In today’s rapidly evolving technological era, electronic products have become an integral part of our lives. Whether it’s the mobile phone we use during our commute, the smartwatch we wear while exercising, or the camera we take on outdoor adventures, these devices are always by our side. However, life is full of uncertainties, and situations such as water splashes and rain showers can occur unexpectedly. Therefore, the waterproof performance of electronic products has become increasingly important. But when faced with numerous products on the market claiming to have waterproof functions, how can we determine whether their waterproof performance is truly as reliable as advertised? Let’s delve into the methods for checking the waterproof performance of electronic products.
1. Understanding Waterproof Ratings
Before conducting in – depth inspections, it is essential to understand the classification of waterproof ratings for electronic products. Waterproof ratings are generally indicated by the IP code. The two digits following “IP” correspond to the dust – proof and waterproof ratings respectively.
- IPX12: It’s applied for waterproof test of second characteristic numeral 1 and numeral 2 with drip box. IPX1 is protected against verticaly falling water drops and ipx2 is protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure tilted up to 15°.
- IPX34: It’s applied for waterproof test of second characteristic numeral 3 and number 4 with oscillating tube, IPX3 is used for protected against spraying water and ipx4 is used for protect against splashing water.
- IPX56: It’s applied for waterproof test of second characteristic numeral 5 with 6.3mm nozzle and number 6 with 12.5mm nozzle, IPX5 is used for protecting against water jets and ipx6 is used for protect against powerful water jets.
- IPX7: It’s applied for waterproof test of second characteristic numeral 7: temporary immersion between 0.15m and 1m. It’s used for protecting against the effects of temporary immersion in water.
- IPX8: It’s applied for waterproof test of second characteristic numeral 8: continuous immersion subject to agreement. It’s used for protecting against the effects of continuous immersion in water.
2. Visual Inspection
The simplest and most straightforward inspection method is the visual inspection. Carefully examine the appearance of the product, with a particular focus on whether the interfaces, buttons, and seams are well – sealed. Take a mobile phone as an example; the charging port and headphone jack usually come with waterproof plugs. These plugs should fit tightly without any obvious gaps or damage. For cameras, the connection between the lens and the body requires a good sealing rubber ring to ensure a tight connection. If there are significant gaps in these critical areas, or if the waterproof plugs are missing or damaged, the product’s waterproof performance is likely to be severely compromised. Although visual inspection is simple, it can help us initially determine whether there are potential issues with the product’s waterproof performance.
3. Water Splash Test
After completing the visual inspection, a simple water splash test can be carried out. This test mainly simulates scenarios where the product is accidentally splashed with water in daily life, such as when water droplets splash onto a mobile phone while washing hands or when drizzle falls on the electronic product during a walk in the rain. Place the electronic product under a faucet and let the water gently splash onto its surface, then carefully observe for any signs of water ingress. Key areas to observe include whether water streaks appear on the screen, whether the buttons malfunction, and whether the indicator lights are abnormal. If the product functions normally after the water splash test without any abnormal phenomena, it can be preliminarily concluded that its waterproof performance can withstand daily water splash situations. However, it should be noted that the water flow during the water splash test should be gentle to avoid causing unnecessary impact on the product with excessive water flow, which may affect the test results or damage the product.
In addition to the common testing methods mentioned above, Pego also supplied some professional waterproof testing equipment available. These devices can more accurately simulate water pressure, water flow, and other conditions in different environments, thereby providing a more comprehensive detection of the waterproof performance of electronic products. The types of equipment are as follows:
- IPX12 Drip Box Waterproof Testing Machine: The ipx1 and ipx2 rain test device have a multi-hole nozzle with a hole diameter of 0.4mm and a hole spacing of 20mm to cover the sample surface. The test device is equipped with a turntable and it can tilt angle to 15°, also can be customized to 45°as customer’s requirements.
- IPX34 Spray Nozzle Test Machine: The IPX34 spray nozzle test machine is can be suitable for testing all kinds of products, there is no limit for the size of the sample. It consists of spray nozzle, flow meter, pressure gauge, timer etc.
- IPX34 Oscillating Tube Testing Machine: The test chamber can conduct spray tests through a pendulum tube or nozzles to simulate heavy rain and other water splash scenarios. When performing the IPX3 pendulum tube water spray test, place the product at a specific position inside the test chamber, select an appropriate radius of the pendulum tube so that the height of the product table is at the diameter position of the pendulum tube, and the distance from the top of the product to the water spray port should not be greater than 200mm. The pendulum tube swings 60°on each side of the vertical line, a total of 120°, with each swing taking about 4 seconds. The water flow is calculated according to the number of water spray holes in the pendulum tube, with 0.07 L/min for each hole, and continuous water spraying lasts for 10 minutes. During this process, observe whether there is any water ingress into the product. For the IPX4 splash test, the pendulum tube swings 180° on each side of the vertical line, a total of about 360°, with each swing taking about 12 seconds, and other conditions are similar to those of the IPX3 test. Through this method of simulating real – life scenarios, it can more comprehensively test the waterproof performance of electronic products under different degrees of water splash. For manufacturers or professional testing institutions that need to batch – test the waterproof performance of products, the waterproof test chamber is a very practical device. However, due to its professional nature and high cost, it is not suitable for ordinary consumers’ daily use.
- IPX56 Jet Nozzle Testing Machine: The IPX5 testrequires that the device can withstand the water jet from a nozzle in all directions without harmful effects. During the test, the jet nozzle with an inner diameter of 6.3mm is used, the water flow rate is 12.5L/min, the water pressure is about 30kPa, the distance from the sample is 2.5 – 3m, and the continuous water spraying time is at least 3min. The IPX6 test is more stringent, requiring that the device can withstand strong sea waves or water gun jets without harmful effects. During the test, the hose nozzle with an inner diameter of 12.5mm is used, the water flow rate is 100L/min, the water pressure is about 100kPa, the distance from the sample is 2.5 – 3m, and the continuous water spraying time is at least 3min. Through these two levels of testing, the waterproof performance of the device under different degrees of strong water impact can be effectively tested.
- IPX7 Immersion Tank: It is necessary to simulate the water pressure environment generated by a water depth of 1 meter.A product with an IPX7 rating can be immersed in water 1 meter deep for 30 minutes without water ingress
- IPX8 High Pressure Water Tank: The immersion depth can be increased to 50m and time can be appropriately increased.
4. Precautions during Inspection
When checking the waterproof performance of electronic products, regardless of the method used, safety should always be the top priority. Especially during the testing process involving water and electricity, ensure that the electronic product is powered off to avoid dangerous situations such as electric shock. At the same time, do not over – test the product. Although some products claim to have certain waterproof performance, they are not completely waterproof, and over – testing may cause damage to the product. Even if the product passes the waterproof test, it is not recommended to use it in extreme environments, such as using an ordinary waterproof mobile phone for deep – sea diving or immersing electronic products in seawater for a long time. Because seawater is corrosive and may cause damage to the product, affecting its waterproof performance and service life.
By comprehensively applying visual inspection, water splash testing, immersion testing, and understanding the testing principles of professional waterproof equipment, we can accurately judge the waterproof performance of electronic products. Having a clear understanding of the waterproof performance of electronic products in daily life can better protect our devices, extend their service life, and avoid unnecessary losses caused by water ingress. It is hoped that everyone will pay more attention to the waterproof performance of electronic products when using them, so that these technological products can better serve us.
