High Humidity Weather Resistant In-Ceiling Speakers Technical Brief
V2 10/6/08
General Description:
Boston Acoustics Weather-Resistant Custom In-Ceiling Speakers are designed for outstanding durability as well as exceptional sonic performance. These weather-resistant speakers can be used in bathrooms and other moist interior locations as well as exterior locations that include some protection from the elements.
No speaker is completely weatherproof. Salt water, driving rains, direct sunlight, and freeze and thaw cycles will degrade all materials over time. Unprotected outdoor locations may cause the speaker to deteriorate more quickly. To ensure protection from the elements, speaker cones are made of polypropylene and surrounds are made of rubber. The woofers are attached with coated steel fasteners and coated steel speaker grilles that provide additional protection for the drivers. The speaker frames are made of ABS plastic and are UV resistance so they can be used outside near sunlight. For added durability and better performance in these environments, Boston Acoustics weather-resistant models are further protected from the elements by; completely sealing the electrical components including the entire crossover board in a special conformal coating; using waterproof switches and using a moisture-resistant seal between the tweeter post and the voice coil.
Weather Resistant Features:
Tweeter – The tweeters HSi H460T2 are made of polypropylene material which is highly resistant to both temperature and moisture. The soft dome Kortec® tweeters on the VSi H470T2 are covered in a coating that is highly resistant to temperatures and shed water very easily and it is highly moisture resistant.
Tweeter Post and Woofer Voice Coil – The tweeters on the Boston Acoustics High Humidity models are coaxial mounted over the woofer voice coil. Boston designed a special post collar that completely shields the voice coil from the intrusion of moisture. The collar is attached to the woofer cone and slides smooth on the tweeter mounting post.
Woofer Cone – The HSi H460T2 use a coated fiber material which is highly resistant to both temperature and moisture. The polypropylene woofer on the VSi H470T2 is highly resistant to temperatures and shed water very easily and it is highly moisture resistant.
Woofer Surrounds -- The surround is made of water-proof butyl rubber material that extends to the edge of the speaker frame for added protection.
10/8/2008 High Humidity Speakers Technical Brief |
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High Humidity Speakers Technical Brief Cont:
Grille – For all of Boston Acoustics are produced out of rustproof aluminum and are painted with a powder coat for additional protection against corrosion and salt. The speaker grilles can be painted.
Hardware – All of the hardware on these models are either made of rust resistant stainless steel or are power coated to resist rust and corrosion.
Switches – The switch located on the front of the VSi H470T2 is a waterproof design and is additionally protected with a soft rubber boot.
Crossover Board and Components – The entire crossover board and all of the components is sprayed under pressure with a conformal coating that is highly resistant to moisture and adds significant life to the components over non protected surfaces.
Speaker Frame – The speaker frame is made out of a high impact ABS plastic that is UV protected to limit extends the life of the material and limit the possibility of discoloring caused by exposure to the sun. The speaker frames can be painted.
Testing:
Boston Acoustics High Humidity models go through an exhaustive life test that submits the speakers to many years exposure to the elements. The loudspeakers are designed to pass the internationally recognized IEC529 and Mil
Spec 810. These tests simulate the approximate climatic conditions and provide an indication of the degrees of weather resistance. Boston Acoustics further submits these models to long term in use testing through out the country.
Mil Spec 810:
Salt Spray -- This tests a speaker’s resistance to the effects of an "aqueous salt atmosphere". It also gives a good indication of resistance to rusting. It consists of 48 hours continuous spray consisting of 5% salt solution.
Humidity -- This is to indicate a speakers resistance to a warm humid atmosphere such as you may find in a sauna or outdoors. 48 hours of cycling. Starts at 100% humidity @ 27 degrees C; goes to 95% @ 35 degrees and goes back to 100% at 27 degrees C.
10/8/2008 High Humidity Speakers Technical Brief |
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