When you are investing in an LED, you need to know how well it is protected against different substances. When you are aware if your LED can bear water and solid intrusion, you can easily take better care of it. IP rating plays an important role in this. With this standardized rating system, you can classify the level of protection your LED has.
What is IP Rating
IP Rating, also known as International protection rating or ingress protection rating, is an international standard of protection that a device should have against any type of ingress such as water, dust and other ingress etc. In simpler words, it represents a level of protection against foreign bodies. This system was standardized by the International electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Basically, it’s a two-digit code with the first one establishing a level of protection against any ingress and the second one explaining the resistance against moisture. The first digit of the code has a scale ranging from 0 to 6. If the first digit is zero, then the device has no protection. If the IP is upto six, then the device has full protection.
The highest reading for the second digit is 8 and 0 is the lowest. With the reading of 8, the device has the highest protection and with zero, none. If the LED is advertised as waterproof, or dust proof then it must have a high IP rating. In case the IP Grade of LED display does not match the claim of the product, the device has been falsely advertised.
This system is recognized globally to classify the levels of protections of the device. Though there are some other rating systems as well, this one is the best recognized one. This system is mostly used in Asia and Europe. It’s also used in some parts of North America. If the equipment is not IP rated, it’s difficult to maintain the safety and avoid any risks.
Why is it important?
Buying any electronic device, especially an LED, is a huge investment. You don’t wanna waste your money on a product that has been falsely advertised. If a manufacturer makes a waterproof LED, how would he know if he was successful in making it waterproof?
For this reason, the LED is sent for testing. The testing company must be certified. Once the LED has been tested, the company gives an IP rating to the product based on how well it was protected against the foreign intrusion. An IP rating gives the manufacturer credibility. With this rating, manufacturers can easily claim about the level of protection.
It also gives assurance to the customer about what they’re buying. An IP rating informs the user of how well the LED works against the intrusion. Due to this, the user becomes aware of protective measures they should take so that the product can work safely without damage.
The IP Grade of LED Display should be based on your usage. If you need an outdoor LED for unsealed locations, then you will need a high IP rating against both dust and moisture. With an unsuitable rating, your LED will be at risk of getting damaged by rain and sandstorms. Lower IP ratings will work perfectly fine for indoor LEDs.
However, it is important to note that IP ratings are not enough in all cases. The protective coverings may wear out overtime due to harsh intrusion. . Don’t be careless with your LED just because it has high IP.
What do the digits in IP mean?
Both digits of IP rating have a special meaning assigned to each. The first digit represents the level of protection against solid intrusion and the second digital establishes the moisture protection level.
- FIRST DIGIT CHART
| First digit | Level of protection | Example |
| 0 | None | – |
| 1 | Protection solid objects of over 50mm | Touch |
| 2 | Protection against solid objects of over 12mm | Finger |
| 3 | Protection against solid objects of over 2.5mm | Wires and tools |
| 4 | Protection against solid objects of over 1mm | Screws, nails and wires. |
| 5 | Protection against dust | Protected against dust but it should not enter in enough to harm. |
| 6 | Total protection | Total protection against dust. |
- SECOND DIGIT CHART
| Second digit | Level of protection | Example |
| 0 | None | – |
| 1 | Protection against dripping water falling vertically | Condensation |
| 2 | Protection against direct sprays | Sprays or drops of water falling at the angle of 15 degrees |
| 3 | Protection against spraying water | Sprays of water falling at the angle of 60 degrees |
| 4 | Protection against splashes | Splashes of water at all angles |
| 5 | Protection against jets of water | Low pressure jets of water |
| 6 | Protection against high pressure jets | Strong jets of water |
| 7 | Protection against immersion at 1m depth | Temporary submersion at depth of 1 meter |
| 8 | Protection against complete submersion | Complete submersion at a depth of 1 meter or over. |
Complete IP reference Chart.
| IP Rating | Level of Protection |
| 00 | No protection against solid or moisture intrusion |
| 01 | No protection against solid but protection against condensation |
| 02 | No protection against solid but protection against 15 degree spray |
| 03 | No protection against solid But protection against 60 degrees sprays |
| 04 | No protection against solid Protection against splashes |
| 05 | No protection against solid butProtection against jets |
| 06 | No protection against solid Protection against strong jets |
| 07 | No protection against solid Protection against 1m immersion |
| 08 | No protection against solid Protection against complete immersion |
| 10 | Protection against touch but no moisture protection |
| 11 | Protection against touch and condensation |
| 12 | Protection against touch and 15 degree spray |
| 13 | Protection against touch and 60 degrees sprays |
| 14 | Protection against touch and splashes |
| 15 | Protection against touch and jets |
| 16 | Protection against touch and strong jets |
| 17 | Protection against touch and 1m immersion
|
| 18 | Protection against touch and against complete immersion |
| 20 | Protection against fingers but moisture protection |
| 21 | Protection against fingers and condensation |
| 22 | Protection against fingers and 15 degree sprays |
| 23 | Protection against fingers and 60 degree sprays |
| 24 | Protection against fingers and splashes |
| 25 | Protection against fingers and jets |
| 26 | Protection against fingers and strong jets |
| 27 | Protection against fingers and immersion of upto 1m depth |
| 28 | Protection against fingers and complete immersion |
| 30 | Protection against wires and tools but no moisture protection |
| 31 | Protection against wires and tools and condensation |
| 32 | Protection against wires and tools and 15 degree sprays |
| 33 | Protection against wires and tools and 60 degree sprays |
| 34 | Protection against wires and tools and splashes |
| 35 | Protection against wires and tools and jets |
| 36 | Protection against wires and tools and high pressure jets |
| 37 | Protection against wires and tools and immersion of 1m depth |
| 38 | Protection against wires and tools and complete immersion |
| 40 | Protection against screws and wires but no moisture protection. |
| 41 | Protection against screws and wires, and condensation |
| 42 | Protection against screws and wires, and 15 degree spray |
| 43 | Protection against screws and wires, and 60 degree spray |
| 44 | Protection against screws and wires, and splashes |
| 45 | Protection against screws and wires, and jets |
| 46 | Protection against screws and wires, and strong jets |
| 47 | Protection against screws and wires, and 1m depth immersion |
| 48 | Protection against screws and wires, and complete immersion |
| 50 | Protection against dust, but no moisture protection. |
| 51 | Protection against dust and condensation |
| 52 | Protection against dust and sprays falling in 15 degrees |
| 53 | Protection against dust and 60 degrees sprays |
| 54 | Protection against dust and splashes |
| 55 | Protection against dust and jets |
| 56 | Protection against dust and strong jets |
| 57 | Protection against dust and 1m immersion |
| 58 | Protection against dust and complete immersion. |
| 60 | Total protection against dust but no moisture protection |
| 61 | Total protection against dust and against condensation |
| 62 | Total protection against dust and against 15 degrees sprays |
| 63 | Total protection against dust and against 60 degrees sprays |
| 64 | Total protection against dust and against splashes |
| 65 | Total protection against dust and against jets |
| 66 | Total protection against dust and against strong jets |
| 67 | Total protection against dust and against 1m depth immersion |
| 68 | Total protection against dust and against complete immersion. |
What IP Rating do you need for your LED display?
IP Grade of LED Display display depends on your usage. If you need an LED display for outdoor use, then you would want it to be waterproof and dustproof. Since outdoor displays often witness rain, condensation and dust, it may be damaged if it does not have protection.
For outdoor LEDs, your display should have at least IP54 rating. However, IP65 is the ideal rating for outdoor displays. It’s quite easy to achieve this rating for screens but difficult to do so for the back of the displays where USBs are located.
Indoor LEDs don’t really need a high IP since they aren’t at high risk of moisture and dust intrusion.
Conclusion
By understanding the concept of IP rating, you can make an informed decision on the LED you want to buy. An unsuitable IP grade of LED display can put you at risk of loss since your LED display can be prone to damage when you are not following proper safety regulations depending on the IP.
