Water and electricity are not a good combination, as everyone knows. Waterproof and water-resistant connection systems should therefore be used in wet environments. But when is a connection considered waterproof and when is it considered water-resistant? Is water-resistant the same as waterproof? How can you tell whether a product is waterproof and how much it can be exposed to water without causing any damage? We clarify what you need to know when selecting such a product.
What it's all about: water-resistant, waterproof or watertight?
Water-resistant, waterproof and watertight are three terms that seem to mean exactly the same and are often used synonymously. However, there are differences that are particularly important depending on the context. We explain what the terms mean and where the crucial difference is!
Watertight
Waterproof
Water-resistant
What are connections and connection systems?
Within an industrial application, there are many ways of transporting current, signals and data from one place to another. This is made possible by connections or entire connection systems that connect a servo motor to a plant, for example, and thus ensure the power supply. A connection can involve a variety of electrical components, which depends on whether the entire connection is water-resistant, waterproof and/or watertight. Components that can be part of a connection system, for example, include:
- Cables and wires
- Connectors
- Cable glands
- Switches
Water-resistant cables or waterproof connectors are not enough
It comes down to the connection points
It is not just the individual components that need to withstand the influence of moisture and water. In particular, the connection points where the power supply or data communication changes from one component to another are the critical weaknesses in the system that need to be tested for being waterproof and water-resistant.
A cable connection is the connection point at which two cables are connected to one another by means of a cable connector. A cable connector should therefore be waterproof in damp and wet environments. With a plug connector, on the other hand, two connectors (plug and socket) meet each other – typically when a cable is connected to a housing using a connector. Under no circumstances may the contacts inside the connector become moistened, otherwise it could result in a dangerous short circuit. A connector must therefore also be waterproof.
Where are water-resistant and waterproof connection systems used?
Generally, water-resistant and waterproof connection solutions are required when cables can get moist!
Both water-resistant as well as waterproof connection systems should be used in wet environments so that under no circumstance do water and electrical conductors come into contact with each other and at the same time so that the longevity of the connection is ensured. But what does “wet” mean in this context?
In a wet environment, it is not just a cable that is laid under water, for example. It is much more common for cables to lie in dry conditions but become damp every now and again. This can be the case if liquid leaks into a machine or systems need to be regularly cleaned.
Typical environments
Where water-resistant and waterproof connection systems are used are:
Not all waterproofing is the same!
Not all waterproofing is the same in electrical engineering.
In the context of cables, for example, a distinction is made between laterally waterproof and longitudinally waterproof.
However, in the context of devices or device components such as connectors or cable conduits, the waterproofness is measured completely differently.
Laterally waterproof
When water cannot penetrate the wire plastic and get to the conductors, this is known as a laterally waterproof cable.
Longitudinally waterproof
If water penetrates at the connector into the end of the cable, but it cannot spread along the conductors, as a jelly-like filling prevents the spread, this is known as a longitudinally waterproof cable.
IP protection classes and IP protection rating
Which is what?
The IP protection class and the IP protection rating are often confused with one another or unclearly separated from one another because they are supposed to say the same thing. But there are differences that you need to know.
IP protection class
The IP protection class, on the other hand, describes the measures taken against voltages that are dangerous to contact.
IP protection rating
The IP protection rating describes whether a device or device component is protected by a housing against the ingress of foreign bodies and water.
The IP protection rating tells you how waterproof a product is and whether it still works perfectly when in contact with water. It applies to cable conduits and connectors, but not to cables.
The protection rating is specified in so-called IP codes. "IP" stands for "Ingress Protection", i.e. the protection against intrusion. The IP codes refer to the DIN EN 60529 standard, which is valid for Germany, and the ISO standard, which is valid internationally. IP codes must be specified together with the standard to which they relate.
An IP code is made up of the abbreviation "IP" in combination with two numbers or letters following this. In accordance with DIN EN 60529 (VDE 0470-1):2014-09 and ISO 20653, the protection rating is made up of the first and second code numbers in the tables below.
Degrees of protection against foreign bodies
The first number here stands for protection against access and the ingress of foreign bodies such as dust or dirt:
| First code number | Short description | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not protected | |
| 1 | Protected against solid foreign bodies 50 mm diameter and above | The object probe, sphere of 50 mm diameter, shall not fully penetrate. |
| 2 | Protected against solid foreign bodies 12,5 mm diameter and above | The object probe, sphere of 12,5 mm diameter, shall not fully penetrate. |
| 3 | Protected against solid foreign bodies 2,5 mm diameter and above | The object probe, sphere of 2,5 mm diameter, shall not fully penetrate. |
| 4 | Protected against solid foreign bodies 1,0 mm diameter and above | The object probe, sphere of 1,0 mm diameter, shall not fully penetrate. |
| 5 | Protected against dust | Intrusion of dust is not completely prevented but dust shall not penetrate in a quantity that qould interfere with satisfactory operation of the device or impair safety. |
| 6 | Dust-tight | No penetration of dust. |
Degrees of protection against water
While the second digit indicates the degree of protection against water:
| Second code number | Short description | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not protected | |
| 1 | Protected against drops of water | Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects. |
| 2 | Protected against drops of water if the housing it titled by up tp 15° | Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects. If the housing is tilted by up to 15° on either side of the vertical. |
| 3 | Protected against spraying water | Water sprayes at an angle of up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects. |
| 4 | Protected against splashing water | Water splashed against the housing from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 5 | Protected against jets of water | Water projected in jets against the housing from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 6 | Protected against powerful jets of water | Water projected in powerful jets against the housing from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 7 | Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water | Water must not penetrate in quantitites causing harmful effects when the housing is temporarily immersed in water under standardised pressure and time conditions. |
| 8 | Protected against the effects of permanent immersion in water | Water must not penetrate in quantities causing harmful effects when the housing is continually immersed in water under conditions that must be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the user. However, the conditions must be more difficult than for number 7. |
| 9 | Protected against high-pressure and steam-jet-cleaning (with high temperatures) | Water projected against the housing from any direction under very high pressure shall have no harmful effects |
The lowest IP protection rating in relation to water is IPX0, where there is no protection, followed by IP X1, where there is protection against drops of water. The highest IP protection class is IP X9, which indicates that a housing is even waterproof against "high pressure and high jet water temperatures". Both IP X8 and IPX9 indicate that a product is waterproof and remains waterproof even at high water pressure (IP X8 up to 10 bar and IPX9 up to 100 bar).
You can find the IP protection rating that your product should meet with these questions:
- Where is the product used?
- What form of water will the product be exposed to? Drops of water? Spray of water? Splash water or jet water?
- Does the product need to withstand temporary or permanent immersion in water?
- Will there be high temperatures or high pressures that can affect the product?
- Which components will the product come into contact with? What do the interfaces look like?
At the same time, you should deal with the following question regarding water resistance:
Is it pure H2O or does the water contain any salts, gases or organic compounds?
Water-resistant materials are not necessarily corrosion-resistant. Only corrosion resistance ensures that a component does not rust, for example, and its function is not impaired. The salt spray test according to DIN EN ISO 9227, which tests the corrosion behavior of a product, is decisive here. The test specimen is subjected to a salt spray in a standardized condition. After a defined period, the material is checked and evaluated. For example, it is possible to determine whether the surface of a component is seawater resistant and does not corrode in salt water.
Always remember the standard tests that we specify for product-specific purposes, and which can be used to determine the environmental conditions to which a product can be exposed.
Which water-resistant and waterproof components are available from LAPP?
Cables and wires
Conduit glands
The location, the material used and the IP protection rating play a role when selecting a suitable product. For this reason, always pay attention to the application areas and product properties that you can find in the data sheet or on the relevant product page in our online shop.