P34 Wholesaler Guide:Layout 1 18/03/2021 17:18 Page 34 WholesalerGuide
The IP67and IP68Waterproof IP Ratings are a key consideration for electrical items and for electrical safety. Here, leading supplier of electronic packaging solutions Enclosure Pro Ltd, explains the difference between the two codes, and the electrical safety requirements that are needed in order to maintain high safety ratings within electrical enclosures and products.
What is an IP rating? In the electrical world, an IP rating is the rating given to a certain product to represent the quality of water and substance resistance. This is an extremely important aspect of electrical products, as if they are exposed to these elements for a prolonged period of time, then they will cease to work and can also cause injury. The standards are set by the IP Code, or Ingress
Protection Code, IEC standard 60529, (also known as the International Protection Code), and companies have to build their products to the specifications and standards, then send their products off for inspection and testing. The IP rating is the given rating for resistance against alien substances. The first digit in the rating represents the resistance from solid substances in a 1-6 rating -6 being the best. The second digit is the water resistance rating, which is given a 1-8 rating. It is worth noting that water resistance and being waterproof are different. Water resistant is exactly what it says, a resistance, meaning that it cannot remain submerged indefinitely.
The difference between IP67 & IP68 The difference between the two is subtle, but it can make a drastic difference to how your product is received. Generally, most everyday electrics will have a 6 rating when it comes to the solid substance rating. This means that no harmful dust or dirt can penetrate the product. The top two ratings of water resistance, 7 and 8,
34 | electrical wholesalerApril 2021
How reliable are the IP Ratings? Whilst IP ratings are issued from a regulatory body, there are always some caveats. Manufacturers are always looking for the best ratings for their products, as this can be used as part of a marketing strategy, so can often be slightly misleading on the overall effectiveness of their products. It is always worth checking the small print when purchasing the product in order to fully understand the rating. An example of this is the 2015 Sony Xperia launch, that included an image of the camera being used underwater to take pictures. Sony started to get complaints about the damage caused when using the phone underwater, despite its IP68 rating. Sony stated that the rating was obtained in a controlled environment when in standby mode, and therefore performance could not be guaranteed when in full use.
are used when there is a level of disparity. The 7 rating offers protection against water immersion of 1 metre for up to 30 minutes. The higher 8 rating, meanwhile, offers the same protection in terms of time but at a 1.5 metre depth. Whilst this may not seem like a huge difference, it is the equivalent of dropping your phone in the shallow end compared to the deep end. This could be the difference between complete shutdown of the electrics enclosed within the device or unit. In an industrial setting, this could be the difference between life and death.
IP Code
The IP Code, or Ingress Protection Code, sometimes referred to as International Protection Code, IEC standard 60529 classifies and rates the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against intrusion, dust, accidental contact, and water.
ewnews.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
