About IP Protection Level of Bluetooth Beacons Everything You Need to Know

Bluetooth beacon is an external device for mobile phone APPs. Its working principle is to send its own unique ID to the surrounding through low-power Bluetooth. The application software on the mobile phone can scan and parse the ID, and finally realize the information push based on indoor location. We often hear about IP65, IP66, IP67 etc., what is the specific protection level of the beacon?

IP protection level test includes two characteristic numbers, the first number represents the dustproof level, and the second number represents the waterproof level. For example: IP65, the first digit "6" represents the dustproof grade IP6X, and the second digit "5" represents the waterproof grade IPX5. The two-digit combination is IP65.

IP protection grades include: IP22, IP33, IP44, IP54, IP55, IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 and manufacturer-defined test conditions.

The test level is IP68. Generally, there are very few requirements for IP68. IP43 for indoor equipment and IP66 and IP65 for outdoor equipment are sufficient. Due to the unclear understanding of the protection level requirements of various manufacturers, the selected level is too high and the protection technology of their own equipment is not in place, resulting in frequent test failures.

The meaning of IP protection level as follows:

First digit: Dust test

(0) No protection No special protection for outside people or things

(1) Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects larger than 50mm

(2) Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects larger than 12.5mm

(3) Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects larger than 2.5mm

(4) Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects larger than 1.0mm

(5) Prevent foreign objects and dust completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects

(6) Prevent foreign objects and dust completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects and dust

Second digit: waterproof test

IPX1: represents vertical dripping water, dripping water in the vertical direction has no effect, the water flow rate is 1mm/min, and the test is 10min;

IPX2: 15 degrees of water dripping, when the vertical surfaces of the housing are inclined within 15 degrees, the vertical dripping water should have no harmful effect, the water flow is 3mm/min, and each inclined position is 2.5min;

IPX3: Water spray test, each vertical surface is rained within a range of 60 degrees without harmful effects, the water flow is 10L/min, and the test time is 10min;

IPX4: splashing water, splashing water in all directions of the casing has no effect, each vertical surface is exposed to rain within 180 degrees, the water flow is 10L/min, and the test time is 10min;

IPX5: water spray, water spraying in all directions of the shell has no effect, the water flow is 12.5L/min, and the test time is 3min;

IPX6: Strong water spray, strong water spray to all directions of the shell without harmful effects, the water flow is 100L/min, and the test time is 3min;

IPX7: Immersion in water for a short period of time, after immersion in water with specified pressure for a specified time, the amount of water immersed in the shell will not reach a harmful level, placed in a diving box, the general depth is 1 meter, and the test time is 30 minutes;

IPX8: Continuous immersion, the depth and time of immersion are negotiated between the manufacturer and the user.

The protection level of HYXKIOT’s  waterproof beacons as follows:

Beacon P/N	Picture	Bluetooth version	chip	Working time	Transmission range	Protection level
HY-BC01L		Bluetooth 5.1	DA14531	10 years	120 meters	IP44
HY-BC02L		Bluetooth 5.1	DA14531	5 years	120 meters	IP67
HY-BC05L		Bluetooth 5.1	DA14531	2 years	60 meters	IP44
HY-BC06L		Bluetooth 5.1	DA14531	2 years	60 meters	IP44
HY-KTB801		Bluetooth 4.2	nRF52810	9 years	80 meters	IP67
HY-KYB801E		Bluetooth 4.2	nRF52810	9 years	80 meters	IP67
HY-KTB809		Bluetooth 4.2	nRF52810	8 years	80 meters	IP68