Is IP45 Waterproof? A Site-Survey Checklist for LED Sign Power Supplies

What the IP45 code tells you — and what it leaves open

Under the IEC 60529 system, the first digit 4 concerns protection against solid foreign objects 1mm and larger and access to hazardous parts with a wire. It is not a dust-tight classification. The second digit 5 concerns water jets under the defined test. It does not describe immersion, unrestricted pressure washing or every possible outdoor exposure.

Avoid treating the two digits as a single quality score. IP65 has the same second digit as IP45 but a different solid-ingress classification. IP67 addresses a temporary immersion test; that alone does not establish every jet-test classification. Where more than one exposure matters, check the manufacturer’s declared ratings and conditions rather than assuming that the largest number covers everything.

An IP label also does not specify output voltage, electrical insulation class, dimming compatibility, corrosion resistance, UV resistance, warranty duration or thermal performance. Those remain separate selection questions. The product’s documentation must support the environment and electrical application together.

1. Trace water from the building to the proposed location

Survey the sign and the wall above it. Look for failed joints, roof runoff, gutter overflow and cable routes that can carry water towards the supply. A position described as “under cover” may still receive wind-driven rain. Mark the proposed mounting position on a photograph and note where water could enter and collect.

Inspect the interior after damp conditions where practical, with the installation safely isolated. Evidence such as staining, corrosion or water marks helps identify a route, but the absence of marks on one visit does not prove a dry environment. Assess the expected exposure over the service life, including cleaning and building maintenance, rather than the weather on installation day.

2. Treat the connections as a separate design task

A rated driver body does not automatically protect a screw terminal, cable splice or cut strip end. Identify the complete path from the incoming supply through the driver to the LEDs. Check the declared protection of each connection method, the permitted cable diameters for glands and the enclosure’s installation instructions.

Cable strain and water entry often meet at the same point. Plan restraint and routing so that a cable cannot pull on terminals or guide water directly into an entry. Use drip loops where appropriate to the manufacturer’s arrangement. Do not assume that wrapping a connector in tape recreates a tested enclosure rating, and do not label the finished sign with the driver’s IP code without a basis for doing so.

3. Balance moisture protection with temperature control

Condensation can develop inside a sign even when direct rainfall is excluded. Consider temperature cycles, moisture already inside the assembly and drainage routes. A cover that traps water against the driver can make the location worse. Do not drill drainage holes in a rated product or modify its housing unless the manufacturer explicitly permits it.

Closing a ventilated supply inside another box also changes cooling. Check the permissible mounting orientation, clearances and temperature limits for the exact supply, then assess the completed assembly at its intended load. Additional enclosure protection and adequate heat management need to be designed together; neither should be assumed from the driver’s power rating.

Where you cannot maintain the required conditions, relocation can be more practical than adding layers of improvised sealing. A dry, accessible service position may improve maintenance, but any extra DC cable distance must be checked for voltage drop and current capacity. Have mains-side changes designed and completed by a competent person.

4. Three illustrative survey decisions

The following examples show the decision process, not automatic approval of a particular IP code. The exact driver instructions and installation design remain decisive.

5. Specify the supply after the location is understood

Once the environment is established, match the required constant voltage or current, total connected load and control method. For a fixed-voltage sign, add the nominal LED watts and calculate current at the specified voltage. Then check the driver’s continuous-loading, terminal and derating requirements. A correct IP selection cannot compensate for an incorrect 12V/24V match.

Glowfy lists FSK IP45 supplies and IP67 alternatives in its driver range. Use the live product page and current documentation for the exact model and voltage variant; a family name or “rainproof” description is not a substitute for installation instructions. Send photographs of the proposed position with the load details if product-selection advice is needed. No generic article can certify a site from an IP label alone.

6. Keep a clear installation and maintenance record

Before handover, confirm that the agreed mounting, connection protection and cable routing were actually installed. Record the model and environmental assumptions with photographs. Keep access available for inspection and replacement. Include building-side defects that need attention; otherwise the next installer may replace a failed supply without fixing the water route.

Arrange inspection appropriate to the location and the product guidance, particularly after leakage, storm damage or cleaning changes. If water ingress, damaged insulation, repeated tripping or overheating is suspected, isolate the affected installation and have it assessed before returning it to service. Replacing the driver alone does not resolve an uncorrected enclosure or wiring fault.

• Exact driver model, voltage, rating and current instructions retained.
• Rain, runoff, pooling and condensation routes assessed.
• Body, terminals, joints and cable entries considered individually.
• Orientation, clearance, temperature and derating checked.
• Drainage, service access and installation photographs recorded.
• Final electrical verification and handover completed by the responsible installer.