IP Ratings and LED Lighting - By: Peter Jenny

Searching for LED Strip Lights and light casings that you intend to use outside or in potentially wet conditions can be fishy business. But that is why we rely on something called an IP Rating to help simplify the search.

The term IP Rating, or IP Code, stands for Ingress Protection Rating or International Protection Rating. It is a classification system used to rate the protective capabilities of mechanical casings and electronic enclosures against the intrusion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact and moisture. Anything from a plug socket casing to the protective coating on LED Strip Lights have an IP Rating.

IP Ratings are designed to give consumers more accurate information about the electrical items they are buying and under what conditions they can use them, instead of relying on terminology such as 'waterproof' or 'splash-proof,' which can be vague and sometimes misleading.

An IP rating consists of the letters 'IP' succeeded by two numbers. So for example you might find that an LED Strip Light is rated 'IP 65.'

The first number denotes 'solid particle protection.' It refers to the level of protection an enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts, such as circuitry or moving parts. This is measured on a scale ranging from 0-6, with 0 meaning no protection against contact and ingress of objects and 6 meaning complete protection.

The second number stands for 'liquid ingress protection.' It refers to the protection of internal equipment within the enclosure against the entry of moisture. In this case the scale ranges from 0-8. A rating of 0 means that it is unprotected. Anything below 6 means that it is unsuitable for submersion but can withstand varying degress of exposure to moisture such as splashes and jets. Anything above 6 means the item can be submerged at varying depths for specified periods of time.

Using this scale we are now able to decipher the meaning of an IP65 rating on our own LED Strip Lights. It tells us that their resin coating has a solid particle protection of 6 and a liquid ingress protection of 5.This means it can withstand the intrusion of any objects, including tiny particles of dust and can withstand jets of water from any direction without having any harmful effects. However, this means it would not be suitable for complete submersion in water.

On some ratings you might see the inclusion of an additional letter, which denotes how tamper resistant an object is. So, for example, a casing may be proofed against the intrusion of a human finger, but not a metal wire.

So, as you can see, IP Ratings are here to help you make more informed decision about what type of lighting you are buying. Always pay attention to the items you buy and if there isn't an IP Rating get in contact with the retailer, otherwise you might be in for an unwelcome shock.

If you have any more questions about IP ratings give us a call on 0116 321 4121.

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For more information, visit GU10 LED or LED Strips and LED Tape

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