What is IP or Ingress Protection

When you are handling a motor, inverter or any other electrical component then you may notice the word ‘IP’ on its nameplate.

Ok, leave that. I think you have a smartphone and its waterproof. Now, what does it means to you? Your phone will stay active in any kind of weather if there is a lot of dust or full of water. And it also means that dust and water cannot penetrate your device which has an IP level of 58. Now come to the IP word.

IP or Ingress Protection for Electric Motor:

IP means Ingress Protection and by the act of ICE (International Electrotechnical Commission) – 529, Ingress Protection IP –XY. It’s a measuring standard for any kind of manufacturing products like motor, cell phone, and others for solid dust particle and liquid particle penetration to the manufactured products. It presented by capital XY.

Where X= First Characteristic Number, for the protection of the machine against penetrating any kind of solid particle.

And Y= Second Characteristic Number, for the protection of the machine against penetrating any kind of liquid particle.

“X” has 0-5 stages and “Y” has 0-8 stages of the level. Now I am going to give you the description for all levels.

‘X’ For Solid Particle:

0 = Non-Protected Machine or Products.
1 = The Machine is Protected Against Solid Particle ≥ 50mm
2 = The Machine is Protected Against Solid Particle ≥ 12mm
3 = The Machine is Protected Against Solid Particle ≥ 5mm
4 = The Machine is Protected Against Solid Particle ≥ 1mm
5 = The Machine is Protected Against Solid Dust Particle.

‘Y’ For Liquid Particle:

0 = Non-Protected Machine or Products.
1 = The Machine is Protected Against Dropping Water.
2 = The Machine is Protected Against of H2O up to 150 vertical.
3 = The Machine is Protected Against any Kind of Spray of Water.
4 = The Machine is Protected Against of Splashing of H2O.
5 = The Machine is Protected Against of Water Jet.
6 = The Machine is Protected Against the Condition of Ship’s Deck.
7 = The Machine is Protected Against the Effects of Immersion.
8 = Full Protection (Submersible Machine)

Now if the product on your hand having IP XY=36 then it’s protected from the solid particle of ≥ 5mm and no liquid can be penetrated on Ship’s Deck condition.

Related: How to Select a Perfect AC Motor?

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