Testing apparatus for preventing freezing of relays in electrical components

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of testing apparatus used to prevent freezing of relays in electrical components, particularly electrical components used in vehicles. One embodiment of a testing apparatus comprises a chamber with temperature control configured to control a temperature of an internal atmosphere of the chamber and a humidifier in fluid communication with the internal atmosphere of the chamber configured to supply humidified air to the internal atmosphere. A sealable opening in a wall of the chamber is configured to pass a wire harness from external the chamber to inside the chamber while maintaining a sealed environment within the chamber. The temperature control is configured to maintain a sub-zero temperature in the internal atmosphere while the humidifier maintains a saturated internal atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A test chamber for simulating low temperature and high humidity atmospheric conditions comprising:
 a chamber with temperature control configured to control a temperature of an internal atmosphere of the chamber;   a humidifier in fluid communication with the internal atmosphere of the chamber configured to supply humidified air to the internal atmosphere; and   a sealable opening in a wall of the chamber and configured to pass a wire harness from external the chamber to inside the chamber while maintaining a sealed environment within the chamber, wherein the temperature control is configured to maintain a sub-zero temperature in the internal atmosphere while the humidifier maintains a saturated internal atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The test chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature control is configured to produce a temperature of −20° C. or below. 
     
     
         3 . The test chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the humidifier has a controller configured to selectively control a relative humidity within the internal atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The test chamber of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to maintain the relative humidity of the internal atmosphere at 90% or higher. 
     
     
         5 . The test chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the wire harness is connected to a power supply external to the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The test chamber of  claim 6 , wherein the power supply is a battery of a vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The test chamber of  claim 1  further comprising a window through which the internal atmosphere can be viewed while maintaining a sealed environment. 
     
     
         8 . The test chamber of  claim 1  further comprising sealable access ports configured to allow manipulation of an electrical component being tested within the internal atmosphere of the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A test chamber for simulating low temperature and high humidity atmospheric conditions comprising:
 a sealable chamber having a first sealable opening configured to receive humidified air and a second sealable opening configured to receive a wire harness;   a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of an internal atmosphere of the chamber; and   a humidity controller configured to control a relative humidity of the internal atmosphere of the chamber, wherein the temperature controller is configured to maintain a sub-zero temperature in the internal atmosphere while the humidity controller is configured to maintain a saturated internal atmosphere.   
     
     
         10 . The test chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the sub-zero temperature is −20° C. or below. 
     
     
         11 . The test chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the humidity controller is configured to maintain the relative humidity of the internal atmosphere at 90% or higher. 
     
     
         12 . The test chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the wire harness is connected to a power supply external to the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The test chamber of  claim 12 , wherein the power supply is a battery of a vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The test chamber of  claim 9  further comprising a window through which the internal atmosphere can be viewed while maintaining a sealed environment. 
     
     
         15 . The test chamber of  claim 9  further comprising a third sealable opening configured to allow manipulation of an electrical component being tested within the internal atmosphere of the chamber.