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Is my home battery waterproof? What the IP rating means in a storm or flood

Short answer. An IP rating shows how well the unit resists dust and water, but it is not a flood rating. Rain and spray are what a rated outdoor unit is made for. If water has reached any part of your system in a flood, do not touch it or switch anything on: call a licensed electrician.

Safety first. Never open a switchboard, remove a cover from your battery or inverter, or touch any wiring. Anything beyond the app, a light you can read from a safe distance, or your own router is a job for a licensed electrician. If you see smoke, smell burning, hear arcing or see water on or near the unit: keep everyone away, switch off at your main switch only if it is safe to do so, and call 000 if there is any fire or smoke.

What the numbers mean

The first digit is protection against dust and solids; the second is protection against water. IP55 protects against dust and water jets; IP66 against powerful jets; IP67 against temporary immersion in the lab test sense. None of these is a promise of how a battery will behave in floodwater, with fittings, cables and the connected switchboard also involved.

Ratings the makers publish

  • Sungrow SBR and SBH batteries: IP55, for indoor or outdoor use.
  • Tesla Powerwall 3: IP55 for the enclosure, and IP67 for the battery and power electronics, with the wiring compartment at IP55, indoor or outdoor.
  • SolaX HS51 battery: IP66.
  • Sigenergy and GoodWe publish ratings per model, so check your datasheet or ask us.

After a storm or flood

Essential Energy says residual moisture from floodwater can make a solar system live, even if the power is out. Do not operate switches, and do not try to turn a system off if any of it is wet. Keep everyone away and call us or another licensed electrical contractor. Essential Energy says a submerged or partly submerged solar inverter should be replaced. Read our full guide: what should I do after a storm or flood?

Where batteries go

Battery positions are tightly regulated. We choose a compliant spot at the site visit, away from flood-prone low points where we can, and tell you plainly if a location is a problem.

When to call us

If we installed your system, call us on 0483 903 020. Our service help for existing customers is free: we start by working through it with you by phone. If you are not yet a customer, a service call is $250 + GST, which covers one hour on site within 20 km of Mullumbimby; travel further out is quoted separately. Contact us or call 0483 903 020 (Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-4pm). We do not repair systems we did not install.

Quick questions

Can my outdoor battery get wet?

Rain and spray are what an outdoor-rated unit is built for. Water reaching the equipment in a flood is a different matter: see the after-flood guide.

Is IP67 flood-proof?

No. IP ratings come from lab tests and do not cover a battery connected to cables and a switchboard in floodwater.

What should I do if my battery was under water?

Do not touch it or switch it on. Call us or a licensed electrician, and Essential Energy for reconnection steps.

Who do I call in an emergency?

000 for fire or smoke. Essential Energy outages: 13 20 80. NSW SES: 13 25 00.

Sources

Last checked 7 October 2026. Only the manufacturer’s, the network’s or the government’s own documents are used; app menus and defaults change between models and versions, so if your screen looks different, call us rather than guess.

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