In this guide: The short answer · What the two digits mean · IP65 vs IP66 vs IP67 · IP-rated fixtures · Connectors that keep the rating · Caps on unused sockets · Rain covers vs IP fixtures · Condensation and care · Checklist · Popular picks · FAQ

The short answer

An IP rating is two digits defined by the international standard IEC 60529. The first digit is protection against solids and dust, the second against water. For event lighting outdoors, IP65 is the usual working rating: dust-tight, and protected against water jets from any direction. IP66 is tested against more powerful jets. IP67 is a temporary immersion test, which is a different test rather than a straight upgrade.

Three things matter as much as the number on the fixture:

• The connectors. A fixture is only sealed when its sockets are mated with matching IP-rated plugs or closed with the correct sealing caps. One standard XLR on the end of the run and the rating is gone at that joint.
• The small print. Many manufacturers rate their IP65 fixtures for temporary outdoor use. That suits events. It does not make the fixture a permanent outdoor install.
• Rain covers are not an IP rating. A transparent cover protects an indoor fixture from light rain. It does not turn it into an IP65 fixture.

If you are lighting a garden party with festoon and uplighters, start with our festoon and outdoor event lighting guide. This guide goes deeper on the ratings themselves and on IP-rated stage fixtures, cables and connectors.

What the two digits actually mean

Each digit is a pass in a defined test, not a general quality score. The ones that matter for outdoor lighting are the top of each scale. An “X” in place of a digit (IPX4, say) means that digit was not specified, not that it scored zero.

The water digits are not a simple ladder. IPX5 and IPX6 are jet tests, while IPX7 and IPX8 are immersion tests. IEC 60529 says an enclosure marked only 7 or 8 for water need not meet the jet tests for 5 or 6. A product rated IP67 has not necessarily been jet tested. Where a maker has passed both tests it says so with a dual rating, for example IP66/IP67.

IP65 vs IP66 vs IP67 for event kit

Two practical points come straight from the makers’ own wording. Chauvet lists the COLORdash Par H18X IP as “IP65, temporary outdoor/wet use” and the Rogue Outcast 2X Wash as “IP65 (temporary wet location)”. Prolight rates the Elumen8 Impact 100 PRO gobo projector “IP65 for temporary outdoor use” and the Meteor 150 battens as suitable for “indoor and temporary outdoor applications”. ADJ pitches the Encore LP12 IP at “temporary outdoor events”. So an IP65 event fixture is built to survive a wet festival weekend, not to be bolted to a building for five years. Chauvet’s COLORdash Par H18X IP manual also says not to install it permanently outdoors in extreme conditions, including within three miles of salt water.

A higher digit does not make a fixture better for the job. Most people do not need IP66 or IP67 on the fixtures themselves. What they need is a whole system that stays IP65 at every joint.

IP-rated fixtures we stock

The ratings below come from each manufacturer’s own product page or manual. LEDJ and Elumen8 fixtures are supplied in the UK by Prolight Concepts, so Prolight’s catalogue and manuals are the source for those. For how the fixture types differ, see our stage lighting fixture types guide.

LEDJ Spectra exterior range

The Spectra range is LEDJ’s family of IP65 exterior pars, floods and battens. The flagship Spectra Q40 MKII Exterior carries 40 x 10W RGBW LEDs behind 40° collimators. It has Seetronic TR1 IP65 power connectors and built-in CRMX wireless DMX, and Prolight pitches it for large buildings, event spaces and stages. The Spectra QX40 Pixel MKII Exterior adds zone control, with locking mains connectors (Prolight’s catalogue and manual differ on the exact type) and W-DMX rather than CRMX for wireless. If you plan to run either without DMX cable, read our wireless DMX guide first.

The Spectra pars come in two connector styles, which is the main thing to check when buying. The standard Spectra Par 15Q8 Exterior uses LEDJ’s Hydralock connectors for DMX and mains. The Spectra Par 15Q8 PRO Exterior has powerCON TRUE1-compatible Seetronic power and IP-rated 5-pin DMX inputs and outputs, which Prolight describes as “rental ready”. Both are IP65, convection cooled (no fan) and draw 130W. The bigger Spectra Par 30Q8 PRO uses PowerTwist TR1 and 5-pin DMX. If your other outdoor kit is on TRUE1-type power and XLR, the PRO versions avoid adaptor cables.

Elsewhere in the range there are the Spectra Flood Q15 and Spectra Batten Q16, both IP65 with a 45° beam, which LEDJ pitches at architectural details. The Spectra Spot 40 RGBW is an IP65 pinspot with a 4.5° native beam and two frost lenses. For uplighting trees, paths and walls there is the LEDJ Aspect Exterior, an IP65 die-cast feature light in 3W and 9W single-colour versions, with Hydralock trailing power connections so the units can be linked. For permanent outdoor work, our LED tape and architectural lighting guide covers the install side.

Elumen8 IP fixtures

Projecting a logo onto a building? Our gobo and logo projection guide covers gobos and throw.

Chauvet and ADJ

• Chauvet Professional COLORdash Par H18X IP: IP65 for temporary outdoor or wet use. Seetronic Powerkon IP65 power in and out, plus 3- and 5-pin DMX.
• Chauvet Professional Rogue Outcast 2X Wash: IP65 moving head wash, temporary wet location, with Seetronic IP65 PowerKon power.
• Chauvet DJ Intimidator Spot 360X IP: IP65 spot with water-resistant power connections. Chauvet gives an operating range of -30°C to 45°C.
• Chauvet DJ Shocker Panel FX IP: blinder, wash and strobe that Chauvet rates IP65. It has Neutrik TRUE1 power and 5-pin DMX.
• ADJ Encore LP12 IP: IP65 par with locking outdoor power connectors, plus IP-rated 5-pin DMX sockets with rubber covers.

For choosing between spot, wash and beam movers, see the moving head buying guide.

Connectors that keep the rating

This is where most outdoor rigs leak. Connector makers are explicit that the rating depends on what the connector is mated with:

• Neutrik XLR TOP. Neutrik rates its TOP XLRs IP65 “by mating with related cable or chassis connector of the XLR TOP range”. Cable ends such as the NC5MX1-TOP pair with chassis sockets such as the NC5FDX-TOP. Elumen8 makes 5-pin DMX cables with Neutrik XLR TOP connectors ready-made.
• Neutrik powerCON TRUE1 TOP. Rated IP65 when mated, or when unmated with its sealing cap closed. The NAC3MPX-TOP chassis inlet is also a connector with breaking capacity, meaning it can be connected or disconnected live or under load. Ready-made leads include the Elumen8 2m and 5m TRUE1 TOP cables.
• Seetronic IP XLR. The W series XLRs, such as the SCWF5-B and SCWM5-B cable connectors and the K5F2C-W-B chassis socket, are IP65. Prolight’s description of its Seetronic IP DMX cables states it plainly: they will mate with standard XLRs, but “If mated with standard XLRs, the IP65 rating will not be maintained.”
• Seetronic PowerTwist TR1. Comes in IP65 and IP67 families. The SAC3FX cable connector is IP65. For IP67, Seetronic specifies matching -67 parts: the SAC3FX-67 pairs with the SAC3MX-67 plug or the SAC3MPX-67 chassis connector. Seetronic only quotes IP67 for the matched -67 parts, so do not count on it when families are mixed.
• LEDJ Hydralock. Used on most standard (non-PRO) Spectra pars, floods and battens; check the manual for your fixture. LEDJ makes IP65 Hydralock DMX link cables for daisy-chaining Spectra fixtures, and Hydralock to XLR cables for joining IP and non-IP fixtures. There is also a Hydralock DMX termination plug. The Hydralock PRO DMX cables are a different connector: Prolight lists them as IP68, with Jnicon M16 connectors, for the Elumen8 Impact gobo projectors.

Combined power and DMX cables save time on long fixture runs. The Elumen8 Combi powerCON TRUE1 / 5-pin IP65 DMX cable is terminated in Neutrik XLR-TOP and TRUE1 TOP connectors. For the DMX side of things, including termination and splitting, see DMX explained. For the connector families in general, see pro audio connectors explained.

Where a joint cannot be made with IP-rated connectors, an enclosure helps. The DRiBOX medium is an IP55 box with silicone seals that close around the cables, and it has room for a 4-gang extension lead. IP55 is below IP65, so treat it as protection for the joint, not as an IP65 joint. Distribution choices (16A, 32A, RCD protection) are covered in our event power distribution guide. Design, installation and testing of an outdoor electrical system is a job for a competent person. This guide covers product selection only.

Caps on unused sockets

The last fixture in a chain has an open power-out and DMX-out socket. An unmated IP65 socket is not IP65 until it is capped. Chauvet’s COLORdash Par H18X IP manual says to “Replace and secure IP-rated protective covers to all power, data, USB, or other ports when not in use”, and to use IP65 or higher rated power and data cable outdoors.

Caps get lost at load-out, so it is worth carrying spares. Check the cap matches the exact connector series. A cap for an IP65 socket will not make an IP67 socket IP67.

Rain covers vs IP-rated fixtures

LEDJ makes transparent rain covers in sizes including 18LT, 155LT and uplighter sizes. LEDJ describes them as protecting fixtures “from light rain or other unwanted liquids” by placing the cover over the fixture, with light output “almost unaffected”. Covers are useful when an indoor fixture has to work under a canopy edge or in a passing shower.

A cover is not an IP rating, though. The fixture underneath keeps its indoor rating, and the cover does nothing for its cable joints. For a moving head that has to work in open weather, buy an IP65 mover such as the Elumen8 Titan Zoom Wash T1 or the Rogue Outcast 2X Wash. Both are rated IP65 by their makers, and Chauvet fits the Outcast with Seetronic IP65 PowerKon power connectors. A cover over a standard moving head is a stopgap for light rain. Check the fixture manufacturer’s guidance before covering any fixture that relies on airflow.

Battery uplighters are a middle case. LEDJ rates the Rapid QB1 HEX IP “IP54 (IP65 from the top)”, which means it is better protected against rain falling on it than against water from other angles. Our battery uplighter guide compares the ranges.

Condensation, breather valves and care

Sealing a fixture keeps rain out, but it also keeps moist air in. Several makers fit a pressure-equalising breather valve. Chauvet says the GORE valve on the Shocker Panel FX IP “allows the fixture to breathe and prevents internal humidity build-up”. The COLORdash Par H18X IP and the marine Rogue Outcast 2X Wash M also list a GORE valve.

• Let it acclimatise. Chauvet warns that moving a fixture from a cold truck to a warm, humid room can form condensation on the internal electronics. Let it fully acclimatise before you power it.
• Do not submerge it. The same manual says IP65 does not mean it can be submerged, but that “Regular outdoor operation is fine.”
• Do not open it casually. Chauvet gives screw torque values and a vacuum test to confirm the seal after reassembly. Servicing an IP fixture is a workshop job.
• Dry before storage. Wipe down fixtures and cables before they go back in cases, and leave caps on.

Outdoor lighting checklist

• Every fixture is IP65 or better on the maker’s spec sheet, not just described as “outdoor”.
• You have read whether it is rated for temporary or permanent outdoor use.
• Every power and DMX joint uses IP-rated connectors from the same family, or sits in a suitable enclosure.
• No standard XLR or standard powerCON is left in the weather.
• The last fixture on each chain has its open sockets capped, and you have spare caps.
• Adaptor cables are ready where Hydralock fixtures meet standard XLR DMX kit.
• The power design, RCD protection and testing are signed off by a competent person.
• Fixtures can acclimatise before power-up when moving between cold and warm spaces.

Popular picks from the shop

Frequently asked questions

What does IP65 mean?

IP65 means the enclosure is dust-tight (6) and protected against water jets from any direction (5), under the tests in IEC 60529. For event lighting it is the usual rating for fixtures that will be used outdoors in rain.

Is IP67 better than IP65 for outdoor lights?

Not automatically. IP67 is a temporary immersion test, while IP65 and IP66 are jet tests. An IP67 product has not necessarily passed the jet test unless it carries a dual rating such as IP66/IP67. For fixtures on stands and truss, IP65 is the norm. IP67 matters most for connectors that might end up in standing water.

Can I use IP65 lights outdoors permanently?

Check the manufacturer’s wording. Many IP65 event fixtures are rated for temporary outdoor or wet use. Chauvet, for example, advises against permanent outdoor installation of the COLORdash Par H18X IP in extreme conditions such as near salt water. For permanent work, choose products the maker sells for permanent outdoor installation.

Do IP-rated fixtures need IP-rated cables?

Yes. The rating is only kept when sockets are mated with matching IP connectors or closed with the correct caps. Prolight states that its Seetronic IP DMX cables will mate with standard XLRs, but the IP65 rating is then not maintained.

Will a rain cover make my moving head waterproof?

No. LEDJ describes its rain covers as protection from light rain. The fixture underneath keeps its indoor rating and the cable joints are still exposed. For open weather, use an IP65 moving head.

What is the difference between LEDJ Spectra and Spectra PRO?

On the Spectra Par 15Q8, the standard version uses LEDJ Hydralock connectors for power and DMX. The PRO version has powerCON TRUE1-compatible Seetronic power and IP-rated 5-pin DMX inputs and outputs. Both are IP65.