In industrial production, especially for electronic and electrical products that can be used outdoors, there will be different levels of dust and water resistance requirements for the equipment. The shell protection level (IP code/dust and water resistance) of automation instrument equipment is an important indicator to ensure the normal operation of the equipment and the safety and reliability of the product. So, when selecting and using instrument products, you should pay special attention to the protection level of the instrument, which is of great significance for the correct product selection, installation and use of the product. Below, I will introduce the relevant knowledge of IP protection level for everyone.
To define the shell sealing performance of electrical equipment such as inkjet printer equipment, the EN60529 standard is generally adopted internationally. This standard will quantify different categories of protection levels, mainly including protection against solid foreign objects invading the shell (including tools, fingers or dust, etc.) and protection against water (water enters the shell in the form of condensation, flushing, immersion, etc., causing harmful effects on the equipment).
The two digits after IP indicate the protection strength of the device shell against solid foreign objects and water intrusion. The first digit indicates the dustproof and foreign object intrusion prevention level of the electrical equipment, and the second digit indicates the airtightness of the equipment against moisture and water intrusion. The larger the digit, the higher the protection level.
For example: protection level IP54, IP is the marking letter, 5 is the first marking digit, 4 is the second marking digit, the first marking digit indicates the contact protection and foreign object protection level, and the second marking digit indicates the waterproof protection level.
Detailed classification of IP waterproof level
The following waterproof level reference standards IEC60529, GB4208, GB/T10485-2007, DIN40050-9, ISO20653, ISO16750 and other international applicable standards:
1. Scope
The waterproof test includes the second characteristic digits from 1 to 8, that is, the protection level code is IPX1 to IPX8.
2. Contents of various levels of waterproof test
(1) IPX1
Method name: vertical drip test
Test equipment: drip test device and test method
Sample placement: Place the sample on a rotating sample table at 1r/min in its normal working position, and the distance from the top of the sample to the drip port is not more than 200mm
Test conditions: drip volume is 1.0+0.5mm/min; test duration: 10min
(2) IPX2
Method name: 15° tilt drip test
Test equipment: drip test device and test method
Sample placement: Make one side of the sample form an angle of 15° with the vertical line, and the distance from the top of the sample to the drip port is not more than 200mm. After each test, change to another side, for a total of four times.
Test conditions: drip volume is 3.0+0.5mm/min; test duration: 4×2.5min for a total of 10min
3) IPX3
Method name: Rain test
a. Swing pipe water spray test
Test equipment: Swing pipe water spray test
Sample placement: Select a swing pipe with an appropriate radius, so that the height of the sample table is at the position of the swing pipe diameter, and place the sample on the sample table so that the distance from the top to the sample water spray port is no more than 200mm, and the sample table does not rotate.
Test conditions: The water flow rate is calculated according to the number of water spray holes of the swing pipe, and each hole is 0.07 L/min. When spraying water, the water spray holes within the 60° arc on both sides of the midpoint of the swing pipe spray water to the sample. The test sample is placed at the center of the semicircle of the swing pipe. The swing pipe swings 60° on both sides of the vertical line, for a total of 120°. Each swing (2×120°) is about 4s.
Test pressure: 400kPa; Test time: 10 minutes of continuous water spraying; after 5 minutes of testing, the sample is rotated 90°
b. Sprinkler water spray test
Test equipment: Handheld water spray and splash test device,
Sample placement: Make the parallel distance from the top of the test to the water spray outlet of the handheld sprinkler be between 300mm and 500mm
Test conditions: During the test, a baffle with a counterweight should be installed, and the water flow rate is 10L/min
Test time: Calculated according to the surface area of the shell of the sample under test, 1 minute per square meter (excluding the installation area), at least 5 minutes.
(4) IPX4
Method name: Splash test;
a. Swing pipe water spray test
Test equipment and sample placement: Select a swing pipe with an appropriate radius, so that the height of the sample table is at the position of the swing pipe diameter, and place the sample on the sample table so that the distance from the top to the sample water spray outlet is not more than 200mm, and the sample table does not rotate.
Test conditions: The water flow rate is calculated according to the number of water spray holes of the swing pipe, and each hole is 0.07L/min; the water spray area is the water sprayed from the water spray holes in the 90° arc on both sides of the midpoint of the swing pipe toward the sample. The test sample is placed at the center of the semicircle of the swing pipe. The swing pipe swings 180° on both sides of the vertical line, for a total of about 360°. Each swing (2×360°) is about 12s.
Test time: The same as the above-mentioned Article (3) IPX3, Section a (i.e. 10 min).
b. Spray test
Test equipment: Handheld water spray test device,
Sample placement: The baffle with a balancing weight installed on the equipment should be removed, so that the parallel distance from the test top to the handheld sprinkler nozzle is between 300mm and 500mm.
Test conditions: The baffle with a balancing weight should be installed during the test, and the water flow rate is 10L/min.
Test time: calculated according to the surface area of the sample shell, 1 minute per square meter (excluding the installation area), at least 5 minutes.
(5) IPX4K
Test name: Pressurized swing pipe rain test
Test equipment: swing pipe rain test
Sample placement: Select a swing pipe with an appropriate radius, so that the sample table height is at the position of the swing pipe diameter, and place the sample on the sample table so that the distance from the top to the sample water outlet is no more than 200mm, and the sample table does not rotate.
Test conditions: The water flow rate is calculated according to the number of water spray holes of the swing pipe, and each hole is 0.6±0.5 L/min. The water spray area is the water sprayed from the water spray holes in the 90° arc on both sides of the midpoint of the swing pipe toward the sample. The test sample is placed at the center of the semicircle of the swing pipe. The swing pipe swings 180° on both sides of the vertical line, a total of about 360°. Each swing (2×360°) is about 12s.
Test pressure: 400 kPa
Test time: After 5 minutes of testing, the sample is rotated 90°
Note: The spray pipe has 121 holes with a diameter of 0.5 mm;
-- 1 hole in the center
-- 2 layers in the core area (12 holes per layer, 30 degrees distribution)
-- 4 circles in the outer circle (24 holes per circle, 15 degrees distribution)
-- Removable cover
The spray pipe is made of copper-zinc alloy (brass).
(6) IPX5
Method name: Water spray test
Test equipment: The inner diameter of the water spray outlet of the nozzle is 6.3 mm
Test conditions: The distance between the test sample and the water spray outlet is 2.5~3 m, and the water flow rate is 12.5 L/min (750 L/h);
Test time: Calculated according to the surface area of the outer shell of the sample under test, 1 min per square meter (excluding the installation area) and at least 3 min.
(7) IPX6
Method name: Strong water spray test;
Test equipment: The inner diameter of the nozzle is 12.5mm;
Test conditions: The distance between the test sample and the water spray is 2.5-3m, and the water flow rate is 100L/min (6000L/h);
Test time: Calculated according to the surface area of the outer shell of the sample under test, 1min per square meter (excluding the installation area), at least 3min.
D=6.3mm waterproof protection level 5 and 6K;
D=12.5mm waterproof protection level 6.
(8) IPX7
Method name: Short-term immersion test;
Test equipment: Immersion tank.
Test conditions: Its size should be such that after the sample is placed in the immersion tank, the distance from the bottom of the sample to the water surface is at least 1m. The distance from the top of the sample to the water surface is at least 0.15m. Test time: 30min.
(9) IPX8
Method name: Continuous submersible test;
Test equipment, test conditions and test time: To be agreed upon by both parties. The severity should be higher than IPX7.
(10) IPX9K
Method name: High-pressure jet test
Test equipment: The inner diameter of the nozzle is 12.5 mm;
Test conditions: Water spray angle: 0°, 30°, 60°, 90° (4 positions); Number of water spray holes: 4; Sample stage speed: 5 ±1 r.p.m; Distance is 100-150 mm, 30 seconds for each position; Flow rate is 14-16 L/min, water spray pressure is 8000-10000 kPa, and water temperature is required to be 80±5℃
Test time: 30 seconds for each position × 4, a total of 120 seconds.
