What is a home battery’s ingress protection (IP) rating?
IP Ratings are an often overlooked detail on the specification sheet of a solar battery. It typically has a value between IP55 and IP67 that describes how protected the battery is against dust and moisture. In this article, we’ll unpack what IP ratings mean, why they matter, and how to choose the perfect one for your home.
The topic in a nutshell
IP ratings consist of two numbers: One for solid protection (1-6) and one for liquid protection (1-8).
IP55 is indoor-rated, while IP66+ is suitable for unprotected outdoor setups like British weather.
Use IP55 for indoors, IP65 for sheltered outdoor areas, IP66 for heavy rain, and IP67 for flood-prone locations.
We can help you find the battery with the right ingress protection in a consultation.
What is does IP rating mean?
IP stands for “Ingress Protection” and describes the extent to which dust and humidity can reach the inside of an electrical device. The rating consists of two numbers: The first number relates to solid protection (e.g. dirt) and goes from 1 to 6. The second one relates to liquid protection (e.g. sprays, rain) and ranges from 1 to 8.
Which IP rating do I need?
The IP rating should be one of the main criteria for choosing a home or solar battery, as it determines where the battery can be installed safely. Installing batteries indoors provides more protection. However, you might need to have them outdoors due to lack of space. Therefore, it’s key to choose a battery with the required right IP rating.
IP55 is designed only for indoor installations and offers only partial dust protection and only safeguards against low-pressure water jets from any direction.
IP65 is suitable for outdoor installations with some protection against powerful jets of water, such as a roof overhang. These batteries are certified as dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets. Therefore, they must still be protected against large amounts of rain.
IP66 is designed for outdoor installations without additional protection as it offers complete dust protection and resilience against powerful water jets, such as those from strong storm-driven rain. This makes it ideal for harsher outdoor environments and typical British weather conditions. However, batteries rated IP66 should not be immersed in water, for example, in the case of a flood.
IP67 can be installed outdoors and immersed in water for short periods of time. It prevents dust ingress and can withstand short-term submersion of up to one metre, which is perfect for flood-prone or persistently wet areas.
Before installing your battery, ensure you weigh its IP rating alongside other important considerations - like ventilation, space constraints, and local regulations - which you can learn more about in our latest article on battery installation locations.
What are the IP ratings of typical solar batteries?
The majority of solar batteries have an IP-rating between IP55 and IP67. Over the last few years there has been a trend towards higher IP ratings to allow for outdoor installations - especially since the release of the Tesla Powerwall 3, which has an IP rating of 67, compared to 56 on the Powerwall 2.
Although higher IP ratings guarantee higher dust and water resistance, they come with trade-offs. The enhanced sealing and robust materials needed for high IP ratings often raise manufacturing costs, and heavier enclosures may make installation more complex.
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