95-STS1 Solar Thermal Sun Simulator
by Amatrol
One of the most practical challenges in delivering solar thermal training is weather dependency. Solar thermal collectors need a heat source to demonstrate system operation, and relying on sunlight means relying on conditions that are unpredictable, seasonal, and entirely outside an instructor's control. A cloudy day or a northern climate winter can shut down hands-on training on the most important component in a solar thermal system for days or weeks at a time.
The Amatrol 95-STS1 Solar Thermal Sun Simulator solves that problem directly. It provides the thermal energy needed to simulate the sun's solar heat when Amatrol's solar thermal learning systems are being used indoors, giving programs the ability to deliver consistent, scheduled solar thermal training regardless of weather, season, or location. The same training that would otherwise depend on clear skies and direct sunlight can now happen in any classroom or lab, any day of the year.
Klein Educational supplies Amatrol alternative energy training systems and accessories to CTE programs, community colleges, and technical training centers across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. As the only authorized Amatrol distributor in these seven states, we help programs get the right system and accessories configured and running.
What is the Amatrol 95-STS1 Solar Thermal Sun Simulator?
The 95-STS1 Solar Thermal Sun Simulator is an indoor thermal energy source designed specifically for use with Amatrol's solar thermal learning systems. It uses a sun simulator light set with an integrated heater assembly to generate the thermal energy that solar collectors in the training system need to heat the transfer fluid, allowing the complete solar thermal system to operate as it would under actual solar conditions.
The simulator includes a stationary frame, the sun simulator lights with heater assembly, and a power box and cable. The light positions are adjustable, allowing instructors to optimize the angle and positioning of the heat source relative to the solar collectors in the learning system for the most effective simulation of actual solar thermal conditions.
The 95-STS1 is designed for use with the 950-STCL1 Solar Thermal Troubleshooting Closed-Loop Learning System and the 950-STOL1 Solar Thermal Troubleshooting Open-Loop Learning System. It requires a 3-Phase 208VAC 4-Wire electrical service.
Why indoor solar thermal training matters
Solar thermal programs that can only operate outdoors in direct sunlight are fundamentally limited in their ability to deliver consistent, high-quality instruction. In climates that experience overcast periods, rain, cold winters, or simply unpredictable daily weather, outdoor-dependent training creates scheduling uncertainty that undermines the structured, curriculum-paced learning progression that effective training requires.
The 95-STS1 eliminates that dependency. Programs with the sun simulator can schedule solar thermal training sessions exactly as they would any other lab activity, with the confidence that the system will operate reliably and produce the thermal energy needed for every exercise in the curriculum. This scheduling flexibility is particularly important for programs with limited lab time per week, where losing even one session to weather can significantly disrupt the curriculum sequence.
For programs located in climates with reliable year-round sunshine, the 95-STS1 still provides value by making indoor training possible on days when moving to an outdoor location is not practical, and by giving instructors the controlled environment needed for specific troubleshooting exercises where consistent, repeatable thermal conditions produce more predictable and educationally useful system behavior than variable outdoor sunlight.
How the 95-STS1 fits into Amatrol's solar thermal system
The 95-STS1 is a required accessory for programs that want to use Amatrol's solar thermal troubleshooting systems indoors. The 950-STCL1 Closed-Loop Learning System and the 950-STOL1 Open-Loop Learning System each include two solar collectors that work either outside with direct sunlight or inside with the sun simulator. Adding the 95-STS1 gives programs the full flexibility to deliver training in either mode depending on the day's conditions and curriculum requirements.
The 950-STCL1 is Amatrol's solar thermal troubleshooting system for the two most common closed-loop system types, drainback and pressurized, including centrifugal pump, heat exchanger, digital differential controller, temperature probes, vacation bypass, check valves, relief valves, flow meters, tempering valves, solar storage tank, drainback tank, expansion tank, and two solar collectors. The 950-STOL1 is the open-loop system counterpart, including a digital differential controller, AC and DC centrifugal pumps, temperature probes, check valves, flow meters, relief valves, vacation bypass, tempering valves, solar storage tank, multiple component circuit panels, a photovoltaic panel, and two solar collectors. Both systems pair naturally with the 95-STS1 for complete indoor training capability.
What the complete indoor training experience enables
With the 95-STS1 in place, instructors have a fully controlled indoor solar thermal training environment where the thermal energy input can be positioned and maintained consistently throughout each training session. Students can complete the full range of solar thermal training exercises including system operation monitoring, component-level troubleshooting, differential controller programming and adjustment, flow measurement and analysis, and fault-finding under conditions that are the same from one session to the next.
This consistency is particularly valuable for troubleshooting curriculum, where instructors need to introduce specific faults and have students diagnose them systematically. Variable outdoor conditions make this type of controlled troubleshooting exercise difficult to execute reliably, while the indoor simulator environment allows faults to be introduced and diagnosed under stable, repeatable conditions that support genuine diagnostic skill development.
How Klein Educational supports your program
Klein Educational is more than an equipment supplier. We work with program directors, department heads, and workforce administrators from the first conversation through delivery and beyond. That includes needs assessment, system and accessory configuration, and support to ensure your program gets the right solar thermal training setup for your curriculum and facility requirements.
As the only authorized Amatrol distributor in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska, we have direct access to the full Amatrol alternative energy product line, curriculum, and support infrastructure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Amatrol 95-STS1 Solar Thermal Sun Simulator? The 95-STS1 is an indoor thermal energy source for Amatrol's solar thermal learning systems, using a sun simulator light set with integrated heater assembly on an adjustable stationary frame to provide the thermal energy solar collectors need to operate indoors. It is designed for use with the 950-STCL1 and 950-STOL1 solar thermal troubleshooting systems.
What electrical service does the 95-STS1 require? The 95-STS1 requires a 3-Phase 208VAC 4-Wire electrical service.
Which Amatrol solar thermal systems is the 95-STS1 compatible with? The 95-STS1 is designed for use with the 950-STCL1 Solar Thermal Troubleshooting Closed-Loop Learning System and the 950-STOL1 Solar Thermal Troubleshooting Open-Loop Learning System.
Can the solar thermal learning systems still be used outdoors with the 95-STS1 purchased? Yes. The 950-STCL1 and 950-STOL1 solar collectors work with either direct sunlight outdoors or the sun simulator indoors, giving programs complete flexibility to deliver training in either environment depending on conditions and curriculum requirements.
Are the light positions on the 95-STS1 adjustable? Yes. The sun simulator lights are adjustable in position to allow instructors to optimize the angle and positioning relative to the solar collectors for the most effective thermal simulation.
Does Klein Educational help with system and accessory configuration? Yes. Klein works with programs from needs assessment through system and accessory selection and delivery, ensuring programs get the right solar thermal training configuration for their curriculum and facility.
Ready to Enable Year-Round Indoor Solar Thermal Training?
Whether you are adding indoor capability to an existing Amatrol solar thermal system or configuring a new solar thermal program from the start, our team will help you find the right 95-STS1 setup for your facility and curriculum.