What Exactly Is the Difference Between IP66 and IP67?

 What is IP67 and what is the difference between it and IP66? This is probably the question that JRPanel engineers have been asked most often recently.

 

On the online pricing page of JRPanel's website, a new option appears in the Rear Adhesive section: 3M300LSE & Waterproof ( IP67 ).

 

In fact, this is a waterproof process recently upgraded by the JRPanel factory. This process can bring more possibilities to your products, and it also marks that JRPanel's products have reached a new level.

 

So what is the difference between IP67 and the previous IP66 process? In this article, we will explain in detail.

 

In the previous article Criteria for the Classification Ratings of Ingress Protection, we introduced that the ingress protection rating is composed of two digits. The first digit represents the level of the electrical appliance's ability to prevent intrusion of foreign objects, and the second digit represents the degree of airtightness of the electrical appliance against moisture and water intrusion.

 

As can be seen from the figure below, for the first digit, the larger the number, the stronger the protection ability. But for the second digit, especially the difference between IP66 and IP67, it is often misunderstood that IP67 is more waterproof than IP66.

 

 

From the figure above, we can see that the "Protected Against" and "Effective Against" of IPX6 and IPX7 are not the same. IPX6 is "Powerful Water Jets", while IPX7 is "Immersion up to 1 meter". Since the protection purpose and protection conditions of the two are inconsistent, we cannot simply assume that the protection level of IP67 is higher than that of IP66. 

 

It can be seen that IPX7 and IPX6 represent the protection level under two different conditions. We can understand it this way: products with a protection level of 7 or 8 in the second digit only have a protective effect against short-term immersion or continuous immersion, and do not have a protective effect against water jets (the second digit is marked with 5 or 6).

 

If a product is marked with IP66 and IP67 at the same time, it means that this product meets the protection requirements for water jets or short-term and continuous immersion.

 

Now I believe you already have a deep understanding of the difference between IP66 and IP67. Then how does JRPanel apply the IP67 process to Membrane Switch & Panel? Stay tuned to our Blog and we'll bring it to you in the future!