The new iPhone is promised IPX7 water resistance, but what does it mean? Typically, the technical characteristics of devices intended for use in aggressive environments contain the letters IPX. Let's figure out what it is, what we should talk about and how
Typically, the technical characteristics of devices intended for use in aggressive environments contain the letters IPX. Let's figure out what it is, what we should talk about and how it happens.
When you go camping and find yourself in fog or rain, you naturally want to be sure that your GPS devices will work in such weather conditions. This designation exists for your confidence!
The most popular and frequently encountered designation is IPX7. Equipment such as echo sounders, most tourist GPS navigators and marine navigation equipment, as well as marine acoustic systems meet IPX7 requirements for waterproofing - this is a very useful standard for consumer electronics. Devices that meet this standard guarantee their performance in any conditions when used on a bicycle, while jogging, or even when dropped, exposed to rain, etc. Some devices are designed according to the standard IPX6, which is a “weaker” standard compared to IPX7, which does not provide the ability to be immersed in water.
IPxx- this is what the international standard looks like in full format, which was invented for the convenience of assessing the level of dust and moisture protection of devices.
Full decryption of codes
Code IPxx in the IEC international standard system it looks like this:
- Alphabetical symbol IP - International Protection
- The first digit (from 0 to 6) indicates the degree of protection against penetration of solid foreign objects.
- The second digit (from 0 to 8) indicates the degree of protection against water penetration.
Description of the first digit of the code: 0-6
0 (IP0)- The device is not protected
1 (IP1)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 50 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 50 mm will not penetrate into the device.
2 (IP2)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm will not penetrate into the device.
3 (IP3)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm will not penetrate into the device.
4 (IP4)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 1 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 1 mm will not penetrate into the device.
5 (IP5)- The device is dustproof.
Dust ingress is not completely eliminated, but dust will not enter the instrument in quantities that would interfere with satisfactory operation of the instrument or impair safe operation.
6 (IP6)- The device is dustproof.
There is absolutely no penetration of dust.
Description of the second digit of the code: 0-8
0 - The device is not protected.
1 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water.
Vertically falling drops will not have a harmful effect on the device.
2 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the device body is tilted up to 15°.
Vertically falling drops of water when the device body is tilted up to 15° will not have a harmful effect on the device.
3 - Protection against splashing water.
Water splashes sprayed at an angle of up to 60° to any vertical surfaces of the device will not have a harmful effect on the device.
4 - Protection against water spray.
Spraying water in any direction towards the appliance will not have any harmful effect on the appliance.
5 - Protection against water jets.
Jets of water hitting the device from any angle will not have a harmful effect on the device.
6 - Protection against strong jets of water.
Strong jets of water hitting the device from any angle will not have any harmful effect on the device. During testing, the object is exposed to water from all angles, dispensed through a 12.5 mm nozzle in a volume of 100 liters per minute at a pressure of 100 kN per square meter from a distance of 3 meters. The device should not stop working and not have even weak water penetration.
7 - Protection against temporary immersion in water.
Temporary immersion in water will not have any harmful effects on the device under standard conditions of pressure and duration of immersion.
8 - Protection against prolonged immersion in water.
Prolonged immersion in water will not have any harmful effects on the device under standard conditions.
For example:
The Lowrance HOOK 3x fish finder has an IPX7 dust and water resistance rating. This means that this device is sealed and protected from temporary immersion in water, and can also withstand immersion to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes.
If you are going to purchase a GPS navigator for hiking or cycling, fishing, mushroom picking or any other outdoor adventure, then be sure to make sure that the device meets the waterproof standard IPX7. Also, usually, all fish finder echo sounders from normal (Lowrance, Humminbird, Garmin) manufacturers comply with the standard IPX7.
Often electrical equipment must be operated in environments where its use is not recommended, such as wet or dusty environments. Therefore, various protection methods are used for such devices. Most often they are placed in protective housings or shells.
The housing is designed to protect equipment from water, solid objects, etc. getting inside it.
Marking of electrical appliance housings
Industrially produced housings have different security classes. Their classification was adopted in 1996 at a meeting of the International Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification. Interstate standard GOST 14254-96 (IEC 529-89) “Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code)” is intended for standardization of groups of electrical products and devices designed to operate under voltage up to 72.5 kV.
According to IEC 529-89, the marking of protective enclosures has the code IPXX.
Attention! The value of the characteristic number in the marking can be replaced by the symbol “X”, for example, IPХ1 or IPХХ. If your electrical product has this marking, it means that its housing has not been tested for this type of protection.
What does the first digit in the IPXX marking mean?
The first number determines the degree of protection of the device from the penetration of solid particles. It ranges from 0 to 6.
Security code table
| Code | Protection |
|---|---|
| 0 | equipment is not protected |
| 1 | against penetration of solid particles greater than or equal to 50 mm in size |
| 2 | protects against objects up to 12.5 mm in size |
| 3 | prevents particles with a diameter of more than 2.5 mm from entering |
| 4 | does not allow solid particles larger than 1 mm to pass through |
| 5 | equipment is partially protected from dust |
| 6 | electrical equipment is completely dust-proof |
Decoding the second digit in the IPXX marking
The second number characterizes the protection class of the product from moisture and water getting inside the housing. It ranges from 0 to 8.
Security code table
| Code | Protection |
|---|---|
| 0 | the device is not protected |
| 1 | the product is protected from vertically falling drops |
| 2 | protects the device from vertical drops, while the device itself can be at an angle of up to 15° to the direction of drops falling |
| 3 | insulates the electrical appliance when sprinkled, drops can fall both vertically and at an angle of 60° inclusive |
| 4 | protects electrical products when completely splashed |
| 5 | the ability to prevent liquid from entering from a low-pressure jet |
| 6 | insulates against high pressure water jets |
| 7 | Temporary immersion of the electrical device to a depth of up to 1 m is allowed |
| 8 | long-term immersion of electrical equipment to a depth of more than 1 m is permitted |
Thus, if the equipment belongs to the IPX1 or IPX2 group, then it can be operated in light rain. If IPX3 or IPX4 - then in heavy rain, if IPX5 and IPX6 - then it can be washed under running water from a tap in the kitchen or bathroom.
IPX8 rated electrical products can be used underwater. The instructions for devices of this group indicate the maximum permissible immersion depth.
Protection classIPX7
These products can be placed under water for a short period of time.
When they are immersed, liquid may enter the electrical equipment, but this should not lead to disruption of its operation.
This marking is used for GPS navigators, echo sounders, electrical equipment used for tourism and mountaineering, etc. Gadgets that can be used for active sports are often labeled this way.
Immersion of electrical products for testing is carried out (according to IEC 529-89) in accordance with the following requirements:
- the lower part of the product must be located at a depth of at least 1 meter;
- the layer of water above the top of the product must be at least 15 centimeters thick;
- full immersion time – at least 30 minutes;
- The temperatures of the water and the product must be the same; a temperature difference of ± 5°C is allowed.
A discrepancy in temperature indicators by a large amount is allowed, but only if the equipment being tested is energized or has parts that move during operation. This discrepancy value can be determined for a specific device in agreement with the customer and the manufacturer.
Most often, testing is carried out in the temperature range from +15 to 35°C. Therefore, using them in baths or saunas can damage the electrical device.
Specification protection class determined by two main numbers that appear after the abbreviation IP. (IP = French: Internationale Protection = International Protection, also Ingress Protection English. = ingress protection). IP applicable to electrical equipment (electrical installations, instruments, lamps). The first digit indicates protection class from the penetration of solid foreign bodies into the device, for example, a pyrometer (). The second one means protection class from penetration of liquid foreign bodies (water).
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Let's give an example. The device has a protection class IP65, then we are talking about a device that is protected from the penetration of dust and strong jets of water. Such a device can be placed/used outdoors without any problems. However, you need to remember that IP protection class does not say anything about the ambient temperature at which the device can be used. Below is a list and meaning of additional letters that are used in conjunction with IP. Example - IP 34D .
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Junction box with degree of protection IP54.
Junction box with degree of protection IP65.
International Protection Marking(translated from English - “international security codes”): p. 4.1 - classification of the method of protection provided by the shell of a technical device from access to dangerous parts, ingress of external solid objects and (or) water and verified by standard test methods: p. 3.3. Regulated by standards IEC 60529 (DIN 40050, GOST 14254).
Marking of the degree of protection of the enclosure of electrical equipment is carried out using the international protection mark (IP) and two numbers, with the optional addition of a specific letter, the first of which means protection from the ingress of solid objects, the second - from the ingress of water.
The code looks like IP(XX), where the X positions contain numbers or the X symbol if the degree is not defined. The numbers may be followed by one or two letters that provide supporting information. For example, a household electrical outlet may be rated IP22 - it is finger-resistant and cannot be damaged by vertical or near-vertical dripping water.
The maximum degree of protection according to this classification is IP68: that is, a dust-proof device that can withstand prolonged immersion in water under pressure. Currently, the maximum degree of protection is IP69-K: marking of product housings that can withstand high-temperature high-pressure washing.
The first digit is protection against penetration of foreign objects
The first characteristic digit indicates the degree of protection provided by the enclosure:
- people from accessing dangerous parts, preventing or limiting the penetration into the shell of any part of the body or object in the hands of a person;
- equipment located inside the shell from penetration of external solid objects.
If the first classification digit is 0, then the enclosure provides no protection against access to hazardous parts or penetration of external solid objects.
The first classification number, 1, indicates that the enclosure provides protection against access to hazardous parts with the back of the hand, 2 with a finger, 3 with a tool, 4, 5 and 6 with a wire.
With the first classification digit of 1, 2, 3 and 4, the shell provides protection against external solid objects with a diameter greater than or equal to 50, 12.5, 2.5 and 1.0 mm, respectively.
With number 5, the shell provides partial, and with number 6 - complete protection from dust.
The second number is protection against water penetration
The second classification digit indicates the degree of protection of equipment from the harmful effects of water that the shell provides.
If the second classification digit is 0, then the shell does not provide protection against the harmful effects of water.
The second classification digit, equal to 1, indicates that the shell provides protection against vertically falling drops of water; 2 - from vertically falling drops of water when the shell is tilted at an angle of up to 15º; 3 - from water falling in the form of rain; 4 - from continuous splashing; 5 - from water jets; 6 - from strong water jets; 7 - from exposure to temporary (short) immersion in water; 8 - from exposure to prolonged immersion in water; 9 - under high-temperature washing conditions even with high water pressure.
| Level | Defence from | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | - | No protection |
| 1 | Vertical drops | Vertically dripping water should not interfere with the operation of the device |
| 2 | Vertical drops at an angle of up to 15° | Vertically dripping water should not disrupt the operation of the device if it is tilted from its operating position by an angle of up to 15° |
| 3 | Falling splashes | Rain protection. Sprays fall vertically or at an angle of up to 60° to the vertical. |
| 4 | Spray | Protection against splashes falling in any direction. |
| 5 | Jets | Protection against water jets. Water directed at the enclosure in the form of jets from any direction shall not have any harmful effect. |
| 6 | Strong water jets | Protected from strong water jets. Water directed at the enclosure in the form of strong jets from any direction shall not have any harmful effect. |
| 7 | Short-term immersion to a depth of 1 m | During short-term immersion, water does not enter in quantities that disrupt the operation of the device. Continuous operation in immersed mode is not expected. |
| 8 | Immersion to a depth of more than 1 m for more than 30 minutes. | The device can operate in submerged mode |
| 9 | Exposure to high temperature water jets | The device can operate under high-temperature, high-pressure water washing conditions |
Often liquid ingress protection automatically provides ingress protection. For example, a device rated at Level 4 (direct splash) will automatically be rated at Level 5 for foreign object protection.
The level of protection against ingress of water is not cumulative beyond Level 6. A device that meets Level 7, which provides protection against immersion, will not necessarily meet Level 5 or 6, which provides protection against exposure to water jets. A device that meets both levels is indicated by listing them separated by a slash, for example IP65/IP68.
Additional letters
The additional letter indicates the degree of protection of people from access to dangerous parts and is indicated if:
- the actual degree of protection against access to hazardous parts is higher than the degree of protection indicated by the first characteristic digit;
- Only protection against the harmful effects of water is indicated, and the first characteristic digit is replaced by the symbol “X”.
The additional letter "A" indicates that the enclosure provides protection against access to hazardous parts with the back of the hand, "B" with a finger, "C" with a tool, and "D" with a wire.
The auxiliary letter "H" denotes high-voltage electrical equipment. The auxiliary letters "M" and "S" indicate that equipment with moving parts is in a state of motion or stationary, respectively, when tested to comply with the degree of protection against harmful effects due to ingress of water.
