{"id":858,"date":"2026-07-11T16:42:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T08:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/?p=858"},"modified":"2026-07-11T16:42:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T08:42:06","slug":"penfquan-dengguang-ip68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/penfquan-dengguang-ip68\/","title":{"rendered":"Have your fountain lights yellowed and faded after just one year? What's the difference between IP68-rated lights and standard waterproof lights?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The difference between IP68-certified fountain lights and ordinary waterproof lights goes far beyond simply whether they \u201dcan be submerged in water.\u201d Many owners discover a year after their fountains are built that the lights have yellowed, faded, or suffered frequent damage. The root cause is the use of \u201dwaterproof lights\u201d that only meet IPX4 or IP67 standards, rather than IP68-certified fixtures that truly meet the requirements for permanent underwater installation. These two types of products differ fundamentally in terms of materials, sealing processes, and operating voltage; they are not the same category of product.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What does IP68 certification for fountain lighting mean? How is it different from standard waterproofing?<\/h2>\n\n<p>The IP protection rating consists of two digits. The first digit represents the dust protection rating (0\u20136), and the second digit represents the water protection rating (0\u20139).<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u6c34\u4e0b\u706f\u5bff\u547d.webp\">\n<p>A comparison of common waterproofing ratings is as follows:<\/p>\n\n<table>\n  <thead>\n    <tr>\n      <th>Protection Rating<\/th>\n      <th>Waterproofing Standards<\/th>\n      <th>Applicable Scenarios<\/th>\n      <th>Can it be used for fountains?<\/th>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr>\n      <td>IPX4<\/td>\n      <td>Splash-proof<\/td>\n      <td>Outdoor Street Lights, Garden Lights<\/td>\n      <td>Can't<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>IP65<\/td>\n      <td>Protection Against Low-Pressure Water Jet Impacts<\/td>\n      <td>Exterior Wall Floodlights<\/td>\n      <td>Can't<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>IP67<\/td>\n      <td>Brief Submersion (1 meter\/30 minutes)<\/td>\n      <td>Outdoor Decorative Lights<\/td>\n      <td>No (temporarily allowed)<\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td><strong>IP68<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td><strong>Prolonged submersion (deeper than 1 meter, as specified by the manufacturer)<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td><strong>Underwater lights for fountains and swimming pools<\/strong><\/td>\n      <td><strong>Yes, the only standard<\/strong><\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>The key difference is that IP67 is tested only for brief immersion of 30 minutes, while IP68 is tested for continuous immersion, with the depth and duration specified by the manufacturer (professional products are typically tested at a depth of 1.5 meters for 72 hours with the device powered on).<\/p>\n\n<p>Underwater fountain lights operate continuously while submerged for 365 days. The sealing materials in IP67-rated products will begin to fail within 3\u20136 months under constant water pressure and temperature fluctuations. Water ingress can result in anything from the failure of the light fixture to, in severe cases, electrical leakage and safety incidents.<\/p>\n\n<h2>3 Real Reasons Why Fountain Lights Turn Yellow and Fade<\/h2>\n\n<p>Yellowing and fading are the most common complaints about fountain lighting, but many people attribute these issues to \u201dpoor LED quality.\u201d In fact, there are three real causes:<\/p>\n\n<h3>Reason 1: The material of the lamp lens does not meet standards<\/h3>\n\n<p>Standard waterproof lights typically use PC (polycarbonate) lenses. When exposed to both long-term underwater UV radiation and chlorinated water, this material will show noticeable yellowing and a decrease in light transmittance within 6\u201318 months.<\/p>\n\n<p>IP68 luminaires that meet fountain installation requirements use tempered glass lenses (typically 8 mm thick). They contain no organic polymers, are resistant to chemical degradation, and maintain essentially stable light transmittance over a service life of more than 10 years.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/\u6c34\u4e0bLED\u706f.webp\">\n<h3>Reason 2: Water ingress due to aging of the lamp housing's sealing material<\/h3>\n\n<p>Standard waterproof lights rely on ordinary rubber O-rings for sealing. In chlorinated water (residual chlorine 1.0\u20133.0 mg\/L), standard rubber will harden and shrink within 12\u201318 months. Once the seal fails, moisture enters the lamp housing, causing the LED chips to oxidize and discolor, resulting in a yellowish light and a shift in color temperature.<\/p>\n\n<p>Professional IP68 fountain lights use silicone rubber or fluorocarbon rubber (Viton) O-rings, which offer far greater chemical stability than ordinary rubber and have a service life of 5\u20138 years in chlorinated water.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Reason 3: Mismatched operating voltage causing the driver to overheat<\/h3>\n\n<p>Some low-cost underwater lights are powered directly by 220V AC. The drivers operate continuously in high-temperature underwater environments with extremely poor heat dissipation, causing heat to accumulate and leading to excessively high LED junction temperatures. This accelerates light decay, resulting in reduced brightness and color temperature drift (yellowing).<\/p>\n\n<p>These IP68-rated fountain lights, which comply with public waterway safety standards, operate at a low-voltage DC of 12V or 24V. The drivers generate minimal heat, and the lamp housings dissipate heat directly through the water, keeping the LED junction temperature within a reasonable range. They have a rated lifespan of 50,000 hours (approximately 17 years based on 8 hours of operation per day).<\/p>\n\n<h2>IP68 Certification for Fountain Lighting: 4 Key Criteria for Material Selection<\/h2>\n\n<p>When selecting or inspecting underwater fountain lights, the following four criteria must be verified one by one; failure to meet any one of them will affect the actual service life of the lights:<\/p>\n\n<h3>Criterion 1: Lamp Housing Material<\/h3>\n\n<p>The choice of lamp housing material in chlorine-containing water directly determines its service life:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li><strong>316L Stainless Steel:<\/strong>With a molybdenum content of 2\u20133%, it offers optimal resistance to chlorine corrosion and is suitable for public fountains and water features in chlorinated swimming pools, with an expected service life of 15\u201325 years.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>304 Stainless Steel:<\/strong>Does not contain molybdenum; pitting corrosion may occur in environments where residual chlorine exceeds 1 mg\/L. Suitable for natural freshwater landscapes; not recommended for use in chlorinated water bodies.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Cast Copper \/ Brass:<\/strong>It offers excellent corrosion resistance and forms a protective patina, making it suitable for garden water features; however, it should not come into contact with water containing high concentrations of chlorine.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Engineering Plastics:<\/strong>It is corrosion-resistant but has low thermal conductivity, making it unsuitable for high-wattage fixtures; it is only suitable for low-wattage (under 3W) decorative underwater lights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Criterion 2: Lens Material<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n  <li><strong>Tempered Glass (8 mm):<\/strong>The only lens material suitable for long-term underwater use\u2014impact-resistant, yellowing-resistant, and non-degradable.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>PC (Polycarbonate):<\/strong>It offers good light transmission in the short term, but will inevitably yellow over time when exposed to chlorinated water and ultraviolet light, making it unsuitable for use in fountains.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Acrylic (PMMA):<\/strong>Like a PC, it is not suitable for prolonged use underwater.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Specification 3: Operating Voltage<\/h3>\n\n<p>The operating voltage of lighting fixtures installed in public waters must comply with the Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) standard:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>AC voltage not exceeding 12 V AC<\/li>\n  <li>DC voltage not exceeding 30 V DC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>There are underwater lights on the market that are powered directly by 220V. The use of such products in public fountains does not comply with safety standards and poses a serious risk of electrical leakage if the light fixture\u2019s seal fails.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Indicator 4: Color Temperature and Color Rendering Index (CRI)<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n  <li><strong>Color Temperature:<\/strong>Water absorbs red light much more readily than blue-green light, so warm white light (2700K\u20133000K) appears bluish underwater; color temperature compensation must be applied during installation based on water depth and water quality.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Color Rendering Index (CRI):<\/strong>Professional fountain lighting fixtures should have a CRI of at least 80. The higher the CRI, the better the color rendering of the water patterns and the water surface, resulting in a more natural lighting effect.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>How to Verify the Authenticity of an IP68 Certification? 3 Verification Methods<\/h2>\n\n<p>There are a large number of products on the market labeled \u201dIP68\u201d but that have not undergone formal certification testing. When purchasing, you can verify this by:<\/p>\n\n<ol>\n  <li><strong>Requirement to provide a third-party certification report:<\/strong>Official IP68 certification is provided through test reports issued by organizations such as SGS, T\u00dcV, and Intertek, which specify the test depth, duration, and compliance standards. Products that merely claim to be \u201dIP68\u201d without providing such reports cannot be verified as having an authentic protection rating.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Correspondence between the verification and certification reports and the products:<\/strong>Verify that the product model listed on the report matches the model actually purchased. Some manufacturers obtain certification for a specific model but actually sell modified versions that have not been certified.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Verify the test depth indicated on the lighting fixture:<\/strong>The depth of protection for IP68 is specified by the manufacturer. Compliant products will clearly state the test depth on the nameplate or in the product manual (e.g., \u201dIP68, 1.5 m, 72 h\u201d); IP68 ratings without specific parameters have limited reference value.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<h2>Fountain Lighting FAQs<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Is IP67 suitable for fountain lighting? Is there a big difference between IP67 and IP68?<\/h3>\n\n<p>IP67 products cannot be used for underwater fountain lights. IP67 is tested only for brief immersion (1 meter deep for 30 minutes), whereas fountain lights must operate continuously while submerged 365 days a year. The sealing materials in IP67 products typically begin to degrade within 3\u20136 months under continuous water pressure and chemical erosion from the water, leading to water ingress and subsequent damage to the fixtures. IP68 is the only suitable option for permanent underwater installations such as fountains and swimming pools.<\/p>\n\n<h3>What is the typical service life of LED lights for fountains?<\/h3>\n\n<p>Professional fountain LED lights that meet IP68 certification, feature a 316L stainless steel housing and tempered glass lenses, and operate at 12V or 24V have a rated LED lifespan of 50,000 hours, which is approximately 17 years based on 8 hours of use per day. In actual use, the primary factors affecting service life are the quality of water maintenance and the regular inspection and replacement of O-rings; inspecting the condition of the O-rings every 3\u20135 years is a reasonable maintenance schedule.<\/p>\n\n<h3>The fountain lights have turned yellow\u2014is the LED broken?<\/h3>\n\n<p>It isn\u2019t necessarily a problem with the LED itself. The most common causes of yellowing in fountain lights, ranked by probability, are: First, aging and yellowing of the PC or acrylic lens (a lens issue, not a problem with the LED chip); second is water ingress into the fixture, causing the LED chips to become damp and oxidize; third is color temperature drift resulting from the LED\u2019s inherent light decay. If the yellowing is caused by the lens, simply replacing the lens will resolve the issue; if it is caused by water ingress, the entire fixture must be replaced, and the cause of the seal failure must be investigated.<\/p>\n\n<h3>RGBW lights are more expensive than RGB lights\u2014are they worth it?<\/h3>\n\n<p>For projects requiring musical fountain displays, RGBW is a worthwhile choice. RGBW incorporates a dedicated white LED chip, which delivers higher-quality rendering of white and light colors (such as pink, light blue, and off-white) compared to RGB color mixing, and also offers a higher CRI. In terms of energy consumption, RGBW is approximately 50% more efficient than RGB when outputting white light. If only color-changing effects are required, RGB is sufficient; however, if the show includes a large number of white and light-colored scenes, RGBW delivers significantly better visual results than RGB.<\/p>\n\n<h3>How often do the O-rings on fountain lights need to be replaced?<\/h3>\n\n<p>Silicone rubber O-rings should be inspected every 3\u20135 years when used in chlorinated water; replace them immediately if they show signs of hardening, cracking, or noticeable compression deformation. Standard rubber O-rings (black NBR) used in chlorinated water should be inspected every 1\u20132 years; their service life is significantly shorter than that of silicone rubber. After opening the luminaire for maintenance, it is recommended to replace the O-ring with a new one regardless of its condition; do not reuse old O-rings.<\/p>\n\n<p>Huiqi Fountains has been a leader in the fountain industry for 19 years. All of our underwater lights come standard with IP68 certification, a 316L stainless steel housing, and 8mm tempered glass lenses. They operate on low-voltage 12V or 24V DC and comply with safety installation standards for public water bodies. With a rated lifespan of 50,000 hours, our fixtures are exported to over 50 countries, and we provide complete certification documents and material test reports. If you\u2019d like to discuss fountain lighting design solutions or review product specifications, please feel free to contact our engineering team at 18818738142.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u55b7\u6cc9\u706f\u5149IP68\u8ba4\u8bc1\u548c\u666e\u901a\u9632\u6c34\u706f\u7684\u5dee\u8ddd\uff0c [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":857,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"normal-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fountain-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":859,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858\/revisions\/859"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huiqi-china.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}