IP Rating Relationship to Humidity Tolerance.

IP Rating Relationship to Humidity Tolerance.

If a component has an certain IP rating can a humidity tolerance be derived from that IP rating? I’d like to know if a component that provides an IP rating of IP 67 could tolerate 100% non condensing humidity conditions. Also more generally, I’d like to know if there is a correlation between IP ratings and humidity tolerance.

The quick answer is No. There is not a correlation between IP rating and humidity tolerance.

IP rating indicates how well the housing is able to with stand intrusion of dust or liquid water. It says nothing about the ability for the product to withstand high moisture environments.

IP67 indicates that the housing is protected from both dust and immersion down to 1 meter.

Water vapor can still permeate though the case and effect the components inside if the case is made of plastic.

With this said it is possible for the reduce the issues with moisture intrusion and water vapor in the micro-environment of the housing created by the case. This is accomplished with desiccants or back filling with dry nitrogen.

Remember once a seal case is achieved it is possible to have condensation occur once the a saturation conditions are reached. In IP67 cases there is no easy exchange air once the case is sealed.

What are you trying to do?

Why are you concerned about the need to tolerate a 100% non-condensing situation?

Not really. IP67 means the enclosure can withstand total immersion up to 1m. But ratings of 4 or less allow movement of air in and out. Also humidity is temperature related, so 100% of saturation level at one temperature is less at a higher temperature. So on its own, the humidity level does not give the water vapour content and Volume per volume woud be a more meaningful measure.