Should I be careful with the kit when washing the tractor with pressurised water?
The LFT20 is IP66 rated, meaning it withstands powerful water jets from any direction; however IP66 does not cover immersion, and a high-pressure jet from very close range is outside the test conditions. When washing, do not hold the lance directly at close range on the unit, the sockets or the cable entries, and leave at least one metre of distance.
The IP66 test is carried out from a distance of 3 m with a nozzle of 12.5 mm opening at a pressure of about 100 kPa. High-pressure washers used in agriculture produce far higher pressure than this and the lance is held a few centimetres away; this is not the condition the certification covers.
Practical rules:
- Do not hold the lance directly at close range on the unit and the sockets; leave at least one metre of distance and spray at an angle.
- Hot water and steam cleaning can create negative pressure inside the cooling housing and draw in moisture; avoid using them in the kit area.
- Leave the sockets connected and fully seated before washing; a disconnected socket takes water directly.
- Route the cables with a downward drip loop, so that water does not travel along and get into the socket.
- After washing, drain any water that has collected around the unit and do not leave the kit standing in a pool of water.
On the LFT54 the control board is described as embedded inside the motor and waterproof, and the housing is galvanised sheet metal; even so, the same distance rule applies.
Full coverage of the topic: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control