The protection level (IP level) of industrial switches is an important indicator used to measure their dust-proof, waterproof and other protective capabilities. The following is a detailed introduction for you:
1、 Composition and meaning of IP levels
The IP (Ingress Protection) rating consists of two numbers in the format IPXX, where the first number X represents the dustproof rating and the second number X represents the waterproof rating. The larger the number, the stronger the corresponding protective ability.
1. Dust proof rating (first digit)
IP0X： Without protection, it does not have the ability to prevent external objects from invading.
IP1X： Preventing objects larger than 50mm from entering, such as accidental contact with human hands, can provide certain protection and block larger external objects from entering the interior of the equipment.
IP2X： Preventing objects larger than 12mm from entering, objects such as fingers cannot enter the interior of the device, providing finer protection than IP1X.
IP3X： To prevent the intrusion of objects larger than 2.5mm, it can block smaller objects such as tools and metal wires from entering, ensuring that internal components are not damaged by such external objects.
IP4X： Preventing objects larger than 1.0mm from entering, it can block smaller objects and further enhance the protective effect, avoiding dust and small particles from entering the switch through these gaps and affecting performance.
IP5X： It is impossible to completely prevent dust intrusion, but the amount of dust intrusion will not affect the normal operation of the switch. A certain amount of dust is allowed to enter, but it will not cause functional interference to its critical circuits, components, etc.
IP6X： Dustproof, completely preventing dust intrusion, with extremely high dust-proof ability, can ensure relatively clean internal environment, creating good conditions for long-term stable operation of switches.
2. Waterproof rating (second digit)
IPX0： Without protection, it has no ability to resist splashes, spills, etc. of water or other liquids.
IPX1： To prevent vertical water droplets, such as condensed water droplets, from falling vertically, the equipment can resist to a certain extent, so as not to allow water droplets to enter the interior and damage the circuit. Occasionally, the equipment has a certain protective effect in environments with condensed water.
IPX2： When tilted at 15 degrees, it still prevents water droplets from entering. When the device is at a certain tilt angle, it can still block water droplets from entering. It is suitable for some usage scenarios where there may be slight tilting and contact with water droplets.
IPX3： To prevent the intrusion of sprayed water, it can provide protection against water that is sprayed at a certain pressure, such as rainwater or water splashes, and can cope with situations such as outdoor rainwater erosion or water mist nozzles spraying near equipment.
IPX4： Prevent splashing water from entering, such as when water splashes onto the device from all directions, the device can resist these water from entering the interior, with stronger protection than IPX3, suitable for environments that are relatively humid and prone to water splashing around.
IPX5： To prevent the intrusion of large waves, it can cope with harsh environments such as ship decks that may be hit by large waves and a large amount of water waves, ensuring that the switch can still work normally in such situations of water wave impact.
IPX6： To prevent the intrusion of large waves and strong water jets, it still has protective capabilities in the face of stronger water impact, such as high-intensity water flow scenarios like fire hose spraying, and can maintain normal operation in such extreme water environments.
IPX7： To prevent the intrusion of water that has been submerged in water, the equipment can still function normally even when immersed in water for a short period of time under certain water pressure conditions. For example, accidental immersion such as falling into a shallow pool can ensure its normal operation.
IPX8： To prevent the impact of sinking, it can be immersed in water for a long time and can work normally. It is usually suitable for underwater equipment or some special application scenarios that may be submerged in water for a long time.
2、 Requirements and application scenarios of IP level for industrial switches
Industrial environments are often harsh, with many unfavorable factors such as dust, moisture, and water splashes.
1. General indoor industrial environment
Usually requires a protection level of IP30 or higher. For example, in a regular factory workshop, although there is not a large amount of water present, there may be dust, metal debris, etc. IP30 can prevent a certain size of foreign objects from entering, ensuring that the switch is basically not disturbed by external foreign objects and works normally.
2. Semi outdoor industrial environment
For areas such as factory warehouse entrances and areas with simple rain shelters, it is generally recommended to have an IP44 rating or higher. There may be situations such as rainwater splashing and occasional dust accumulation here, and IP44 can effectively deal with these factors to avoid switch failures caused by water ingress or excessive dust.
3. Outdoor industrial environment
Industrial switches with IP65, IP67, or even IP68 ratings are often required, such as communication base stations next to highways and equipment monitoring areas at ports and docks. These places will face severe conditions such as heavy wind and rain, sea water spray, and a large amount of dust. High level protection can ensure the reliable operation of the switch during long-term outdoor use, and maintain the stability of communication and data transmission.
3、 The Importance of IP Level
Ensuring equipment stability: A suitable IP rating can prevent dust, moisture, and other factors from entering the interior of the switch, avoiding problems such as short circuits, component corrosion, and poor contact caused by these factors, thereby ensuring long-term stable operation of the switch and reducing the cost of fault repair and replacement.
Adapting to diverse environments: There are many application scenarios in the industrial field, from dry indoor to humid outdoor, from clean computer rooms to dusty workshops. Different IP levels allow industrial switches to be selected according to specific environmental needs, better adapting to various complex working conditions and ensuring the normal construction and operation of industrial networks.
In short, understanding the IP rating of industrial switches plays a crucial role in correctly selecting and ensuring their reliable operation in the corresponding industrial environment.