iW-RainboW-G261: Ruggedization of Telematics Devices

Heavy-duty trucks & off-highway vehicles have unique challenges due to their exposure to outdoor environments. A telematics device may be installed in a driver compartment or other protected location in these vehicles, or it may reside under the hood, where it is subjected to harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperature, vibrations, shock, high humidity, and so on.

In light of such harsh weather conditions, rugged telematics devices are designed with special considerations. The IP (Ingress Protection) rating of the enclosure and connector is crucial to the performance of these devices. Ingress Protection ratings are industry-standard classifications that show the level of resistance to solids and liquids.

A telematics device for harsh environment applications must have the appropriate IP rating defined by IEC standards such as IEC 60529, IEC 60068-2, etc. An IP rating has two digits after the IP, with the first digit indicating device protection against intrusion from solids and the second digit indicating protection against intrusion from liquids. Each solid and liquid level has a different level of protection; an IP67/IP68 rating is required for most telematics applications.

The ISO standard specifies a range of IP codes that indicate how well an enclosure protects against water, dust, and other foreign objects. The IP code is a two-digit number followed by two optional letters, much like an IEC standard. The first digit of the IP code indicates the degree of protection against solid objects, while the second digit indicates the degree of protection against water.