Knowledge
IP ratings explained
The IP rating tells you how well an enclosure resists dust and water. Two digits, and with LED screens often two ratings: one for the front and one for the rear.
How do you read an IP rating?
IP stands for Ingress Protection and is defined in the IEC 60529 standard. The first digit covers solid particles and touch and runs from 0 to 6. The second digit covers water and runs from 0 to 9. The higher the digit, the better the enclosure is protected.
The ratings you meet with LED screens
| Rating | Dust and touch | Water |
|---|---|---|
| IP20 | Protected against touch by a finger and objects larger than 12.5 mm | No protection |
| IP40 | Protected against objects larger than 1 mm | No protection |
| IP54 | Dust protected: dust may enter, but not in a harmful amount | Splashing water from any direction |
| IP65 | Dust tight | Water jets from any direction |
| IP66 | Dust tight | Powerful water jets |
| IP67 | Dust tight | Temporary immersion up to 1 metre deep |
Front and rear
An LED cabinet often carries two ratings, for example IP65 front and IP54 rear. The front takes the rain and wind. The rear usually sits sheltered against a wall or inside a structure.
If your screen stands free, for example on a stage without a roof or on a trailer, the rear counts just as much.
What does that mean for your choice?
- IP20 to IP40: for indoor use. Not for an open tent in the rain.
- IP54: resists dust and splashing water.
- IP65 and higher: resists rain and water jets. The usual rating for the front of an outdoor screen.
What the IP rating does not tell you
The IP rating only covers dust and water. It says nothing about salt, UV, temperature, wind or impact. For a screen by the sea, in full sun or beside a sports field, those factors count as well.
An IP rating also applies to a cabinet that is properly closed and undamaged. A worn seal or a missing cap counts.
Examples from the catalogue
The values below come straight from the catalogue.
| Product | IP rating |
|---|---|
| C-Rock 500 Outdoor | IP65 (front) / IP54 (rear) |
| C-Shine 500 Indoor | IP40 (front & rear) |
| C-Shine 500 Outdoor | IP54 (front & rear) |
| C-Smart 500 | IP67 (front & rear) |
| C-Smart 640 HD | IP65 (front & rear) |
| C-Smart 640 Bright | IP65 (front) / IP54 (rear) |
| C-Smart 640 DIP | IP65 |
| C-Mesh 750 Poster | IP20 |
| C-Mesh 250 Strip | IP20 |
Read on
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