You may know some dust and water-resistant gadgets. These devices can be smartphones, smartwatches, and Bluetooth speakers. Generally, any device that can be used outdoors may have these resistances. So, you can see why battery manufacturers often indicate resistance levels on their products. 

These resistance levels can vary depending on the product or model. Some appliances can handle little splashes, while others can survive full immersion. The amount of protection on your device is indicated by the IP rating.

So, we will talk about how to make sense of the IP rating on your lithium battery. This will help you decide if you can safely install solar batteries outdoors. You will also know if your battery is marine-worthy. 

What are IP Ratings?

IP stands for Ingress Protection. Manufacturers write it as two numbers, preceded by the letters “IP.” For example, IP67. 

The IP rating of a device can explain the extent of its dust and humidity (or wetness) protection. Higher IP ratings show that your device is well protected against dust and wetness. 

The first rating number is the protection against foreign solid matter like dirt, dust, or touch. The second number is the wetness-resistance levels. This indicates whether your lithium battery can withstand simple sprays, a downpour, or submersion in water. 

So, IP67 indicates a level 6 protection against dust and a level 7 defense against water. But what is the code to make sense of these ratings?

Solid Protection Code

In the table below, we describe the protection level for each numeric code. 

Level (Code)	Level of Protection	Explanation
0	Unprotected	No protection against touch or entry of foreign objects.
1	>50mm	Protected against entry of large surfaces up to 50mm wide, such as the back of the hand. But not protected against touch or contact.
2	>12.5mm	Can be reached by fingers or similar-sized objects.
3	>2.5mm	Can be reached by small tools and thick wires.
4	>1mm	Can be reached by tiny wires and screws.
5	Dust Protected	Has a level of dust protection, but must be maintained to prevent dust quantities that can interfere with the operation of the equipment. However, it’s fully protected against contact.
6	Dust Tight	Completely protected against dust entry and contact.

Humidity or Wetness Protection

Level (Code)	Explanation
0	No protection.
1	Protected against falling water drops.
2	Protected against falling water drops even when tilted at 15°.
3	Is protected against sprays of water while tilted at 60°.
4	Is safe against splashing water from any direction.
5	Is safe against water jets.
6	Protected from powerful water jets.
7	Protected against brief water immersion in up to 1m depth.
8	Protected from prolonged water immersion, in depths of 1m or more.
9	Protected against high temperature and pressure water jets in depths specified by the manufacturer.

Significance of IP Ratings in Lithium Batteries

The IP rating of your lithium battery will determine where you can use it. Some batteries are not ideal for outdoor use. Also, batteries with low water protection may not be suitable for use on a boat or vessels that are prone to wetness. 

Manufacturers seal LiFePO4 batteries to prevent moisture and dust from sipping inside. However, this protection is never perfect. Some outward features like vents for cooling and releasing gas can weaken the protection. So, it's best you choose a battery that we design for outdoor use. This will give you stronger protection. 

A high IP-rated battery is well protected and you can use it outside. Installing batteries outdoors will help you save space for other important indoor items. Also, the outdoors has better ventilation, so your battery doesn't overheat. Sometimes, the battery is meant for automobiles, so you must use it outside. Hence, we recommend an IP rating of 65 or over for outdoor battery installation.

The Impact of Contaminants on Lithium Battery Performance and Safety

The truth is, dust and wetness is bad for most electrical devices. Often, gadget makers will advise you to avoid exposing your devices to a certain level of dust or wetness. Also, you can maintain your devices by cleaning liquid spills and dusting them. 

A lithium battery is the same. It’s critical you avoid exposing it to dust and wetness for too long. These impurities may find their way into the cells and reduce their performance. For example, dumping your battery in water is risky and off-limit. This action can cause current to start flowing between the terminals. By the time you recover the battery, the energy will have discharged, and the battery may go bad. 

Furthermore, it's pretty dangerous for saltwater to contact the terminals. This impurity will cause corrosion along the battery's terminals. Corroded terminals cannot conduct electricity fully. So, the battery's performance will drop. Also, there is the danger that the salt water enters the battery and conducts electricity, a short-circuiting or chemical reaction. 

Some of the ugly outcomes we discussed above can lead to overheating, fire, and explosion. But, you can enjoy more outdoor safety with a high-rated IP67 lithium battery. We design such batteries to resist dust and wetness. 

Understanding IP Ratings in Practice

Some of the popular protection levels for lithium batteries include:

• IP20
• IP22
• IP65
• IP66
• IP67
• IP68

IP20 and IP22 ratings are only suited for indoor use. If you do not intend to use the battery on a boat or take it outdoors, then you don't have any issues.

An IP65 rating will resist dust and is enough protection from water jets. You can use a battery with IP rating outside, but it does not offer full protection from the unpredictable outdoor weather. 

Meanwhile, IP66, 67, and 68 offer enough protection against outdoor elements. So you can install and use these IP-rated batteries outdoors. 

Factors Influencing IP Ratings Selection

When shopping for an IP-rated battery for your use, there are a few points that you should consider. We discuss them below:

Environmental Considerations

You should assess your environment before deciding what IP rating will suffice. Some rural areas have plenty of dust and dirt. Wetness and humidity may not be a concern in such areas. So you should shop for a battery that offers adequate dust protection. 

Usage Scenarios

Batteries that power a boat or trolling motor are primarily concerned with water protection. Similarly, batteries meant for outdoor use will benefit from this water-resistance property. 

An IP20 or IP22 battery will serve most indoor use. However, you will need more protection if the battery will power moving outdoor vehicles like carts and shuttle cars. An IP67-rated LiFePO4 battery is safe from the dust and humidity of daily use. 

Regulatory Requirements and Industry Standards Affecting IP Rating Choices

Commercial, marine, and automotive industries require batteries with a specific rating. In such cases, it’s not your choice to decide. Instead, you must follow the laid out standards.

Testing and Certification Processes

The testing process before issuing IP certificates is straightforward. The tests have these steps:

1. Testing for Solids: Testers expose the device to solids of different sizes to confirm what is able to penetrate the device. These tests issue a rating between 0 and 6. 0 offers no protection, whereas 6 is dust-tight. 
2. Testing for Liquids: The test for liquids is most done with water at normal temperatures. This test answers whether water can get inside the device battery at a certain pressure and exposure level. Ratings from 0 to 9, with 0 offering no protection and 9 means it's protected against high-pressure water jets.
3. The Testing Standard: Manufacturers must comply with international standards like the IEC 60529. This unified standard makes the ratings credible and consistent. 
4. Verification and Compliance: A regulatory body or testing agency will look at the product to verify your claims on the IP ratings. They can adjust the protection claim based on evidence. This step makes it hard for people to manipulate the standards. 

How IP Ratings Affect Product Design

A battery that is safe from dust and water must consider vulnerable areas like the packs and ports during design. Often, you will notice manufacturers use materials that make it hard for dust and water to penetrate. These materials can be plastics and metals, since they have the natural property to resist water, dust, and corrosion. 

Still, this dust and water-tight design does not affect performance. Or else, the battery will not serve its purpose. One battery that meets these requirements is the GoldenMate’s 12.8V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery.

Highlighting Goldenmate’s IP67 Rated Battery

One of the best-built outdoor batteries is the GoldenMate’s 12.8V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery. It is with this confidence the makers offer a 10-year lifetime guarantee and a 5-year warranty on the product. 

The battery has over 4000 cycles and can handle 100% depth of discharge without affecting performance. Also, it is only one-third the weight of an AGM battery with similar capacity. So, it’s a great choice when managing weight and space on a boat or similar vessel.

Understanding IP67 Rating Explanation

The battery has the highest dust protection rating (6). So, it’s dust-tight. Also, the water protection level is 7. This means that it can withstand 1m water immersion for 30 minutes. Or to put it practically, you can use the battery in outdoor weather. 

Advantages of IP67 Rating

You can use an IP67-rated battery on a boat or other automobile. We design it to resist moisture, dust, and salt water. So, it’s also a good camping battery. 

Conclusion

Any lithium battery will do for indoor energy setups. However, this is not true for batteries that will be used outdoors. 

If you use an unsecured battery outdoors, it can cause losses and accidents when the battery absorbs excess dust and wetness. So, you are better off with our IP67-rated 12.8V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery. 

At GoldenMate Energy, we are proud of our products. We love making energy solutions that won't give you a headache. You should contact us today for all your energy-related needs.