Decoding Ip67 And Ip68 Protection Ratings For Load Cells: Meaning And Significance

Load cells are necessary for measuring force. These devices have use cases across different industries for a range of crucial applications. If you purchase a load cell from one of the leading load cell suppliers, you may come across a protection rating. Two of the highest ratings are IP67 and IP68.  International standards "IEC/EN 60529" establish the Ingress Protection (IP) ratings for electrical enclosures against both solid and liquid intrusions. Your electrical instrument gets a rating based on its quality and protection level. The decision regarding the protection class you need depends on your application and use cases for the load cell.

Understanding the Concept of IP Ratings

IP ratings are markings to signify the level of protection in an electrical enclosure. This international rating helps identify a product's capacity to withstand intrusion from dust and liquid. The International Electrotechnical Commission developed these IP standards. Currently, most credible sellers of electrical enclosures use these standards to assign protection classifications to their products.

The first digit of an IP rating indicates the level of protection from solid intrusions. Intrusive elements may include large solid objects or small particulates like dust. The highest digit in this category is 6, which indicates total protection from dust and other solids. The second digit corresponds to moisture protection. This digit can be anything from 1 to 9. A rating of "9" indicates safety from intense, high-pressure water exposure. Electrical enclosures need varying combinations of these two protection levels to suit their usage patterns.

 

Meaning and Relevance of IP67

The meaning of the IP67 rating is explained as:

●       The first digit signifies that the enclosure is completely protected from dust intrusions for a range of two to eight hours

●       The second digit signifies that the product can withstand water immersion up to 30 minutes when the water depth is anywhere between fifteen centimetres and one meter.

Universal load cells like an s-type load cell often have IP67 ratings. This rating means that you can keep the load cell outdoors in mild rain. This rating indicates that the instrument can withstand light exposure to water for half an hour. This protection level is convenient. When you have an IP67 rating, you don't have to disconnect your load cell because it is slightly cloudy. Unless you need to use load cells for vehicle applications or high-intensity applications in moisture-rich environments, IP67 protection is more than enough.

 

Meaning and Relevance of IP68

The meaning of IP68 is:

●       “6” indicates that the load cell is thoroughly protected from dust for two to eight hours

●       “8” indicates that the load cell can handle water immersion under high-pressure conditions for extended periods

The robust protection from IP68 is suitable for heavy-duty load cells. For example, a compression load cell for tank weighing can benefit from better outdoor protection with an IP68 rating. Moreover, a double-ended shear beam load cell can also benefit from an IP68 rating for high-intensity exposures.

 

How to Choose the Protection Class You Need?

You can choose the protection class based on your load cell use case. Moreover, you must analyse your operational conditions and determine whether you need an IP67 or IP68 protection rate. If you want to buy a high-quality, well-protected load cell, you must contact Sensomatic, one of the best load cell manufacturers in Pune.