They Auctioned This $40,000+ Test Chamber For $1000

An environmental test chamber, originally valued over $40,000, was acquired for just $1,300 at auction, presenting a significant restoration challenge.

• A heavily discounted environmental test chamber, originally worth over $40,000, was acquired for $1,300.

• The chamber requires extensive restoration, including new refrigerants and a cooling system, after a decade of outdoor storage.

• Despite logistical and technical hurdles, the display works, and a proper manual was found, providing critical resources for the project.

A large environmental test chamber was purchased at auction for a fraction of its original cost, despite having been stored outside for nearly a decade with its refrigerant drained. This acquisition aims to expand product testing capacity, but its restoration requires overcoming substantial logistical, technical, and financial hurdles, including moving the massive unit, sourcing specialty refrigerants, and replacing outdated control systems.

Impulse Purchase & Logistics

• 00:00:05 A large environmental test chamber, too big for the existing fume hood, was bought for a low price, but moving it into the facility is proving difficult. Initial plans for using car dollies failed as the unit's weight bent the equipment, necessitating the use of a forklift to maneuver it over obstacles and into the building. The chamber was purchased for approximately $1,300, significantly less than the $30,000-$40,000 paid for a similar existing unit.

Condition & Capabilities

• 00:01:47 The acquired environmental chamber, though believed by the seller to be in working order, is not currently functional, having been stored idle outside for almost 10 years with its refrigerant drained and replaced by inert gas. The two-stage chamber uses two different refrigerants, and is capable of reaching temperatures as low as -177 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for testing large systems and potentially expanding beyond the current chamber's smaller capacity.

Technical Challenges & Costs

• 00:03:02 Restoring the chamber involves significant technical challenges and costs, including the need for an external cooling tower and expensive specialty refrigerants, with one type costing $4,000 for a single required cylinder. The unit, dating from 2008, also has a cooked display interface, and its internal control system features a Windows Vista Business Edition PC that likely needs replacement, along with identifying its proprietary control software.

Unexpected Discoveries & Restoration Plan

• 00:13:01 Despite initial concerns, the chamber's display interface unexpectedly works, providing a crucial functional component for interaction. Furthermore, a proper, non-generic manual for the specific chamber was discovered, offering valuable schematics and maintenance records from 2014. The comprehensive restoration project still entails acquiring an external cooling tower, charging both refrigerant stages, inspecting for failed components, replacing the PC, and finding a permanent location for the massive unit.