Drain holes in Weatherproof Accessories?

[Piratepete]

Hi Guys
I fit a lot of IPX5 and IPX6 accessories and wonder if I should be drilling a drain hole at the spot that's usually indicated. Most have instructions that have no guidance except to say that the IP rating will be compromised if you drill a drain hole.
However the instructions with a make (rated IP55) new to me say that a drain hole is required if cables are glanded from the top or side and also if the bottom entry gland completely seals!

The question has added urgency since opening an IP66 adaptable box I installed some years ago (with side entry) and finding it half full of water! I 've always doubted whether the standard compression glands seal on flat cable. The downside for drain holes is they let the wee beasties in.

What do you do? Is there guidance anywhere on this? Started putting a blob of silicon at the gland entry now!

Cheers
Pete

PS. Whats a good way to fit a weatherproof double socket to a vertical steel column without drilling it? Any suitable clips around?

 

[SIIVION]

Yes, drill. Definately stops moisture, as far as creepy-crawlys go I have only known them to be an issue once in 18 years. Fried ants in a Sodium Light, might have made a nice appetiser for a bushman.

The only times I haven't made a drain hole is near to a wash down area.

 

[Engineer54]

What IP rating are they? Do they warn you that drilling a hole might reduce the IP rating?

As i've stated before, drilling a 3 or 4mm hole in a sealed enclosure is better than the accessory being subject to continuous condensation problems. The hole location is at the bottom and at the back of the box, so in the majority of occasions will have little to no affect on water or dust ingress to the overall enclosure...

 

[Guest111]

on a lighter note whats this obsession with earwigs?when you get to a certain age you try to remove ear hair not add it! lol bit of humour there for those who have had a bad day.

 

[Sparkattack]

How about using a silica gel sachet inside the enclosure, i work in the water industry and have used these in areas that are subject to condensation.

 

[Engineer54]

How about using a silica gel sachet inside the enclosure, i work in the water industry and have used these in areas that are subject to condensation.

If you are prepared to continually change the sachets, ...Yeah fine!! They can only absorb so much moisture, you then have to wait for the things to dry out, so in some circumstances their fine, but not i wouldn't think in locations where condensation is continually present