Best IP67 Testing Procedure
What is the best IP67 testing procedure?
IP ratings, also known as ingress protection ratings, are set by the International Electrotechnical Commission and let you know how well a product can withstand ingress from water or solids. The IP67 rating is the standard level expected for consumer electronics, which are expected to be able to deal with the kind of spills and dusty environments everyday life throws at us.
From a takeaway coffee that drips on a smart phone to home speakers set up in a kitchen or lounge, there are many threats to our tech. IP67 testing is the best way to know whether your products will meet the demands placed on them.
For more detail on what the various IP ratings stand for, check out our handy IP ratings chart. Or find out more about where and when testing can be useful in our complete guide to IP testing.
Our innovative and effective approach to IP67 testing
The traditional IP67 testing methods are costly, time consuming and destructive. They center around placing the products in water and using methods like measuring the escaping bubbles or the amount of damage done to the product’s internals to work out whether there are defects or leaks.
Our equivalent IP67 testing solution works by creating a closed space (the “chamber”) around the device before pressure is applied. This creates a pressure differential across the non-porous product walls and seals. Once stabilized, we can measure air movement from the higher pressure (inside the chamber space) to the lower pressure (in the test part), allowing us to see if there is a leak path without the need to destroy the device in the process.
Our process can be used to test to very high levels of sensitivity, by adjusting the size of the void volume in the testing chamber. The smaller the void volume, the more sensitive the leak test. The test chamber can be configured to closely approximate the size and shape of the electronics and devices being tested, letting you minimize the void volume while maximizing sensitivity. So not only will you be able to get repeatable test results, the test is capable of identifying even micro leaks.
Benefits of our air leak ingress testing
As well as satisfying IP67 standards, our air leak testing is:
- Non-destructive. Meaning the device can be repaired or reworked after testing
- Is efficient. Air has a much lower density and viscosity than water, so it can penetrate leak paths up to 25 times faster
- Is fast. In fact, testing time is reduced to seconds per unit using high resolution instruments
- Is flexible. The test systems can be arranged to allow multiple part testing configurations.
The IP67 air leak testing solutions for your business
As part of the Industrial Physics family, we are delighted to offer two TME testing products that are ideal for our IP67 equivalent air leak testing solution. TME Worker integra™ and TME Solution™ devices offer subtle differences and benefits for your business that we will happily talk you through. Ready to hear more? Get in touch with one of our experts
FAQ
What is IP67?
IP67 is one of the ratings set by the International Electrotechnical Commission to determine the level of protection a device has. It is an ingress protection rating that looks at the ingress of solids, like dust, and water. A rating of IP67 means that a product is dust tight and watertight, when submersed in water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
What products can IP67 be used to test?
IP67 testing can be used to rate a huge range of products, from individual wire cables to small high tech products like smart watches or larger electronics like TVs. It can be particularly useful for the kind of electronic devices that are likely to be exposed to a variety of elements, like a home portable speaker suitable for bathrooms and kitchens or wireless ear buds designed for the gym.
How waterproof are products with an IP67 rating?
Products with an IP67 rating are resistant to water ingress at a depth of up to 1 meter, when submerged for up to 30 minutes. This makes it a desired rating for everything from rugged portable speakers to mobile phones – you never know when a smart phone is going to take a dip in the dirty dishwater, for example!
How does IP67 differ from IP68?
For IP67, the waterproof part of the rating is signified by the ‘7’. This lets consumers know that the device is resistant to water, even when immersed at depths of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. For IP68, the device is protected against water during much longer periods of immersion and at greater depths – these should be detailed by the manufacturer for each product. For more information on the ins and outs of each ingress protection rating, be sure to check out our IP ratings chart.
How does IP67 differ from IPX7?
The first digit in the IP rating refers to the ingress of solids, like sand or dust, while the second refers to the ingress of water. The ‘X’ signifies no protection from dust and the ‘6’ means something is rated as dust tight. While the ‘7’ in IP67 indicates protection from immersion in water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. So IP67 and IPX7 have the same waterproof rating, but very different levels of protection against dust.