IPX3 and IPX4 Waterproof Tester: Ensuring the Reliability of IPX3 and IPX4 Waterproof Test

In the modern society where waterproofing is ecoming more ubiquitous, more manufacturers are developing consumer products with various waterproof testing equipment. The purpose is to meet the product requirements of consumers. However, what kind of waterproof testing can effectively ensure the accuracy of the products? In fact, there is not only one type of IP waterproofing, it is divided into many levels. What is IPX3 and IPX4 Waterproof Tester? How to conduct IPX3 and IPX4 waterproof test?

Structural characteristics of IPX3 and IPX4 Waterproof Tester:

Firstly, let’s look at the appearance of the IPX3 and IPX4 Waterproof Tester. The shell of the test equipment is made of blue and white paint. It has evolved from the previous single material color to the current beautiful and generous case, which is designed by technical personnel at great effort. The right side of the external case is equipped with a ventilation hole, which can effectively extend the service life of the equipment.

The difference between the equipment model and the column model is that the equipment-type waterproof rain test machine can cycle the water. There is a water storage tank at the bottom of the test machine, and the water after the test will flow back to the water storage tank. The equipment-type structure with the feature of circulating water can be said to be both energy-saving and environmentally friendly. More importantly, customers do not need to build a dedicated waterproof laboratory, and the structure of this model greatly saves the initial investment cost. Moreover, the bottom of the test equipment is equipped with 4 movable casters, making it more convenient to move the machine.

Most waterproof test machines have an intelligent control operating system. The control panel, which controls the entire operating core system, uses a color 7-inch touch screen + Panasonic PLC. Users can set parameters, start, stop, and clear data of the machine on their mobile phones or computers (remote control function requires downloading corresponding software). Of course, we also have a simpler operating system, which aims to bring more convenience to customers and meet the production requirements of more customers.

Let’s take a look at the door of the rain test device. The shell of the door is sprayed with blue paint, and there is a transparent tempered glass window on it. There is also an LED lighting inside the equipment, in order to allow the operator to see the test situation inside the equipment more clearly and make better records. Below the LED lighting, there is a sample power socket, which can be controlled by the system to turn on and off the power supply to the sample, as well as control the duration of power supply. This is convenient for testing samples that require power supply.

In the middle of the inner equipment is the swing pipe for testing. It is called a swing pipe because it needs to swing during the test. The shape of the swing pipe is semi-circular, with nozzles evenly distributed on it. The size of the water spray hole is 0.4mm in diameter, with a distance of 50mm between each hole (strictly designed according to the GB4208 standard). According to the test standard, the distance between the tested sample and the water spray hole should be a maximum of 200mm, so that the rain shower on the test sample is more uniform and the test is more accurate.

Similar to the column-type rain test machine, the swing pipe of this test box is also removable. However, the number of nozzles for testing IPX3 and IPX4 is different. But for the convenience of testing, we have improved the design itself, and changing the test level only requires replacing the nozzle. In order to ensure the normal swing of the swing pipe, we have installed a protractor at the opposite position of the pivot.

In addition , below the swing pipe, there is a turntable for placing test samples. The material of the turntable is made of SUS304 stainless steel, which has good corrosion resistance. The height of the turntable is adjustable to ensure the corresponding distance between the height of the test sample and the water spray hole. It can be adjusted manually. In addition, the turntable can rotate in 3 ways to ensure more accurate testing. We can also see clearly that there is a layer of mesh filter in the water outlet of the inner box, which is to prevent samples or other debris from flowing into the water storage tank during testing and blocking the water spray holes when the water flows back.

Speaking of the filter, there is also a filter behind the test machine, which is used to filter impurities in tap water injected into the test machine. The reason for using tap water during testing is that tap water has fewer impurities. As mentioned above, the aperture of the water spray hole is 0.4mm. If there are too many impurities in the water, it will block the water spray holes, not only shortening the service life of the nozzles, but also consuming more nozzle raw materials.

IPX3 and IPX4 are waterproof protection grade standards established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). IPX3 indicates that the product can resist direct water spray at an angle of up to 60 degrees, while IPX4 indicates that the product can resist water sprayed from all directions.

To conduct IPX3 waterproof testing, a specific spray device with certain performance requirements is needed. The spray device requires a water pressure of 10±0.05L/min and nozzle diameter of 0.4mm. During the test, the spray device is placed at a distance of 1-2 meters from the product being tested, and water spray is directed towards the product. The spraying time is 10 minutes with a spray angle of 60 degrees. It is important to ensure that the water is evenly sprayed on all parts of the product.

For IPX4 waterproof testing, the requirements for the spray device are the same as for IPX3 testing. However, during the test, the spray device needs to be moved to allow the water spray to come from different directions. Generally, it is necessary to spray for 2.5 minutes in each of the four directions (front, back, left, and right) for a total duration of 10 minutes.
When conducting waterproof testing, there are several key points to consider. First, the requirements for the testing environment temperature and humidity. Generally, the temperature during testing should be between 15-35°C, and the relative humidity should be between 45-75%. This is to ensure the accuracy and comparability of the test results.

Secondly, the condition of the tested product should be noted. Before conducting the waterproof testing, the product should be kept at room temperature for 24 hours to ensure it reaches a stable state. During the testing, attention should be paid to any obvious faults, leaks, or other damages to the product.

In addition, when conducting the waterproof testing, the distance between the spray device and the tested product should also be considered. If the standard distance is not reached, the intensity of the spray may be affected, thus impacting the accuracy of the test results.

Finally, after conducting the waterproof testing, the product should be inspected. Firstly, the appearance should be checked for any damages such as fractures or cracks, which should be recorded. Secondly, electrical performance testing should be carried out to ensure the functionality of the product. Additionally, additional tests such as humidity heat resistance testing and dust resistance testing can also be conducted to comprehensively evaluate the waterproof performance of the product.

In conclusion, IPX3 and IPX4 waterproof testing are important means of evaluating the waterproof capabilities of electronic products and devices. By following the standard requirements during testing, it can ensure that the waterproof performance of the product meets the specified standards and improves the reliability and durability of the product. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct effective waterproof testing during the development and production of waterproof products to ensure the quality and reliability of the products.

JL-X waterproof test machine is according to IEC60529:1989 +A1:1999 +A2：2013 《Degrees of protection provided by enclosures(IP Code)》, IEC60598, IEC60335 and IEC 60034-5, GB/T-2423.2, GB4208, GB7000.1. The JL-X includes the following test grades: IPX1, IPX2, IPX3, IPX4, IPX5, IPX6, IPX7 and IPX8 (Refer to page 51 of IEC60529). It is widely used in the authentication test organization for the products such as electrical & electronic products, LED luminaires as well as in the relevant quality control department for the waterproof detection of the enclosures protection grades.

 

Tags：JL-X