing space, Ideal for oversized products |
Industrial High-Temperature Vacuum Drying Oven Uniform heat distribution, Efficient material drying |
Extreme thermal stress simulation, Fast failure detection capability |
Ultra-low temperature performance, Reliable cold resistance evaluation |
LV124 K-12 Temperature Shock and Splash Water Test Chamber Simulating extreme thermal shock conditions combined with splash water exposure, as defined in LV 124. |
ESS equipment screens small parts quickly. Drive-in equipment holds a whole vehicle.
| Item | Drive-In Automotive Environmental Stress Screening ESS Chambers | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
 |  | |
| Test object | ECUs, sensors, connectors, battery modules | Whole vehicles, large packs, motors |
| Size | 100L to 1000L | Up to 98 m³, as in the Nidec project |
| Temperature change | 5 to 20°C/min | Slower, gradual change at ≤1°C/min per IEC 60068-2 |
| Range | -70°C to +150°C | Customized to the vehicle |
| Main standards | LV 124 K-05, ISO 16750, IEC 60068-2-14 | LV 124, ISO 20653, IEC 60068 |
| Irradiance | Not used for screening | 1.120 kW/m² ±10% for IEC solar tests, 35 to 150 W/m² for xenon, 0.55 W/m²/nm at 340 nm for SAE J2527, 0.48 W/m²/nm at 310 nm for SAE J2020 |
To choose:
① Pick ESS equipment for fast screening of parts and production lines.
② Pick drive-in equipment when the whole vehicle must be tested.
③ Pick by standard. Fast cycling points to LV 124 K-05, while sunlight tests need irradiance control.
Q1: What ramp rates are available?
5, 10 and 15°C/min as standard, and 20°C/min when customized.
Q2: Can humidity be added?
Yes. The optional range is 20%RH to 98%RH.
Q3: Can the equipment be customized for batteries?
Yes. Options include explosion relief, smoke detection, fire suppression and larger volumes.
Q4: What service is included?
A 3-year warranty, lifetime technical service, 24/7 English support, remote help and on-site training.
Q5: How is the equipment shipped?
It goes through quality inspection, packing and safe transport. The Mercedes-Benz unit was running about 2 months after the purchase agreement. Lead time varies with model and customization.
Q6: How many cycles can it run?
With 120 programs of 100 steps each, it can run thousands of cycles without an operator.
✓ Fast delivery 7-15 days with professional commissioning support
✓ 3-year warranty available
✓ Customized solutions for automotive parts, batteries and electronics
✓ Compliance with major automotive testing standards including LV 124, ISO 16750 and IEC 60068
✓ Technical support before, during and after installation
Need an Automotive Environmental Stress Screening ESS Chamber for ECU, battery module, sensor or connector testing?
LIB Industry provides environmental testing solutions for automotive manufacturers, suppliers and laboratories worldwide. Our equipment portfolio includes Automotive Environmental Stress Screening ESS Chambers, Thermal Shock Test Chambers, , Walk-In Environmental Test Chambers, and so on. We help customers choose the right test equipment, standards and configurations for ECU, sensor, connector and battery testing.
Contact LIB Industry today to discuss your automotive testing requirements and request a customized quotation.
