LED Light Waterproof or IP Ratings Explained

Goto MAM to know more.

Water and electricity never make for a pretty sight together. Water, when mixed with electricity, can be a cause of deadly electric shocks. These shocks can prove to be life threatening.   To make matters worse, water can ruin the light quickly or over time. Double bad. The solution to tackle the electric shock risk as well as extending the life of your fixture comes in the form of waterproof LED lighting.   

LED lights

Waterproof levels can vary dramatically. Full Waterproofare different from water resistant lights which are different from regular lights. Waterproof LED lights are designed in such a way that they can sustain with any amount of water whereas water resistant lights can only work well for an infrequent and certain exposure to water. LED lights offer numerous benefits to the users such as conserving of electricity and enhanced savings, along with durability. However, another benefit they can give you in working well despite being exposed to different solid and liquid particles.

What does IP rating in Waterproof Mean?

An Ingress Protection (or IP) rating is a standard that measures the degree of protection that an electrical device, such as an LED light, has against solid objects and liquids. An IP rating consists of two digits: the first digit indicates the level of protection against solid objects, such as dust or dirt; the second digit indicates the level of protection against liquids, such as water or moisture. The higher the digits, the higher the protection.

Various IP ratings Explained 

Different LED lights have different IP ratings, depending on their intended use and environment. For example, an LED light that is designed for indoor use may have a lower IP rating than an LED light that is designed for outdoor use. Here are some of the common IP ratings for LED lights and what they mean:

&#;  IP40: This rating means that the LED light is protected against solid objects larger than 1 mm, but not against liquids. This rating is suitable for LED lights that are used in enclosed fixtures or indoor areas where there is no exposure to water or humidity. Some examples of LED lights with this rating are LED bulbs, LED retrofit kits, and some indoor fixtures.

&#;  IP54: This rating means that the LED light is protected against dust and splashing water. This rating is suitable for LED lights that are used in indoor areas where there may be some dust or moisture, but not direct contact with water. Some examples of LED lights with this rating are basic LED bulbs and indoor fixtures.

&#;  IP64: This rating means that the LED light is completely protected against dust and splashing water. This rating is suitable for LED lights that are used in outdoor areas where there may be dust or rain, but not immersion in water. This is the highest rating that an LED corn light bulb can have, because it has to screw into a base that cannot be sealed.

&#;  IP65: This rating means that the LED light is completely protected against dust and water jets. This rating is suitable for LED lights that are used in outdoor areas where there may be dust or water spray, such as from a hose or a sprinkler. This is the most popular rating for outdoor fixtures, such as LED wall packs or LED parking lot lights.

The most commonly used LED lights ranking is IP65 as it provides protection against solid particles and resistance against liquid particles including all rain, snow and humidity as well.

&#;  IP67: This rating means that the LED light is completely protected against dust and temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter deep. This rating is suitable for LED lights that are used in outdoor areas where there may be dust or water submersion, such as from a flood or a pool.

When choosing an LED light for your application, you should consider the IP rating as one of the factors that affect its performance and durability. You should select an IP rating that matches the environmental conditions and requirements of your location. You should also follow the installation instructions and precautions for your LED light to ensure its proper functioning and safety.

Did you also know that waterproof LED lights have different levels of waterproofing to suit different marine needs? They&#;re categorized into Ingress Protection (IP) ratings, and the higher the IP number, the higher the level of waterproofing.

Waterproof LED lights have become the go-to source for marine lighting needs. They will:

• Light up your deck
• Aid in navigation
• Light up underwater
• Decorate your boat
• Illuminate your dock

Simply put, waterproof LED lights deliver what they promise.

We&#;ve rounded up four fascinating truths about them to help you see how they can add value to your marine experience.

Fact 1 - They Can Last Up to 15 Years and Still Remain Energy-Efficient

Waterproof LED lights &#;live a long full life&#;&#;up to 25,000 hours! Incandescent lights, on the other hand, last for about 1,500 hours.

Fluorescent lights may beat incandescent lights by burning for 10,000&#;15,000 hours, but they&#;re still far from LED&#;s record-breaking 25,000 hours.

Therefore, waterproof LED lights are the ultimate long-lasting choice.

They&#;re the most energy-efficient light option today, consuming 75% or four to six times less energy than incandescent bulbs and outlasting them by up to 25 times.

LED lights have a complex design made of:

• Capacitors: Eliminate excess heat and flickering
• Resistors: Prevent LEDs from burning out
• Inductors: Eliminate noise from LEDs

These three components help LEDs burn for years while remaining energy-efficient. Incandescent lights don&#;t last as long because they have only two contact wires connected to a filament.

If you own a yacht, you need quality light inside and outside your marine vessel. LED lights will save you from constant bulb replacements and high energy consumption.

By , most light installations in the United States are expected to switch to LED technology due to their energy-savings ability.

It will cost you $9.95&#;$19.91 to purchase any of our G4 Bi-Pin LED bulbs, but they&#;ll outlive fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, which may only cost $1&#;$4 but require replacement every one or two years.

The company is the world’s best waterproof fluorescent fixture supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

When you factor in how many lights you have on your boat, you can save a lot of energy by replacing all the lights with waterproof LED lights from Apex Lighting.

A happy customer ended excess power consumption by replacing his halogen bulbs with our 2.2W LED Bulb G4 Back-Pin:

&#;Replaced six bulbs with cool white LEDs. Much brighter now and no power depletion. Will replace six more this week.&#; &#; Tom

Fact 2 - The Cooler the Weather, the Better They Perform

Cold weather is the best for LED lights. In fact, the colder it gets, the more stable their overall functioning.

Why does this happen?

Waterproof LED lights contain cold-resistant outlet wires and good quality drivers that can withstand low temperatures, whereas fluorescent lamps use a combustible source easily damaged by cold weather.

As a general rule of thumb, LED lights work at -31º&#;60ºC (-25ºF&#;140ºF). The closer the temperature moves towards -31ºC, the more stable their performance.

Interesting Sub-Fact: For comparison purposes, the lowest temperature recorded on earth at ground level is -89.2ºC (-128.6ºF).

The fact that waterproof LED lights can handle a temperature as low as -31ºC makes them appropriate for lighting the interior of deep freezers. They, therefore, work well for outdoor lighting, even during winter.

You can use LEDs for your boat&#;s deck lights, flood lights, or light up your boat dock without worrying that they will succumb to the cold.

Expert Tip: Since LED lights aren&#;t affected by cold, if you notice yours flickering during cold weather, the problem could be related to a component made of a cheap material that froze up.

Buy LED lights with genuine parts from top brands like Lumitec and Scandvik, available at Apex Lighting.

Fact 3 - LED Lights Wear a Coat of Many Colors

Waterproof LED lights aren&#;t limited to white. Some are as colorful as the rainbow and add cool lighting effects to the interior and exterior of your boat.

LED strip lights or LED ropes are great choices for illuminating your boat, available in warm white, cool white, and other colors such as red, green, and blue.

If you&#;re not interested in a basic white light, you can opt for a fixed-color LED, which emits just one color throughout.

For a flashier look, your boat or yacht will look fantastic with color-changing LED ribbons from Apex Lighting. They include red, blue, and green (RGB) colors that flash alternatively.

For different colors that flash simultaneously, use a red, green, and blue + independent chip (RGBIC) strip. It displays its colors in beautiful patterns that resemble the  Northern Lights.

Interesting Sub-Fact: It&#;s possible to combine red, blue, and green colors on LED strips and come up with more than 16 million colors!

We&#;ve summarized the differences between the RGB and RGBIC LED strips in the table below.

RGB LED Strips RGBIC LED Strips Display white or RGB colors alternately Display RGB and combination colors simultaneously Produce basic color patterns Produce complex color patterns Lacks an integrated circuit chip and so individual color segments can&#;t be controlled Use multiple integrated circuit chip which controls individual color segments Can be cut to the desired size at the copper markings Cannot be cut due to the presence of individual chips Standard brightness Ultra brightness

Fact 4 - No Excessive Heat, No Toxins Released&#;Just Pure Light

Waterproof LED lights are the coolest to the touch because they emit the least heat (about 20%) compared to incandescents which are the hottest and release 90% of their energy as heat.

The 90% heat released is why so many people burn their fingers when they accidentally touch lit incandescent bulbs.

LED lights release less heat because they have components that convert high-voltage electricity to low-voltage, minimizing heat production in the process.

The parts responsible for heat management are called heat sinks or exchangers, which absorb heat and then expel it to the surroundings, saving the LED light from overheating.

When you replace incandescent bulbs with LED lights, you minimize the chances of accidental burns when touched.

More severe cases have occurred, like the Windsor Castle fire that happened when a light bulb overheated and ignited a curtain next to it.

Besides overheating, some lights, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), contain mercury which is released when the bulb is shattered. When inhaled, mercury can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting, and headaches.

According to a study by the State University of New York, defects in the CFLs may also release UV rays, which damage skin cells and cause cancer.

LED lights don&#;t contain mercury or emit UV radiation. The fact that they emit no UV rays makes them the most suitable lighting option in art galleries, where years of exposure to UV rays from fluorescent lamps will disintegrate the artwork.

If you like reading while lounging in your boat and don&#;t want a lamp emitting UV radiation on you, LED lights are the best choice.

Also, our reading lights won&#;t strain your eyes or draw much power. A customer found an excellent LED light for reading at Apex Lighting and said:

&#;This is the second boat we&#;ve used these reading lamps and they&#;re fantastic. Nice to have them.&#; &#; Verified anonymous buyer

Get Your Waterproof LED Lights From Apex Lighting, Home of Great Marine Brands

It&#;s not easy to find all the best brands under one roof, but Apex Lighting brings together  top brands to give you the best collection of waterproof LED lights and accessories.

See how beautifully they lit up this dock and this corner dock with the latest remote-controlled and color-changing lights. If you want to replicate this look, contact the company for help.

Besides giving docks a lighting makeover, this company has the best waterproof LED lights to keep your boat looking awesome as you fish or hang out with your family and friends.

Why should you trust Apex Lighting? Because thousands of boaters on the East Coast and across the nation already do.

Apex Lighting knows what makes great lighting. Let them cover all your marine lighting needs.

For more information, please visit explosion proof lighting requirements.