Weatherproofing
The GBF 960 Series carry an IP55 (Ingress Protection) rating, meaning that it is
sufficiently protected from damage by dust, water, and human contact. This also
means that your IP Doorbell is protected from low pressure jets of water (e.g. wind
driven rain), but it is not sufficiently protected against a high pressure water stream
(e.g. pressure washer). By design, the backbox and IP Doorbell chassis are not
‘water tight’ or sealed. A sealed design tends to ‘vacuum’ water vapor in to the
sealed cavity as outdoor temperatures and humidity fluctuate, over time collecting
enough water vapor inside to condense in the ‘sealed’ cavity and cause corrosion
damage. Conversely, our design allows any water that may have found its way in to
the IP Doorbell device to just as easily drain away and evaporate. The front panel of
your IP Doorbell is waterproof, and the circuitry inside is coated to prevent water
damage. Therefore…
Do Not Try to Make a Waterproof Seal Using Silicone or Other Sealants!
This will only result in a gooey mess, frustration, and the possibility of trapping
water that could create issues. This is our installation recommendation;
- Before installing the backbox, obtain some Rubber Foam Weather Stripping tape
(closed cell) and apply some strips to the back side of the backbox in the dark areas
shown in the illustration. For mounting to rougher surfaces, use stacked pieces to
layer the tape to build up the thickness where required to form an effective seal
when the tape is sandwiched behind the backbox and the mounting surface. Run
your mounting screws through the tape. The bottom edge is not sealed to allow any
incidental water to simply drain out. There, much less mess!
Before Seal… After Seal…
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