ALM - Light Elements

"IP ratings are used to specify the environmental protection of electrical equipment."

A three-digit number established by the International Electrotechnical Commission, is used to provide an IP Rating to a piece of electronic equipment or to an enclosure for electronic equipment. The IP code indicates the level, or amount of the protection.

The IP rating normally has two (or three) numbers:

1	Protection from solid objects or materials
2	Protection from liquids
3	Protection against mechanical impacts (commonly omitted)

In the code IP 54, for example, IP identifies this standard, the 5 describes the level of protection from solid objects, and 4 describes the level of protection from liquids.

IP Table

	First Number (Solids)	Second Number (Liquid)	Third Number (Mechanical Impact)
0	No protection.	No protection.	No protection.
1	Protected against solid objects up to 50mm, e.g. accidental touch by hands.	Protection against vertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation.	Protects against impact of 0.225 joule (e.g. 150g weight falling from 15cm height).
2	Protected against solid objects up to 12mm, e.g. fingers.	Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical.	Protected against impact of 0.375 joule (e.g. 250g weight falling from 15cm height).
3	Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm (tools and wires).	Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60° from the vertical.	Protected against impact of 0.5 joule (e.g. 250g weight falling from 20cm height).
4	Protected against solid objects over 1mm (tools, wire, and small wires).	Protection against water sprayed from all directions Ð limited ingress permitted.	Protected against impact of 2.0 joule (e.g. 500g weight falling from 40cm height).
5	Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit).	Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions Ð limited ingress.	Protected against impact of 6.0 joule (e.g. 1.5kg weight falling from 40cm height).
6	Totally protected against dust.	Protected against low pressure jets of water, e.g. for use on ship decks - limited ingress permitted.	Protected against impact of 20.0 joule (e.g. 5kg weight falling from 40cm height).
7	-NA-	Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m.	-NA-
8	-NA-	Protects against long periods of immersion under pressure.	-NA-
9	-NA-	-NA-	Protected against 20 joule impact (5kg @ 40Protected against 0.225 joule impact (150gm @ 15cm).cm)

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