What Is Ingress Protection And Why Do LED Screens Have It?

1. Introduction

Have you ever experienced your phone dysfunctioning because you soaked it in a pale of water? Or you forgot to bring your appliances inside, and suddenly it rained? These are only a few situations that make us hope for waterproof devices. The good thing is today; we have waterproof features in almost all kinds of devices at home.

In LED screen technology, outer and core protection is a prerequisite. Imagine investing in pricey equipment, for example, an outdoor LED screen, and during an event, the weather turned out bad, and the device got wet. And when you soak it in the rain, it can’t function anymore. For sure, you’ll be scratching your head even without an itch.

Rain and weather is not the only opponent the LED screen has. There also comes dust and too much sunlight.

LED screen developers heavily study this kind of concern. And now the critical answer is ingress protection or IP rating standard. Do you know what ingress protection is or is referred to as IP? If not yet, this article will help you learn about it.

2. What Is Ingress Protection Rating Or IP Rating?

The IP rating is a quality standard defined by the International Electronic Commission (IEC 60529). It measures the securing and sealing effectiveness or efficacy of an electronic enclosure.

IP is short for “ingress protection,” which protects against the intrusion of dust, water, solid objects, and accidental contact. In a narrow sense, a protection standard or degree shields a device from foreign bodies. These foreign bodies can deteriorate the function of the equipment.

The Ingress Protection Rating is identified as IP followed by two digits. The first digit indicates the protection against dust and tools, while the second digit determines the electronic protection against rain or mist. The first digit comes on a 0-6 scale, making 0 mean no security and six the highest. The second digit has a scale of 0-8, where 0 means no protection from liquids and eight as total protection from such as rain. Therefore, the higher the number makes better protection.

The IP rating is a determining factor that helps users to decide which kind of LED screen is suitable for a specific location.

3. Why Is It Important For LED Screens To Have IP Rating?

Ingress protection or IP rating is an essential term in LED screen manufacturing. It will help you select the most suitable product for the application and environment. When you can get an eligible device by knowing the IP rating requirements of a specific location, rest assured that the device will perform well as it is designed.

Getting a device with an unsuitable IP rating for the environment where you will install it can open up issues on performance or permanent damage.

IP rating on LED screens should be on the front and rear to ensure their security and safety from foreign objects, especially outdoors. Down below, we’ll know what levels of IP rating should an indoor or outdoor LED screen must have.

4. Understanding IP Rating And Its Digits

The product’s suitability for your needs does not rely solely on the device’s design and size. There are many factors and parameters you also need to perceive firsthand before purchasing or finalizing the specific product you desire.

The IP level is an essential factor that may affect the lifespan of your LED screen or any digital device. It can help you achieve your utmost goal in business, advertising, or events when appropriately selected. It also gives you less worry and a peaceful mind that the device fits its applications and is more reliable and rigid for its type.

Below is a table that shows IP rating levels (the two digits) and their corresponding capabilities.

IP Rating Interpretation

Here’s how you may interpret it. Take this as an example: an outdoor LED screen with an IP51 rating. What does it mean? The outdoor LED screen is dust protected in almost total protection; however, when it comes to liquids, it only has protection against condensation or some vertically falling drops of water.

The next thing is you install them in an outdoor environment as a billboard advertising with a fixed installation, then one of these days, a typhoon hit the area. The strong wind, rain, and weather will affect the device since it has low protection against liquids. Pixels may be damaged, and their function will undoubtedly be affected.

The bottom line is that in choosing a device, you must have an idea of the possible whereabouts of the LED display beforehand. What types of weather conditions will it encounter in its location? Can it stand frequent immersion in water since your location typically experiences rain? These questions will help you humbly determine the IP rating your device should possess.

5. What Ingress Protection Level Should An Indoor Or Outdoor LED Screen Have?

IP rating solely depends on the device’s usage and application. Indoor LED screens are installed in indoor locations. They experience lesser encounters with either solids or liquids, so they usually come in low IP ratings. But also, there are some exceptions, such as an indoor environment prone to dust or high humidity. It would benefit best if you choose a higher IP rating in these instances.

Outdoor LED screens must have high IP ratings. It is because they are more exposed to the outdoor environment. They will encounter heavy rains, winds, mist, dust, pollution, and other foreign factors.

A good ingress protection rating for outdoor LED devices is from IP54 and above. Considering a higher IP rating is ideal, but it also comes with more precise product manufacturing so that it may add to the entire cost.

6. Summary

IP rating, brightness, cabinet material, and refresh rate are a few fundamentals that compose a reliable LED screen device. Knowing the maximum brightness, color Genuity and frame rate is not enough to predict the lifespan of a device such as an outdoor LED screen.

In YUCHIP, our outdoor LED screens are equipped with IP65, ensuring high protection against foreign bodies. We are the right partner you can count on if you need some LED screens that can withstand different adverse conditions.

Should you have questions or inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at manager@yuchip.com.