An important specification for industrial measuring instruments generally, and pressure sensors in particular, may be the ingress protection. In this context, an assumed typographical error in our data sheets for the PSD-4, PSD-30, PSD-31 and PSA-31 electronic pressure switches has frequently been described to us. These data sheets state that these instruments meet both IP65 and IP67 ingress protection. And yes, that?s absolutely right.
The explanation for this is pretty simple. It originates from the fact that both ingress protection types, and thus the underlying tests, differ completely. The supposedly ?higher? ingress protection, IP67, does not, at the same time, also cover the ?lower? ingress protection, IP65. They are two different ingress protection types with different specifications.
General consideration of IP65 and IP67 ingress protection
To clarify the ?mystery? of both ingress protection types, this is actually the technical explanation: Relative to IEC 60529, the first characteristic numeral specifies the protection ?contrary to the ingress of solid foreign objects? and the second characteristic numeral the protection ?against the ingress of water?. The ingress protection types provide ?dust-proof? equipment (IP6x), protection against ?water jets? (IPx5) and ?temporary immersion? (IPx7). Not every instrument protected against immersion also withstands water jets and, vice versa, not every water-jet protected instrument is also protected against immersion. Innovative , but important difference in some applications.
IP65 and IP67 ingress protection with WIKA pressure switches
Our electronic pressure switches have been designed and tested for both ingress protection types. This is confirmed not merely by WIKA in-house tests, but also by external tests carried out by independent test centres, for instance, as part of UL approval. Specifically, this means that the WIKA PSD-4, PSD-30 and PSD-31 electronic pressure switches meet IP65 ingress protection, meaning they’re dust-proof and protected against water jets. Furthermore, they fulfil the IP67 ingress protection, meaning also, they are protected against short-term immersion in water. The WIKA model PSA-31 also fulfils both ingress protection types and was specifically made for sanitary applications.
Note
To find out more on our selection of electronic pressure switches ? models PSD-4, PSD-30, PSD-31 and PSA-31 ? go to the WIKA website.