What it is

The Espec BTZ-4200 is a compact fast-ramp temperature cycling chamber that reaches change rates of 15 °C/min without cooling water or liquid nitrogen. Built on Espec's space-saving Criterion benchtop platform, it packs a 4 cu ft (113 L) workspace and a −70 to +180 °C range into a 31 in × 41.5 in footprint that needs only electrical power, effectively a portable high-rate cycling chamber. Modern scroll compressors and a cascade refrigeration system drive the fast transitions, and a Watlow F4T touch-screen controller runs the profiles.

• Temperature range −70 to +180 °C
• Change rate 15 °C/min heat-up and cool-down (13 °C/min cool-down on the 50 Hz version)
• No cooling water or liquid nitrogen required
• 4 cu ft (113 L) interior; 1000 W live load at −40 °C
• Cascade refrigeration (3 hp × 2 scroll)
• Compact 31 in × 41.5 in footprint; electrical utilities only
• Watlow F4T touch-screen controller; Ethernet with Modbus
• Stainless-steel interior and exterior; one 2 in cable port standard
• Available in 60 Hz (BTZ-4200) and 50 Hz (BTZ-4200E) versions

What it is used for

The BTZ-4200 targets high-rate thermal cycling in a small footprint:

• Aggressive temperature cycling — meeting test methods that require fast transitions and thermal stress, at up to 15 °C/min
• Reduced test time — saving significant time versus slower benchtop chambers, about 15 minutes per cycle against the BTZ-175
• Thermal stress screening — driving stress into samples during rapid hot-to-cold transitions
• Portable, utilities-light testing — high-rate cycling where only electrical power is available
• Powered-specimen and battery testing — with optional product-temperature control and lithium-ion test safety features

Key features

15 °C/min without water or LN2. Compact modern scroll compressors and cascade refrigeration deliver 15 °C/min heat-up and cool-down using electrical power only. Performance is stated per IEC 60068-3-5, measured at the supply air.

Compact and portable. A 31 in × 41.5 in footprint on the Criterion benchtop platform, needing only electrical utilities, well suited to moving between benches or labs.

4 cu ft workspace with real load capacity. 1000 W of live load at −40 °C in a 19.6 in × 15 in × 23.6 in interior.

Quality cabinet. Stainless-steel interior and exterior, rounded interior corners, a full thermal break around the door and doorframe, a rotating door latch, a 2 in (50 mm) cable port on the left with a silicone plug, and easy lift-off service panels.

Watlow F4T controller

The Watlow F4T is a touch-screen programmer and controller with an Ethernet interface and Modbus protocol (serial port optional) and an event relay for activating other equipment during a test. Data-access options include the Web Controller for full remote management and datalogging, Chamber Connect software for basic remote logging and control, Connect Library or Modbus for custom applications, and a USB data-acquisition and trend-graphing upgrade.

Why engineers pick it

High ramp rates without a facility upgrade. 15 °C/min with electrical power only, no cooling water and no liquid nitrogen, so aggressive cycling methods run without plumbing or cryogenics.

Floor-standing speed in a portable size. A 4 cu ft chamber on a 31 in × 41.5 in footprint that can be relocated as testing needs change.

Shorter cycles, more throughput. Roughly 15 minutes saved per cycle against the BTZ-175, adding up quickly over a test program.

Connected, modern control. The Watlow F4T touch screen with Ethernet/Modbus and Web Controller fits automated and remote workflows.

Choosing and ordering

Order the 60 Hz BTZ-4200 (208/230 V) or the 50 Hz BTZ-4200E (220/240 V); the 50 Hz version cools at 13 °C/min rather than 15 °C/min. Recommended options include a dry-air purge, to offset shrinking air during cooling and reduce condensation, and product-temperature control, which takes feedback from a second sensor on the product for faster transition completion.

Other options include water cooling in place of air cooling, an LN2 injection boost, a 6 in × 12 in heated window with LED lighting, adjustable stainless-steel shelving, 2 in / 4 in / 6 in cable ports, an emergency-stop button, Chino paperless or Honeywell circular-chart recorders, analog sensor outputs, and lithium-ion battery test safety features.

For change rates beyond 15 °C/min, the Global-N EGNZ4 reaches up to 30 °C/min in the same 4 cu ft interior using a water-cooled system. Full BTZ-4200 specifications are in the Specifications tab. Select your voltage and options on this page; for battery-test safety configuration, water cooling, or LN2 boost, contact W5 Engineering and we will configure and quote it with you.