If you have ever wondered whether a connector is “waterproof” or “dust tight,” the International Protection Marking (IP) code gives you the details you need.
What do we mean when we say Whitney Blake’s Tuff-Seal connectors are rated IP68? The code tells you that they are dust tight and can operate immersed in over 1 meter of water without any harmful effects.
The first number in the code explains the level of protection against solid foreign objects like dust. The ratings go from 0 (no protection) to 6 (complete protection against contact for up to 8 hours). That is the source for the “6” in the Tuff-Seal’s IP68 rating.- The second number in the code explains the level of protection against water from 0 (not protection) to 9K (powerful high temperature water jets from four directions for at least 3 minutes at a distance of 0.15 to 0.2 meters). That is the source for the 8 in the Tuff-Seal’s IP68 rating.
- Alphabetical symbols are sometimes added to the IP numbers; for example, an f indicates oil resistance; an S indicates that the device was stationary during the water test; and an M indicates that it was moving during testing.
- Sometimes, an additional number appears, rating resistance to impact, but those standards have changed over the years. The current standard is an IK rating, numbered from 00 (no test) to 10 (resistant to 5 kg dropped through 40 cm).
IP codes are set up by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Equivalent ratings are set up by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), where 1 equals IP20, 2 equals IP22, and so on. However, some NEMA codes have no direct equivalent to the IEC codes.
For more information, please contact Whitney Blake directly. Our engineers are experts in physical, electronic/electrical, and environmental testing. We are happy to help determine the exact connectors that will fit your needs.