Difference between IP67 and IP68

Difference between IP67 and IP68

• 2025-03-13 10:40:07
• by Admin

IP stands for Ingress Protection, and the IP rating measures the degree of protection of electrical equipment enclosures against intrusion by foreign objects. It is derived from the International Electrotechnical Commission's standard IEC 60529, which was also adopted as an American National Standard in 2004.

IP67 and IP68 both refer to the protection classes of electrical equipment enclosures, which are defined according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. These two ratings mainly describe the equipment's ability to protect against solid substances and liquids.

IP code (Ingress Protection): the international common protection level standard, composed of two digits:

The first digit: anti-solid foreign matter (such as dust) ability (0 ~ 6 level).

The second digit: waterproof ability (0~9 levels).

The first digit of both IP67 and IP68 is 6 (the highest dust protection level, completely protected against dust ingress), and the difference is only in the water resistance level (the second digit).

1. Ability to protect against solid substances:

IP67: Completely protected against the ingress of dust (dust-tight).

IP68: Also completely protected against dust (dust-tight).

2. Protection against liquids:

IP67: Protects against immersion in water up to a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes.

IP68: Protects against continuous immersion in water, the exact depth and duration of which is specified by the manufacturer and is usually more stringent than IP67.

IP68 offers a higher level of protection than IP67, mainly in terms of water resistance. IP68 devices can withstand longer and deeper underwater pressure, whereas IP67 devices are protected against short, shallow immersions.

IP68's resistance to sustained immersion, half of which is defined by the manufacturer in consultation with the user, is usually more severe than IP67.

Selection advice: IP68 is preferred if the cable is to be buried or submerged for long periods (e.g., PV water pumps); IP67 is sufficient for normal outdoor PV systems.

Kaweei can customise IP67/IP68 wiring harnesses. If you need to know about waterproof wiring harnesses, please feel free to contact us, and we look forward to hearing from you.