IP67 vs. IP68 Waterproof Connectors: How to Choose

The short version: IP67 means the connector survives 30 minutes in 1 meter of water. IP68 means whatever the manufacturer says it means—depth, duration, conditions, all set by the test spec, and none of it carries over from one product to the next. Two connectors can carry the same IP68 label and have completely different real-world limits.

So the choice is not “pick the higher number.” It depends on how water reaches the connection point, how long it stays there, how the cable is routed, and whether the whole mated assembly has been tested—not just the connector body.

Here’s how IP67 vs IP68 waterproof connectors play out in practice: what the two ratings cover, where each one makes sense, and what to check before you send out a PO. If you already know your environment and just want the short answer, skip to the checklist at the end.

What an IP rating actually tells you

An IP rating is a test result, not a promise. “IP” stands for Ingress Protection, and the two digits measure two separate things: the first covers solid objects and dust, and the second covers water.

For outdoor connectors, everyone stares at the second digit, fair enough, but it only means something in context. The rating is tested on a specific assembly under IEC 60529. The enclosure design, the mating interface, the cable entry, the seals, and even how the installer tightens the gland—every one of these decides whether the connector in your machine meets the number on the datasheet.

Worth knowing too: an IP rating says nothing about UV, salt spray, vibration, chemicals, or thermal cycling. A connector can be perfectly IP68 and still die in two years of direct sun.

IP67 vs. IP68: what actually differs

The difference between IP67 and IP68 waterproof connectors is immersion. How deep, and for how long?

IP67 (IPX7 under IEC 60529) is tested for temporary immersion, typically 1 meter for 30 minutes. Rain, splash, washdown—the kind of water that comes and goes. That covers a lot of outdoor equipment, honestly.

IP68 (IPX8) is tested for immersion, but the manufacturer sets and documents the depth and duration. One product might be rated 1.5 meters for 24 hours. Another might claim 30 meters for a week. Both are IP68. The label alone does not tell you which one you are buying.

This situation is where sourcing trips people up. Two suppliers quote you IP68 connectors, and unless you compare the test conditions, you’re comparing nothing. That’s why we send the datasheet with every quotation instead of just quoting “IP68.”

Water protection: temporary immersion under defined conditions Continuous immersion under manufacturer-specified conditions Typical IEC 60529 test Up to 1 m for 30 minutes Depth, duration, and pressure specified by the manufacturer (varies by product) Best suited for rain, splash, washdown, and temporary standing water Prolonged immersion, flooding, persistent moisture exposure What to verify: mating assembly and correct cable sealing Documented depth, duration, temperature, and assembly configuration

And with either rating, the number only applies to the complete, properly assembled system. The connector body can be rated IP68 all day, but if the cable is the wrong diameter, the seal does not seat, or the mating half comes from a different series, you have bought a very expensive dust cover.

When IP67 is enough

Most outdoor equipment never goes underwater. It gets rained on, splashed, and hosed down now and then, maybe standing in a puddle for a while. If that matches your reality, IP67 is usually the right call, and it is the cheaper one.

Typical IP67 applications:

• Outdoor control enclosures with protected connection points
• Equipment mounted above ground where water can drain away
• Outdoor lighting and signaling systems
• External cable connections on industrial machinery
• Solar or energy interfaces outside flood zones
• Portable equipment stored in protected conditions

Installation matters just as much as the rating. A downward-facing cable entry, a drip loop, strain relief, and good drainage—these habits keep water away from the connection in the first place. They don’t replace the rating, but they’re the reason it holds up in the field instead of only in the test lab.

Choose IP67 when temporary immersion matches your actual risk, and you can install the full assembly per the manufacturer’s instructions. You can browse IP67-rated options here if you want to compare configurations.

When to go IP68 instead

An IP68 waterproof connector earns its keep when the connection can sit in water for a long time or when it gets flooded repeatedly. Consider it when:

• The equipment sits in low-lying areas where water collects.
• The connection sees periodic flooding or prolonged standing water.
• Maintenance access is expensive. A failed connector inside a buried enclosure is a dig-up job.
• The application needs documented margin, not just a label, on top of occasional exposure.
• Moisture exposure is persistent rather than occasional.

Take a cable gland inside a weather-protected cabinet: it does not need the same protection as a connector near ground level in an area with poor drainage. And anything near marine environments, agricultural washdown, or industrial cleaning needs evaluation beyond its IP rating, no matter what.

Before you spec IP68, ask for the defined test conditions. “IP68” should start the conversation, not end it. On our side, immersion conditions—depth, duration, water temperature, and pressure—are documented per series in the datasheet, and we send them on request. You can also compare IP68 options in the LP series.

The rating is not the whole story.

Water is only one way outdoor connectors die. Here is what else to check.

Cable diameter and seal fit

The seal only works within a cable outer-diameter range. If the cable is too small, too large, out-of-round, or has a damaged jacket, the sealing element won’t compress the way it should—and the “waterproof” connector leaks exactly where you’d expect.

Confirm before ordering:

• Supported cable outer-diameter range
• Sealing insert or cable gland configuration
• Cable jacket material compatibility
• Strain-relief requirements
• Termination instructions and assembly torque

The approved cable range and torque values are listed in the installation instructions for each connector series. We include them with every quotation, so the configuration is confirmed before you order, not after it fails.

Mated assemblies and unused ports

The rating applies to a fully mated connector. A loose cap, an unsealed unused port, a receptacle without its panel seal—the enclosure is only as good as its weakest opening.

Check the whole path, not just the connector body:

• Plug and receptacle compatibility.
• Protective caps and sealing covers
• Cable-side sealing components
• Panel-mount seals, if applicable
• Unused port protection
• Recommended installation tools

Everything else the outdoors throws at it

UV, temperature extremes, thermal cycling, humidity, salt spray, vibration, chemicals, cleaning agents, and electrical load. An IP rating covers none of those by default. If your application involves two or three of them, pull the datasheet and check the environmental data for the specific model before you commit.

A checklist before you specify

Run through this before finalizing a spec or requesting a quotation:

1. Define the water exposure. Rain, splash, washdown, temporary standing water, periodic flooding, or continuous immersion?

2. Review the mounting position. Above ground, inside an enclosure, near a drain path, or somewhere water pools?

3. Identify electrical requirements. Circuit count, voltage, current, conductor size, and termination method.

4. Confirm cable dimensions. Match the actual cable outer diameter and construction to the compatible sealing configuration.

5. Specify the full mating system. Plugs, receptacles, caps, seals, cable glands, and panel-mount accessories.

6. Check maintenance access. If it is hard to reach after installation, documented compatibility and solid assembly control matter more.

7. Request technical documentation. Drawings, installation instructions, applicable ratings, and test conditions—get them before approving samples, not after.

8. Validate the installed assembly. Test with your actual cable and mounting conditions in the prototype or pre-production where practical.

Nosso guia de seleção de conectores solares walks through the same steps for solar applications specifically.

Mistakes we see buyers make

Assuming IP68 is automatically better. It costs more, and it solves nothing if your real risk is UV or vibration rather than water. Match the rating to the failure mode.

Comparing labels instead of test conditions. “IP68 vs IP68” is not a comparison. Ask how each product was tested and in what configuration, then compare the documented conditions to your application.

Ignoring installation quality. A correctly rated connector fails if it’s over-tightened, under-tightened, assembled with the wrong seal, mated incompletely, or paired with an incompatible cable. The installation procedure is part of the buying decision.

Treating the connector as an isolated component. The connector, cable, mating part, panel interface, and accessories work as one ingress-protection system. One weak point sinks the whole assembly.

Questions to ask before you buy

Put these to any supplier before committing:

• Does the stated IP rating apply to the fully assembled and mated connector?
• For IP68, what are the documented immersion depth, duration, pressure, and temperature?
• Which cable outer-diameter range and sealing parts are approved?
• What plug, receptacle, cap, and accessory combinations maintain the stated protection?
• Are installation drawings, assembly instructions, and torque guidance available?
• Which electrical ratings apply to the selected configuration?
• What environmental and mechanical test data exists for the intended use?
• Can samples be tested with our actual cable, enclosure, and installation method?

These questions exist because “looks right in the catalog” is not “validated for your assembly.” That gap is where most field failures come from.

The bottom line

Match the rating to the water, not to the marketing. For most outdoor installations, an IP67 waterproof connector is the sensible default: rain, splash, and temporary immersion. IP68 is for prolonged exposure, and only when the manufacturer’s documented test conditions support your application.

And look past the label: cable compatibility, mating components, mounting, assembly quality, and environmental demands. That’s what separates a connector that works for years from one that fails in a season.

Browse our waterproof connector range, or send us your installation details and we will recommend a configuration, test data included.

Perguntas frequentes

What is the main difference between IP67 and IP68 waterproof connectors?
IP67 covers temporary immersion under defined conditions, typically 1 meter for 30 minutes. IP68 covers continuous immersion under conditions the manufacturer specifies, and those conditions vary between products.

Is IP68 always better than IP67?
No. IP68 suits applications with prolonged immersion risk, but IP67 handles most outdoor installations fine and costs less. The right choice depends on actual water exposure and documented product performance, not the number alone.

Can an IP67 connector be used outdoors?
Yes, when its protection level matches the expected exposure and the full assembly is installed correctly. Rain, splash, and temporary water are different from continuous immersion, and IP67 is tested for the first kind.

Does IP68 mean the connector can stay underwater indefinitely?
No. IP68 protection is defined by manufacturer-specified test conditions. Check the approved depth, duration, pressure, temperature, and assembly configuration before using it in any underwater or prolonged-immersion application.

What reduces the waterproof performance of a connector?
Wrong cable diameter, incompatible seals, incomplete mating, damaged gaskets, missing caps, poor panel sealing, and sloppy installation. Usually it is one of these, not the connector body itself.

What should I provide when requesting a waterproof connector quote?
The application, expected water exposure, cable outer diameter, conductor size, circuit count, required electrical performance, mounting method, operating environment, and any project-specific compliance requirements. The more of these you give us, the closer the first quote is to the final spec.

Not sure between IP67 and IP68? Send us your installation environment, cable dimensions, and electrical requirements, and we will recommend a configuration or solicitar um orçamento.