Water Ingress Protection (IPX1-9) Testing and Equipment: The Ultimate Guide

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IPX1 is a water ingress protection test that measures how well a device is protected against vertically falling water drops. The device is required to be exposed to water drops equivalent to 1 mm of rainfall per minute for 10 minutes. If the IPX1 test passes, it means that the device enclosure has the ability to protect the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful effects due to vertically falling water drops.

IPX1 drip testing

IPX2 is a water ingress protection test that measures how well a device is protected against dripping water at an angle of 15 degrees. The device is required to be exposed to water droplets equivalent to 3 mm rainfall per minute for 10 minutes in four different positions of tilt. If the IPX2 test passes, it indicates that the device enclosure inclined by up to 15° can protect the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful effects due to vertical drips.

• Place the device under test (DUT) in its normal operating position on the turntable, ensuring the distance between the turntable axis and the DUT axis is approximately 100 mm, and the water outlet is 200 mm above the top of the DUT. If necessary, we suggest a means similar to binding to fix the DUT to the turntable to prevent falling during testing.
• Preset the water flow rate and test duration through the touch screen, then actuate the machine to allow the turntable to rotate by 1 r/min and simultaneously permit the vertical drips to fall onto the DUT at a rate of 1 mm/min for 10 minutes.
• After the test time is complete, check the DUT for any harmful effects.

• Place the DUT in its normal operating position on the turntable and ensure the turntable and DUT axes are on the same line. One more step is to incline the turntable by 15 degrees manually (Ensure the vertical distance between the topmost point of the DUT and the water outlet is 200 mm).
• Preset the required parameters and then start the machine to allow the vertical drips to fall onto the DUT at a rate of 3 mm/min for 2.5 minutes, then repeat this step for the rest 3 directions so that each of the four fixed positions of tilt is tested for 2.5 min.
• Inspect the DUT for any harmful effects when the test is complete.

• IPX1: The device is qualified if it doesn’t suffer any harmful effects or has no compromise on performance due to vertical water drops.
• IPX2: The device is qualified if it doesn’t suffer any harmful effects or has no compromise on performance due to vertically falling water drops when the device enclosure is tilted at any angle up to 15°.

IPX3 is a water ingress protection test that measures the protection of a device against spraying water at any angle up to 60° from the vertical. If the IPX3 test passes, it means that the device enclosure has the ability to protect the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful effects resulting from spraying water.

IPX4 is a water ingress protection test that assesses the protection of a device against splashing water from any direction. If the IPX4 test passes, it indicates that the device enclosure is able to protect the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful effects resulting from splashing water.

IPX4K is a supercharged waterproof test on the basis of IPX4.

IPX4 oscillating-style spray testing

IPX4 hand-held spray testing

• Place the sample on the turntable, and use a means to fix it in case of falling during the test if necessary.
• Input the prescribed parameters into the controller, and start the test to allow the spraying water from the holes of the oscillating tube swiveling by ±60° with reference to the vertical plane at a rate of approx. 1s/60° to act on the sample enclosure from a distance of no more than 200 mm, lasting for 5 minutes.
• Turn the sample through a horizontal angle of 90° and continue the test for another five minutes.
• After the spray time, examine the sample for any harmful effects.

The test method of IPX4/4K is the same as that of IPX3 above. A difference is that you need to set the swiveling angle of the tube to 180° (it may not reach 180° in the actual test due to the existence of a sample support rod).

• Place the sample on a flat platform.
• Loosen the adjustment screws on both sides of the shower apparatus, and move the movable shield forward 30 degrees so that 30° of the curved surface is blocked to meet the relevant test requirements of IPX3 (if the movable shield is not moved, the curved surface of the entire shower head will be exposed, and to spray water over the sample enclosure, which meets the relevant test requirements of IPX4,) and then tighten the screws.
• Open the apparatus valve to start spraying water, and adjust the water pressure to 50 ~ 150 kPa or water flow rate to (10 L ± 5%) / min.
• For IPX3, Position the spay nozzle to allow it to spray water through an angle of 120°, 60° on either side of the vertical from a distance no more than 500 mm for a total of at least 5 min (1 min/m²). For IPX4, spray the sample from all practicable directions(Based on IEC 60529)
• Inspect the DUT for any harmful effects.

The device is qualified if it doesn’t suffer any harmful effects or has no compromise on performance due to spraying water(IPX3) or splashing water(IPX4/4K).

IPX5 / IPX6 is a water ingress testing that measures how well a product can resist water damage from low-pressure water jets (IPX5) or powerful water jets (IPX6). This test is conducted by jetting water on the sample from all angles for a certain period of time.

IPX6K requires the DUT to be exposed to strong high-velocity water with increased pressure.

IPX6K jetting testing

IPX5 hand-held jetting testing

• Secure the sample on the turntable with a means like binding to prevent falling during testing.
• Select a corresponding nozzle and adjust the water flow to 12.5L/min (IPX5), 100L//min (IPX6), or 75L/min (IPX6K).
• Start the machine to jet water for 1 minute per square meter of the sample in revolution, with a minimum of 3 minutes. (when the open-type test equipment is used, Keep the distance between the nozzle and the sample between 2.5 meters and 3 meters and constantly adjust the nozzle angle to ensure that water wets every part of the sample. )
• Check if the sample remains undamaged and functioning properly after the test.

The device is qualified if it doesn’t suffer any harmful effects or has no compromise on performance due to water jets (IPX5) and powerful water jets (IPX6/6K).

IPX7 waterproof testing is used to determine whether the device under test can resist temporary immersion in water. The sample is required to be soaked in the water at a depth ensuring the highest point of the DUT is at least 150 mm but less than 1000 mm away from the water surface for 30 min.

IPX7 water immersion testing

• Place the DUT in the water tank.
• Fill the water tank with fresh water up to the required depth with the help of the ruler, ensuring that the lowest point of the DUT with a height less than 850 mm is 1000 mm below the water surface or the highest point of the DUT with a height equal or greater than 850 mm is 150 mm below the water surface.
• Continue the test for 30 minutes (Visually observe whether there is water leakage during the immersion), then remove the DUT from the tank and examine it for any harmful effects.

The device passes the test if it doesn’t suffer any harmful effects or has no compromise on performance due to temporary immersion in water.

IPX8 is intended to assess whether or not a device is suitable for continuous immersion in water under specific conditions agreed upon by interested parties. These conditions have to be more severe than that of IPX7. This testing is suitable for underwater connectors, diving goggles, swimming pool lights, underwater cameras, watches, water meters, underwater sensors, and more.

IPX8 Pressurized Immersion Testing

• Place the sample in the water tank and fix it to the bottom.
• Add water into the tank until the required depth is achieved, ensuring the sample is completely submerged.
• Close the tank lid and fasten it with a corresponding locking device in case of air leakage.
• Input the corresponding pressure equivalent to the required depth of water and duration into the control system.
• Start the machine to pressurize the tank until the preset value is achieved, then the device starts timing automatically.
• After the test time, relieve pressure in the tank, and then take the sample out to examine for any harmful effects.

The device is qualified if it doesn’t suffer harmful effects due to the ingress of water in quantities.

IPX9/9K waterproof testing is used to measure whether or not a device can resist high-temperature and high-pressure water jets. It is the highest level among the IPX waterproof test items, and the test requirements are also quite high.

The IPX9/9K testing is performed by allowing strong water jets with high temperatures to spray onto the rotating sample enclosure from different directions.

IPX9 water spray testing

• Place the sample on the turntable and regulate corresponding nozzles to achieve the required spray distance, then fasten the sample with a string to prevent falling during testing.
• Preset the test conditions on the touch screen and leave a period of time to get the water heated.
• Start the test after the required water temperature is achieved, allowing water from 4 nozzles to spray onto the rotating sample in turn. Each nozzle works for 30 s, lasting at least 3 min in total.
• When the spraying is complete, Remove the product from the chamber and inspect it for any harmful effects.

The device is qualified if it doesn’t suffer any harmful effects or has no compromise on performance due to high temperature and pressure water jetting from any direction.