IP Rating for Industrial Power Supplies
IP rating tells you what the supply keeps out - fingers, dust, water jets. Indoor clean panels are IP20; washdown and outdoor need IP54 to IP67. Higher rating usually means less convection cooling.
IP20 - Indoor, Clean
Finger-safe (no access to live parts) but not dust-tight. Fine inside a controlled cabinet in a clean room or office. The common default for DIN-rail supplies.
IP54 - Drip and Dust
Protected against splash from any direction and limited dust. Suits humid factories and covered outdoor enclosures.
IP67 - Washdown and Outdoor
Dust-tight and survivable under water jets / temporary immersion. Needed for food plants, car washes and pole-mounted outdoor gear.
The Cooling Trade-Off
Sealing reduces convection. IP67 supplies often derate more at high ambient or need a fan; size for the real enclosure temperature.
NEMA Equivalence
IP54 ~ NEMA 12; IP67 ~ NEMA 4X for water. NEMA also covers corrosion, which IP does not.
Is IP67 always better than IP20?
Only if the environment needs it. IP67 costs more, runs hotter, and is overkill inside a clean cabinet.
Can an IP20 supply go outdoors?
Only inside a properly rated enclosure; the supply's own rating does not make the cabinet weatherproof.
Related Products
- LED Drivers - IP20/IP67, DALI 2.0, 12-1800W
- Power Supplies - adapters, enclosed, DIN rail
- Battery ESS - telecom, UPS, home storage