LEDs do not take kindly to being used in dirty environments or where there is a risk of exposure to water. With this in mind Carclo has developed optics that can be effectively integrated into IP rated systems to provide protection for the LED components underneath without impairing the performance of the optic.

IP stands for Ingress Protection, as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission*. There are two digits used to define the sealing effectiveness of an enclosure or component against the intrusion of foreign bodies (e.g., tools, dust, fingers, and moisture).

The Carclo IP Rated optics incorporates a number of key features:

• A cylindrical side-wall around the inner optic to provide the necessary barrier
• A suitable mounting platform at the base of the side-wall
• Kinematic pegs on the underside of the optic to ensure accurate alignment to the LED
• High quality aspheric optic design
• High continuous temperature operation up to 125degC

The optic could, for example, be placed on top of a suitable bead of silicone on the PCB to provide an effective seal.

Or, alternatively, potted optics.....

A standard method is to ‘pot’ the components by immersing them in a resin-like material that sets hard. However, with a standard TIR optic if the potting compound touches the optical surfaces this will absorb the light and make the optic useless. With IP rated optics the inner optical surfaces are protected from the potting compound by the IP wall or skirt.

The Carclo IP Optic is available in 10mm (Spot, Frosted & Elliptical) or 20mm diameter (Elliptical).

*see international standard IEC 60529 “Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)”.

Additional information may be found on Carclo’s new LED optics web site and also by using Carclo’s new web search feature OpticSelect.