Submerge powerheads?

Can a powerhead be completely submerged?
I have a project I am working on, and it's a toss up between getting a water pump or using an existing powerhead I already have. The idea involves pumping water out of a container.
TIA.

 

depends if its a submergable, they usually are, and usually are intended to be completely submerged

 

most powerheads can be submerged but if u intend on pumping things up with it and not just moving water i would definately go for a pump. powerheads arent made for pumping water up . on a pump u will see a head hieght on the box this is how high a pump can pump effectively

 

actually, the head height is usually indicated as the cutoff height.
i.o.w. thats the height where the pump will no longer function effectively.
usually half the cutoff height is still effective, also, usually you get a graph that gives you the height to liters per hour ratio.
like a 1000lph will still be effective at 60-90 cm, but will be pumping 800-500 lph at that height, depending on the make and impellor type

 

Ingress Protection

ALWAYS look at the IP (Ingress Protection) rating of any peace of equipment before using it for aquarium application.
It is a legal requirement in accordance with GN 466: 1981 that all appliances - inclusive of aquarium appliances - be marked on the main part of the appliance with a rating label containing - amongst others - the IP rating if other than IPX0.
In short the first digit of the IPXX indicates the ingress protection against foreign solid objects, it is however the second digit which is of importance in this discussion as it indicates the ingress protection of the appliance against liquids but in general water. Anything less than IPX8 has a limited submergible capability.
See: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code>
Hope this makes sense - if not - please ask...