IP Ratings: What are they?
IEC 60529 specifies protection ratings for enclosures. These ratings describe the level of protection against dust and liquids entering the enclosure.
IP ratings consist of two numbers. The first number describes the protection against solid objects and the second number descibes the level of protection agains entry of liquids.
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IP
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Solids
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Liquids
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0
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No protection
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No protection
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1
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Protected against solid objects greater than 50 mm (eg accidental touching by hand).
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Protected against vertically falling drops of water (eg condensation)
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2
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Protected against solid objects greater than 12 mm (eg fingers).
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Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from vertical.
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3
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Protected against solid objects greater than 2.5 mm (eg tools or wires).
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Protected against sprays of water up to 60° from vertical.
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4
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Protected against solid objects greater than 1 mm (eg tools and small wires).
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Limited protection against water sprayed from all directions (limited ingress permitted).
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5
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Limited protection against dust (some ingress but no harmful deposit).
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Limited protection against low pressure jets of water from all directions (limited ingress permitted).
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6
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Complete protection against dust.
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Protected against strong jets of water (limited ingress permitted).
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7
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Protected against the effects of immersion in water between 15 cm and 100 cm.
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8
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Protected against extended immersion in water under pressure.
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