Understanding IP Ratings in Inverters and Solar Equipment

Solar energy solutions and equipment like solar inverters and panels come with all sorts of extras and features, all of which people seldom bother to read or understand. For most of us, the primary job of the solar energy system is to generate energy and if it does that and is very efficient, then most people would not care about the other stuff or the features that are supposed to be understood by those among us with an understanding of how solar energy solutions work. However, one factor that people will always care about is durability and the ability of the system to operate in harsh conditions, which is where IP ratings come in.

In this blog post, we will look at what IP ratings are, especially in the solar energy world, and what do IP ratings mean for solar inverters and other solar equipment. Because IP ratings are a direct showcase of just how much durable your equipment is, how much is it able to resist factors like water, moisture and dust, it directly translates to how better your solar inverter and solar energy system is. Therefore lets start with a basic understanding of what IP ratings are and then we’ll proceed to the solar part.

IP ratings: an introduction

IP, or ingress protection, is a universal standard that is used to determine just how much any piece of tech or electronics is rated to hold up against water or dirt. For example, one of the most famous or well-known examples of IP ratings are for phones; modern smartphones are all waterproof, yes, everybody knows that. But how much exactly are they able to withstand? For some older pieces of technology, one spill is enough to ruin it. For modern phones, with an IP67 or IP69 protection, this essentially means that unless you are actively trying to get your device damaged with sand or water, whatever else comes its way, it wont affect the normal functioning of the device.

And the same goes for solar energy equipment. Solar panels are obviously built to survive and operate in the harshest of environments, so, naturally, they are quite resistant to all sorts of water or dust ingress protection. For other pieces of solar equipment, like solar inverters, their ingress protection has to be good, considering that they have an important job and are quite expensive pieces of equipment. And losing one to a bit of moisture is never good, so solar inverters come with their own IP ratings.

Solar IP ratings: the details

IP ratings work in two ways; the IP stands for ingress protection, which is quite self-explanatory. It means that the device is protected against moisture (water) and dust, which are the two main enemies for any piece of technology. As for the numbers, the 67 or 69 also comes with its own set of meanings. The first digit, usually a 6, is for dust protection, and is usually the highest number of protection against dust ingress. The second digit is the more contentious part; this digit is for the water protection, and this is where the difference emerges between good quality products and the mid-range products; the 7 means that it can withstand a water jet and being submersed in water, whereas the higher range of 9 essentially means that all sorts of extended submerges (upto a specific time) can be endured by the device, making it the highest level of water resistance that any device can have. If you have a good quality solar inverter, chances are that it will be rated IP67 or IP68, since these are the highest-rated IP ratings commercially available, making them incredibly resistant to water, steam and even vapours.

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When it comes to reliable and durable solar inverters, nothing is better than GoodWe, whose solar inverters are amongst the top-rated pieces of solar energy equipment, not just in Pakistan, but globally. Made with the highest quality materials, and with significant amounts of research and development invested in it, GoodWe solar inverters perform efficiently, and given their extras and features, as well as their manufacturing type that makes them incredibly durable. If you are a consumer, whether commercial or residential and you are looking for the best solar energy inverter, look no further than GoodWe. And for your one stop shop for everything solar energy; be it solar panels, solar inverters or solar batteries from the top-rated manufacturers in the world, ZNC Solar is your contact for the best solar energy equipment in Pakistan.