Application first
IP20 vs IP65: The Short Answer
This guide focuses specifically on wash moving head fixtures used for stage, rental and event applications.
IP20 may meet the requirement in a dry theatre, club, ballroom, house of worship or studio. IP65 can extend one rental or touring platform across indoor and temporary outdoor jobs. Permanent outdoor installation remains a separate engineering decision.
| Factor | IP20 wash moving head | IP65 wash moving head |
|---|---|---|
| Controlled indoor venue | Often suitable | Suitable, but added protection may not add value |
| Temporary exposed outdoor event | Requires a method that keeps the fixture within its documented indoor limits | Candidate when the exact model and complete connection system support the exposure |
| Dust protection | Not dust-tight | Dust-tight under the IP65 classification |
| Water protection | No rated water protection | Protected against water jets under defined test conditions |
| Rental flexibility | Mainly dry indoor deployment | Can support a wider indoor and outdoor job mix |
| Maintenance | Environment- and design-dependent | Still requires cleaning, inspection and seal/connector care |
| Typical starting point | Theatre, club, studio, ballroom | Touring, rental, festival, outdoor event |
Read the code precisely
What Do IP20 and IP65 Actually Mean?
IEC 60529 classifies the protection provided by electrical enclosures. The first characteristic numeral addresses access and solid-object or dust ingress; the second addresses water ingress.
- IP20
- The first numeral 2 indicates protection against finger-sized solid objects and access to hazardous parts; the second numeral 0 provides no rated water protection. For stage-lighting decisions, treat IP20 as an indoor-oriented enclosure that must remain dry.
- IP65
- The first numeral 6 is dust-tight. The second numeral 5 means protection against water jets under defined test conditions. The rating applies to the tested enclosure and configuration, not automatically to every cable, open port, connector or installation method.
For a deeper standards and system-boundary explanation, read What Does IP65 Mean for Outdoor Stage Lighting? UK HSE event guidance also requires suitable protection for equipment exposed to rain and particular care around cable connections.
Controlled indoor work
When Is an IP20 Wash Moving Head Enough?
IP20 is often the practical choice when the fixture stays in a controlled, dry indoor environment.
In dry indoor venues, output, zoom, color, pixel control, noise, weight and service access may matter more than a higher IP number. Confirm the environment and current model manual, then compare the performance needed for the show.
Aolait indoor examples include the AL1019WZ Zoom Wash and the AL3740WR Bee Eye. Both publish IP20 designations, but their optical and control architectures are different.
Deployment flexibility
When Does IP65 Become Worth It?
IP65 becomes commercially relevant when the same inventory repeatedly moves between dry rooms and exposed outdoor jobs.
A rental fixture may work in a ballroom this week and at an outdoor festival next week. IP65 can let one documented platform serve that wider booking mix. Touring and event teams must still confirm connectors, caps, cables, orientation, temperature, inspection and weather response.
Start with the Outdoor and IP-Series Wash range, then check the exact product page and current model documentation. IP65 does not make a fixture maintenance-free: seals, gaskets, connector caps, housings and cables can be damaged or age through repeated handling.
Choose the optical architecture
Wash-Specific Considerations
Ingress protection comes after the fixture type and stage function are clear.
Standard LED and Zoom Wash Moving Heads
Compare output, wash uniformity, color mixing, dimming, noise and serviceability. A Zoom Wash moving head adds variable coverage, so near and far applications also depend on the documented zoom range and usable field at each position.
Bee Eye Moving Heads
A true Bee Eye moving head combines a visible multi-lens face with wash and optical effects; pixel control is model- and mode-specific. Do not relabel Zoom Wash or Wash FX products as Bee Eye. Compare IP20 and IP65 only within the published family classification.
Published model facts
Published IP20 and IP65 Wash Moving Head Matrix
These examples use facts currently published on Aolait model pages. A rating applies to the named product and production configuration; it must not be transferred to a similar housing.
| Model | Wash type | LED / color | Zoom | IP | Pixel control | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL1019WZ | Zoom Wash | 19×15W RGBW | 8°–63° | IP20 | Three RGBW zones in 24CH | 7.5 kg |
| ALP1940WZ | Zoom Wash | 19×40W RGBW | 4°–60° | IP65 | Three RGBW zones plus halo/background layers | 14 kg |
| AL3740WR | Bee Eye | 37×40W RGBW | 7°–50° | IP20 | 37-cell RGBW in 169CH | 26 kg |
| ALP3740WR | Bee Eye | 37×40W RGBW | 8°–48° | IP65* | 111CH/148CH maps depend on the installed firmware | 32.2 kg |
Use a starting point, not an absolute rule
Real-World Application Scenarios
The operating environment narrows the shortlist; the optical and control requirements select the fixture.
| Application | Environment | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre, club, church or studio | Controlled indoor | IP20 may be sufficient |
| Ballroom and corporate events | Mostly indoor | IP20 or IP65 depending on inventory strategy |
| Indoor rental inventory | Mainly dry indoor | Compare total operating needs before paying for added protection |
| Mixed rental company | Indoor and outdoor | IP65 may add deployment flexibility |
| Touring production | Changing environments | Consider IP65 and the complete connection system |
| Festival or outdoor event supplier | Temporary exposed outdoor | IP65 is an important requirement |
| Permanent outdoor installation | Long-term exposure | IP rating alone is insufficient |
Also compare the LED engine, photometrics, zoom, color, dimming, pixels, movement, control, noise, power, size, weight, temperature, service, spares, cases, certificates and warranty. IP65 is not automatically heavier, brighter or longer-lived.
Before quotation approval
Outdoor Wash Moving Head Selection Checklist
Ask these questions for the exact model, revision and connection configuration.
- What is the exact IP rating?
- Does it apply to the complete operating fixture?
- Which connector and cap configuration is required?
- What operating temperature is specified?
- What maintenance is required?
- Is the fixture intended for temporary outdoor use?
- What is the zoom range?
- What photometric data is available?
- Which color system is documented?
- Does the fixture support individual pixel control?
- What are the dimensions and net weight?
- Are flight cases available?
- Are spare parts available?
- Which certificates and test reports are supplied?
- What warranty conditions apply?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS