Frequently Asked Questions
Catalytic Heater FAQ | Sun-Spot Is Here to Help
Yes, we do have a team in Europe. Our European team is at your disposal in case of problems, or any other requests. We offer support at your location!
Yes, the HT-200 is environmentally friendly. Approved by the “Green Business”, the impact on the environment is minimal and controlled. HT-200 vaporizes the solvents contained in the coatings as H2O. It does not produce combustion. Catalysis is an oxidation of gas, therefore there are no emissions of greenhouse gases!
Without flame release, it does not generate a direct heat like a lamp, so there is no risk of fire or explosion.
The temperature of the substrate is controlled by a pyrometric camera installed in the heating head. The data is sent to the controller which automatically regulates the temperature, ensuring a perfect finish.
Yes, you can fully control the HT-200 through its control unit. With a backlit LCD screen, you can program the heating time and temperature, activate or deactivate a heating head, and activate or deactivate the pyrometers.
No, at a high drying speed the varnish/paint will not be uncooked and alter the finish. There are no issues of an oven being too hot, which cooks the coating with micro bubble formation on the surface. Additionally, there are no problems with impurities that contaminate the treated surface. The HT-200 dries in about ten minutes on average, while free air can take about ten hours to dry.
Designed with high quality components, the HT-200 requires very little maintenance. With a lifespan of about 20 years, it was created to save you time, not lose it!
The HT-200 has been developed to be “plug and play”. Installing it is very easy and requires very few tools!
The HT-200 is designed to fit in any factory or workshop environment. Thanks to its articulated arms, the HT-200 can very easily reduce its size. Fixed on a wall, in a paint booth or even on the ceiling, you will save floor space while enjoying its incredible efficiency!
Yes, the HT-200 works in all directions and positions. It works upwards, sideways, towards the wall, down. There is no restriction on how to use it.
Yes, we do have financing opportunities. We offer financing through leasing or lease purchase at very competitive rates.
Yes indeed, the HT-200 is like a spotlight. If it is in a space where it is dark, you simply have to imagine that one illuminates a flashlight, allowing for a clear source of light. Imagine 2, 3 or 4 units and you will understand that together they will illuminate all surfaces after being reflected. Walls, ceilings, floors, roofs, etc. will be illuminated. As a result, dark spaces are seen more clearly.
The HT-200 emits a direct uniform heat that radiates about 30 degrees (funnel type) all around the transmitter. Think of a flashlight that is pointed at the wall, the beam will be concentrated and dissipate around as we move away from it.
It is desirable to install the correct number of units based on 4 feet of radiation between each product to be cooked. As a result, you will minimize the number of units required for your specific needs.
It is important to remember that the HT-200 is a cooking unit, therefore it will be hot, although it is not hot enough to inflict burns.
No, the HT-200 is not dangerous for humans. There are no dangerous gas emissions and the wavelength of 2-10 microns is below the microwave and above the ultraviolet waves, making it perfectly safe.
No, you do not need to exhaust the “exhaust air” of the HT-200. It is approved “non-vented” by the CSA.
The wavelength of 2 to 10 microns emitted by the HT-200 is absorbed by the paint. As a result, the paint emits hot air and then the warm air rises to the roof of the enclosure oven. The hot air is then captured and passed through a fan that redistributes it in the furnace providing free energy that is then recovered. The infrared and hot air mix offers the best of both worlds, plus it vents a little hot air outside the building according to CSA B149.15.
Yes, we do supply enclosure cooking tunnels with the HT-200. If the customer wishes and/or provides the plans and technical specifications of the fans. The customer then builds it by him/herself under our supervision.
In addition, we offer our customers three “standard enclosure” models. They are all very easy to modify when it comes to the specific needs of your installation.
Yes, the HT-200 can work in an open space. It works very well in open spaces and is not affected by the air and temperature currents present in the workplace.
When a solvent comes into contact with a Sun-Spot HT-200 unit, the gases produced are transformed into H2O (water). This lowers the volume of harmful gases released into the atmosphere.
No, the HT-200 do not emit flue gases like CO and are Green products (certified by Green business). They produce no gases such as NOX (nitrogen oxide), CO, etc. HT-200 is a catalytic product that creates gas oxidation and not combustion as a chemical reaction.
Yes, the HT-200 supports conveyors. Each HT-200 controller is equipped with interlocks. In this case, the conveyor assumes the management of the HT-200 units. For example, in the event that the conveyor stops, the units are put in “stand-by” mode, the conveyor resumes, and then the units are immediately restarted.
No, you do not have to start each one separately, each HT-200 controller comes with a “bus communication mode”, optionally you can choose to install an HMI (operator screen) that connects all HT-200 and one-touch start all of HT-200. As a result, you will only have to program the temperature recipe and desired cycle time. It is also possible to program specific cooking zones. For example: oven inlet zone 1/100F and zone 2/130F and zone 3/150F, etc.
The HT-200 is scalable and grows with your business. For example, you can start with two HT-200 units or one HT-200. If you want to increase your productivity, you can add more units later. Your initial investment is retained because you are not replacing anything.
The advantages of our HT-200 are as follows: gas consumption is 80% lower than that of hot air drying. The cooking time/cycle of the HT-200 is 10 times faster than hot air drying.
Electric lamps have no uniformity of temperature on the room in question, similar to the lighting provided by a neon office light for example. The lamp does not control the temperature of the substrate, providing a mix of warm and cold areas.
Electric lamps require a lot of maintenance and are not allowed to be used in a place with solvents and / or paint shop because they present a danger for fire or an explosion.
The only advantage of electric lamps, they are not expensive. But in return, they do not work well with liquid paints.
The HT-200 is significantly less hot than electric lamps. The HT-200 has the advantage of cooking the paint from the inside-out. In comparison, electric lamps are use too much heat and have a short wavelength of 0-2 microns plus 4000oF, similar to the sun’s rays.
With that in mind, the waves of electric lamps enter the reflection, wrap along the surface and trap either water or solvent. In addition, they create a crust on the surface, giving a false impression that everything is dry. The next day, water or solvents surface and create problems such as scratches, products sticking together or packaging issues.
Yes, this product meets current industry standards. It is CSA and CE certified. CSA is the strictest standard in the world, which supports the reliability and extensiveness of our products.
The transmitters we use have been available for 35 years. Following the request of several paint manufacturers, we have been selling Sun-Spot products for 6 years now. We invented, designed and developed the HT-200 from our extensive expertise.
We are a family business that produces 100% of our products in Canada.
The lifespan of the transmitter is between 15 and 20 years. After that, you can refurbish the unit at a cost of $ 1,800 CAD per refurbished transmitter.
For maintenance, you need to clean the injectors and adjust the gas solenoids only once a year.
Our HT-200 model is a scalable system. For example, in a furnace 20 feet in length, 4 HT-200 units are needed. At this time, it is possible to position 3 “racks” of parts according to your production volume. Three “racks” at a time with a production cycle of 15 minutes of cooking have an average of 50 pieces per rack. If you opt for only 2 HT-200 units instead of 4, the cooking cycle time will be a longer, from 20 to 25 minutes instead of 10 to 15 minutes. If your production volume increases, add units to your existing installation to maximize your initial investment.
Yes, our products work very well with water-based paint and also with solvent-based paints. With water-based products, it is applied and transferred immediately into the oven for a high level of efficiency. With this method, the wood grain does not roll up and there is no “orange peel”. Solvent-based paints require 10 to 15 minutes of “flash OFF” before entering the oven. The cycle time of “flash OFF” (desolvation) is saved.
The cooking cycle is about 3 to 4 minutes of “cure time cycle on focus”.
In comparison, if your current situation is that you have to work in a room using hot air, you will have to wait until the next day. Our HT-200 model offers you the possibility to tell your carrier to wait if any emergencies pop up. You can then proceed to repair something such as a potential scratch on a product. After cooking and cooling, it is now ready to ship in no time. No more waiting in the morning and Fridays in panic!
Yes, our products run on gas. Either propane or natural gas at 5 PSI pressure to the regulator.
Yes, you can control the temperature. Each transmitter comes with a pyrometer (a camera) that measures the temperature of the substrate continuously at plus or minus 3 degrees F substrate.
It is important to understand that our products do not dry, they provide a cooking process called “curing”, which has a very different meaning. Compared to hot air or ambient air-drying times, you can assemble or pack the products in addition to the 4-hour delay to return and apply a second coat.
The cooking time varies between 2 and 6 minutes. In a “racking”, it is about 10 to 20 minutes for a complete curing. After cooling is completed, you can proceed with packing, assembly or returning the piece for a second coat.
Our transmitters emit a wavelength of 2-10 microns. Any organic product is absorbed between 3-4 microns. Our emissions perfectly match the specifications to be absorbed by paint, glue, mastic, etc.
For example, if they were not perfectly in the “focus” during the curing time of “racking”, there would be a curing time of 15 minutes instead of 3-4 minutes if the question was about being “focus” perfect.
In comparison, hot air curing would have a minimum cycle of 45 minutes to 4 hours or overnight if it was room temperature.
At a distance of 4 feet from the transmitter, a curing area of 4×8 feet is possible.
The articulated arm system is used to position and optimize the flexibility of the heating head to reach the object being dried.
There is no risk of flame. There is an oxidation of the gas and zero flame. Our products are flameless/explosion-proof.
Our products run on electricity and gas. There is a pre-heating period of 15 minutes at start-up in the morning (1 kWh). With a 20-pound, BBQ-like propane tank, you’ll get 41 hours of continuous operation alongside the 24-volt electric controller.
Installation is not difficult at all! Our products are plug & play systems, making it very easy to install. The Sun-Spot HT-100 and 200 were designed to be user-friendly for installations. They install very well in existing tunnels.
Installation has a fixed price is $1,500 CAD per system sold + other fees.
- 1x rod (dimensions 2x2x8 feet)
- 2x articulated arm,
- 2x heated head
- 1x CSA control panel
- 1x gas trainet hardware
- 1x gas hose and
- Electrical wiring
Please contact us for current pricing. Shipping and installation not included. Delivery can take from 1-3 weeks.
