What is IP68?
The protection classification offered by an enclosure is shown by the letter IP (Ingress Protection) and two digits. The first digit indicates two factors:
1. Protection for persons
2. Protection for equipment
The second digit indicates the protection against water.
Protection for persons: Protection against a wire touching dangerous parts.
Definition: A body 1,0 mm in diameter must not be able to enter. IP 6X
Test conditions: The accessing probe is pushed against every opening of the enclosure with a standardised force or is inserted through the opening.
Conditions for acceptance: The protection is satisfactory if a sufficient distance between the accessing probe and dangerous parts is kept.
Protection for equipment: Sealed against dust
Definition: Dust must not enter at all.
Test conditions: The test is carried out in a dust chamber in which talcum powder is being kept suspended in the air by means of a dust distributor or similar device. The enclosure which is being tested is placed in the test chamber while a vacuum pump keeps the pressure in the enclosure below the atmospheric pressure of the environment according to the standard.
Conditions for acceptance: The protection is satisfactory if there is no visible dust deposit within the enclosure after completion of the test.
Second digit: 8
Protection against water :Protection against the effects of constant submersion in water.
Definition: Water must not enter in a quantity that could have harmful effects if the enclosure is kept permanently under water under conditions agreed between the manufacturer and the user; however, these must be more difficult than those under Fig. 7.IPX8
Test conditions: The enclosure is completely immersed in a water basin. The immersion depth as well as the test time are dependent on the conditions agreed on between manufacturer and user.
Conditions for acceptance: Should water have penetrated, it must not
- be present in quantities which impair the good working order of the operating material or represent a safety hazard;
– deposit on non-conducting parts where it could lead to creep currents;
– come in contact with live parts or coils which are unsuitable for operating in wet conditions;
– collect near the wire end or possibly penetrate the wire.
Important note:
The protection classifications given for the enclosures refer to unmachined standard enclosures as supplied. As the tests to show protection classifications take no account of ageing, the maintenance of the protection classification throughout the lifetime of the equipment is not guaranteed.