Application and Technical Analysis of IK Impact Test in Equipment Mechanical Impact Strength Testing

Abstract
In the field of electrical and electronic product manufacturing and quality inspection, the mechanical impact strength of enclosures is one of the core indicators for measuring product safety and durability. This paper takes the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test as the research object, combines relevant national and international standards, and systematically expounds on the design principles, technical parameters, application scenarios, and operational advantages of this equipment. It focuses on analyzing its specific applications in the IK strength testing of lighting product enclosures, the testing of metal sheets such as power distribution cabinets, the testing of non-metallic electrical cabinets, and the mechanical impact strength testing of outdoor equipment. A data table is provided to intuitively present the impact energy and testing parameters corresponding to different IK grades. The research shows that the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test, with its adjustable mounting bracket, adjustable impact angle, and wide energy testing range of 2J to 50J, can accurately meet the mechanical impact strength testing needs of various electrical and electronic products, providing reliable technical support for product quality control.

1. Introduction
With the wide application of electrical and electronic products in industrial production, home life, outdoor engineering, and other fields, product enclosures not only need to have the basic function of protecting internal components but also need to resist external mechanical impacts that may be encountered during transportation, installation, and use. To standardize the testing standards for the mechanical impact protection performance of products, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and China’s National Standardization Administration have formulated a series of standards such as IEC 62262 and GB/T 2423.55, which clearly define the impact protection performance evaluation system centered on the “IK Grade”.

Against this background, professional impact testing equipment has become a key tool for enterprises and testing institutions to carry out compliance testing. As an enterprise focusing on the R&D and production of testing equipment, LISUN Group has launched the IK07-10 IK Impact Test, which strictly complies with the requirements of standards such as GB/T 2423.55 and IEC 60068-2-75 and can realize accurate impact testing of different types of electrical and electronic products. This paper will comprehensively analyze the performance advantages and application value of this equipment from the dimensions of equipment design standards, technical parameters, and application scenarios.

2. Design Standards and Technical Principles of LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test
2.1 Core Technical Principles
The LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test adopts the “free pendulum impact” principle, and its core structure includes a pendulum rod, a hammer head, a mounting bracket, an angle adjustment device, and an energy control system. During the test, the sample is fixed on the mounting bracket in a normal use state. The precise impact point is determined by adjusting the height and angle of the bracket. Then, the impact energy is set according to the test requirements, and the pendulum rod is lifted to the corresponding angle and locked. After releasing the pendulum rod, the hammer head swings freely along a circular trajectory under the action of gravity, applying a mechanical impact with the preset energy to the impact point of the sample. Finally, by observing indicators such as the appearance damage and functional integrity of the sample after the impact, its mechanical impact protection performance is evaluated.

Among the key technical parameters of the equipment, the distance between the pivot axis of the pendulum tube and the axis of the impact element is fixed at 1000mm. This dimensional design ensures the stable torque of the pendulum hammer during impact and avoids inaccurate impact energy caused by the deviation of the force arm. At the same time, the equipment uses the standard gravitational acceleration (g = 10 m/s²) to calculate the impact energy, which further ensures the uniformity and comparability of the test data.

3. Technical Parameters and IK Grade Testing Capability of LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test
3.1 Core Technical Parameters
The technical parameters of the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test directly determine its testing range and accuracy. The most critical parameters include impact energy, equivalent mass, and drop height. The corresponding relationship between the three is shown in the following table

Impact Energy (J)	Equivalent Mass (kg)	Drop Height (mm, ±1%)
0.14	0.25	56
0.2	0.25	80
0.2 (Bracketed Value)	0.3 (Bracketed Value)	100 (Bracketed Value)
0.35	0.25	140
0.4 (Bracketed Value)	0.25	150 (Bracketed Value)
0.5	0.25	200
0.5 (Bracketed Value)	0.25	250 (Bracketed Value)
0.7	0.25	280
1	0.25	400
2	0.5	400
5	1.7	300
10	5	200
20	5	400
50	10	500

Note: The values in brackets in the table are optional test parameters, and their specific use shall refer to “Note 3.2” in GB/T 2423.55; the energy unit Joule (J) is derived from the standard gravitational acceleration (g = 10 m/s²) to ensure the accuracy of the calculation results.

3.2 IK Grade Testing Capability
The IK Grade is a core indicator for evaluating the ability of electrical equipment enclosures to resist external mechanical impacts. It is expressed as “IKXX”, where “XX” ranges from 00 to 10 (some equipment can be extended to 11), and different grades correspond to different impact energies. The IK grades that the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test can cover and the corresponding impact energies are shown in the following table:

IK Grade	IK07	IK08	IK09	IK10	IK11 (Optional)
Impact Energy (J)	2	5	10	20	50

It can be seen from the table that the basic testing range of the equipment is IK07 – IK10, corresponding to an impact energy of 2J – 20J. If users have higher energy testing requirements, they can additionally select the hammer head for IK11 grade to realize the testing of 50J impact energy, meeting the strict testing requirements of different products. In addition, according to the requirements of IEC 62262, when the equipment tests different IK grades, it will automatically match the corresponding number of impact hammers, distribution methods, and sample installation conditions. For example, when testing the IK10 grade, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation of the sample, and the impact hammers need to cover the key weak parts of the enclosure to avoid deviations in the test results.

4. Analysis of Application Scenarios of LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test
With its adjustable mounting bracket, adjustable impact angle, and wide energy testing range of 2J – 50J, the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test is widely used in the mechanical impact strength testing of various electrical and electronic products. The following is a detailed analysis of specific application scenarios:
4.1 IK Strength Testing of Lighting Product Enclosures
Lighting products are widely used in homes, shopping malls, outdoor roads, and other scenarios. Their enclosures need to withstand mechanical effects such as collisions during transportation and wind and rain impacts in outdoor environments. Therefore, the IK strength of the enclosure is a mandatory inspection item for the safety certification of lighting products. According to GB/T 7000.1 “Luminaires – Part 1: General Requirements and Tests”, lighting products in different application scenarios need to meet different IK grade requirements. For example, the enclosure of outdoor street lamps needs to reach at least IK08 (5J) grade, while the enclosure of indoor downlights needs to reach IK07 (2J) grade.

When using the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test to test the lighting product enclosure, the mounting bracket can be adjusted according to the type of lighting: for large street lamps, the bracket height can be adjusted to 1.5m to simulate the impact scenario at the outdoor installation height; for small downlights, the bracket can be adjusted to the horizontal position to ensure that the impact point is aligned with the weak parts such as the edge of the enclosure. During the test, the equipment can accurately apply impacts with energies such as 2J (IK07) and 5J (IK08). After the test, by checking whether the enclosure has cracks or falls off and whether the internal circuit of the lamp is short-circuited, it can be judged whether it meets the standard requirements.

4.2 Mechanical Impact Testing of Metal Sheets Such as Power Distribution Cabinets
As a key equipment in the power system, the enclosure of the power distribution cabinet is mostly made of metal sheets (such as cold-rolled steel plates) with a thickness of 1 – 3mm. It needs to have a certain impact resistance to prevent damage to the internal components caused by external impacts and thus trigger power failures. According to GB/T 2423.55, the IK grade of the power distribution cabinet enclosure needs to reach at least IK09 (10J), and some outdoor power distribution cabinets need to reach IK10 (20J).

When the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test is used to test metal sheets, the impact angle (0° – 90°) can be adjusted to simulate impacts from different directions: for example, adjusting to a 30° angle to simulate the impact on the side of the metal sheet during transportation; adjusting to a 90° angle to simulate the vertical impact of heavy objects. The equivalent mass of the equipment can be adjusted according to the thickness of the metal sheet. For example, when testing a 1mm thick sheet, a hammer head with an equivalent mass of 0.5kg is selected to apply a 10J energy impact; when testing a 3mm thick sheet, a hammer head with an equivalent mass of 5kg is selected to apply a 20J energy impact. After the test, the impact resistance performance is evaluated by measuring the deformation of the metal sheet (which should be ≤ 5mm) to determine whether it meets the standards.

4.3 Mechanical Impact Testing of Non-Metallic Electrical Cabinets
Non-metallic electrical cabinets (such as fiberglass electrical cabinets and ABS plastic electrical cabinets) have the advantages of corrosion resistance and light weight, so they are widely used in humid and corrosive environments such as chemical industry and coastal areas. However, the impact resistance of non-metallic materials is usually weaker than that of metals, so strict impact tests are required to verify their reliability. According to GB 4706.1 “Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – General Requirements”, the IK grade of non-metallic electrical cabinets needs to reach IK07 (2J) – IK08 (5J).

When using the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test to test non-metallic electrical cabinets, the adjustment of the mounting bracket is particularly critical: since non-metallic electrical cabinets are relatively light in weight, they need to be fixed by the clamps on the bracket to prevent the cabinet from shifting during the test; at the same time, the height of the bracket can be adjusted to 0.8m to simulate the common height of human collision. During the test, the equipment applies an impact energy of 2J – 5J, focusing on impacting parts such as the door panel and corners of the cabinet. After the test, it is necessary to check whether the cabinet has cracks or debris falling off and whether the cabinet door can still be opened and closed normally to ensure that it can still protect the internal electric energy metering device after the impact.

4.4 Mechanical Impact Strength Testing of Outdoor Equipment
Outdoor equipment (such as outdoor charging piles, traffic signal controllers, meteorological monitoring equipment, etc.) is exposed to complex environments for a long time and needs to withstand external impacts such as wind, rain, hail impact, and man-made damage. The IK grade requirements for their enclosures are higher, usually needing to reach IK10 (20J), and some equipment need to reach IK11 (50J).

When the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test is used to test outdoor equipment, the hammer head for IK11 grade (50J energy) can be selected to simulate high-intensity impact scenarios such as hail and heavy object falling. For example, when testing an outdoor charging pile, the equipment is fixed on the mounting bracket, the impact angle is adjusted to 45°, and a 50J energy impact is applied. After the test, check whether the charging interface of the charging pile is damaged, whether the display screen is cracked, and whether the internal circuit board works normally. In addition, the equipment can also be used in conjunction with an environmental test chamber to conduct impact tests under high and low temperature and humidity environments, more comprehensively simulating the actual use conditions of outdoor equipment and evaluating its impact resistance in harsh environments.

5. Product Advantages and Usage Precautions of LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test
5.1 Product Advantages
• Wide Testing Range: The equipment covers IK07 – IK10 grades (2J – 20J), and the hammer head for IK11 grade (50J) can be optionally configured to meet the diverse testing needs of small indoor equipment to large outdoor equipment. At the same time, the impact energy, equivalent mass, and drop height can be flexibly adjusted to adapt to samples of different materials and sizes.
• High Operational Convenience: The equipment is divided into a standard model (electric operation) and a simple model (manual operation). The standard model sets parameters through a touch screen and automatically completes the lifting, locking, and releasing of the pendulum rod, reducing human operation errors. The simple model has a compact structure, is suitable for scenarios with small laboratory space, and can adjust the pendulum rod angle manually, with simple and easy operation.
• High Testing Accuracy: The distance between the pivot axis of the pendulum tube and the axis of the impact element is fixed at 1000mm to ensure stable torque. The error of the drop height is controlled within ±1%, and the error of the impact energy is ≤ 2%, which meets the requirements of national standards for testing accuracy. At the same time, the equipment is equipped with a calibration certificate and can be calibrated regularly to ensure long-term testing accuracy.

5.2 Usage Precautions
• Standard Sample Installation: The sample shall be installed in strict accordance with the requirements of IEC 62262 to ensure that the sample is in a normal use state and avoid distortion of test results due to improper installation. For example, when testing lamps, the power supply shall be connected to simulate the impact effect under the actual working state.
• Reasonable Hammer Head Selection: Different IK grades correspond to hammer heads of different specifications. The matching hammer head shall be selected according to the test energy. For example, when testing IK07 (2J), a hammer head with an equivalent mass of 0.5kg is selected; when testing IK10 (20J), a hammer head with an equivalent mass of 5kg is selected. It is forbidden to mix hammer heads to avoid energy deviation.
• Suggestions for Low-Energy Testing: If it is necessary to test products with impact energy ≤ 2J (such as the enclosures of small electronic components), it is recommended to use the LISUN IK01-06 spring impact hammer, which is more suitable for low-energy and high-frequency impact testing and avoids test errors caused by the mismatched energy range of the IK07-10 equipment.
• Regular Maintenance: Before using the equipment, check the flexibility of the pendulum rod and whether the hammer head is worn. After use, clean the hammer head and bracket to avoid dust and oil affecting the testing accuracy. It is recommended to calibrate the equipment every six months to ensure stable equipment performance.

6. Conclusions 
As a professional testing equipment complying with international and national standards, the LISUN IK07-10 IK Impact Test provides a reliable solution for the mechanical impact strength testing of lighting products, power distribution cabinets, non-metallic electrical cabinets, and outdoor equipment through accurate energy control and flexible installation adjustment. Its wide energy range of 2J – 50J and IK grade coverage of IK07 – IK11 meet the testing needs of different industries and scenarios, helping enterprises improve product quality and ensure the safety of electrical and electronic products in use.

Tags：IK07-10