IPX3-X4-X9K.

What IPX3, IPX4 and IPX9K verify

Under IEC 60529, the second IP characteristic numeral defines protection against water. IPX3 verifies protection against spraying water up to 60° from the vertical and IPX4 against splashing from any direction; both are produced with an oscillating tube (each nozzle delivering about 0.07 L/min) — IPX3 sweeps a 120° arc, IPX4 close to 360°. IPX9K is the most severe class: close-range jets of high-pressure, high-temperature water (typically 80–100 bar at about 80 °C, applied from 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° at 100–150 mm, with a flow of roughly 14–16 L/min). IPX9K is defined in IEC 60529 and, for road vehicles, in ISO 20653 (originally DIN 40050-9).

A leading supplier of commercial and military land vehicle manufacturers in Turkey, with whom we collaborate on various solutions, requested EN standard IPX3-X4-X9K tests and additional tests for incoming quality control of their products, as well as pressure testing in closed chambers. We delivered a system that combines these three different requirements into a single device. The system conducts tests by spraying water at 150 bar and 80 degrees Celsius or filling it into a closed chamber. As no solenoid valve capable of opening and closing water flow at 150 bar and the required flow rate was available, five high-pressure butterfly valves driven by pneumatic actuators were designed and used in the project. Our company undertook the Design, Manufacturing, and Automation aspects of the project.

Why a combined IPX3–IPX4–IPX9K + pressure system

Running IPX3/IPX4 spray, IPX9K high-pressure/high-temperature jets and a sealed-chamber pressure test on one platform lets an incoming-quality-control team qualify a part against several water-ingress requirements without moving it between separate machines. The high-pressure water path is the demanding part of the design — at 150 bar the flow must still be started and stopped cleanly, which is why pneumatically actuated high-pressure butterfly valves were used instead of solenoid valves. Test levels and angles are configured to the IEC 60529 / ISO 20653 class under evaluation.