Differences Between IP44 and IP65 LED String Lights
You might have found the information like IP44 and IP65 in our description of string lights or on the marking of the lights you bought before. Do you know what exactly they mean? This is an international code that represents the product’s protection level against the intrusion of both solid objects and liquids. In this article we’ll explain what it means and explain in details the different between IP44 and IP65 string lights.
What is IP rating?
IP is short for “Ingress Protection”. IP rating is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture. With this code the clients can easily tell if the product is protected against intrusions of solid-state particles or liquid particles. The numeric rating helps people take better care of the products they buy and to know how to store them in proper conditions. IP Rating would be much easier to understand if people are informed about it. The IP code is a transparent tool that can help anyone buy products of better quality.
The numbers that follow IP each have a specific meaning. The first indicates the degree of protection (of people) from moving parts, as well as the protection of enclosed equipment from foreign bodies. The second defines the protection level that the enclosure enjoys from various forms of moisture (drips, sprays, submersion etc). The tables below should help make sense of it:
First Digit (intrusion protection)
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0 – No protection assured
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1 – Protection assured against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands).
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2 – Protection assured against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers).
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3 – Protection assured against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires).
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4 – Protection assured against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires).
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5 – Protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but not fully dust tight. Complete protection against solid objects.
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6 – Fully dust tight and complete protection against solid objects.
Second Digit (moisture protection)
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0 – No protection assured.
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1 – Protection assured against vertical drops of water.
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2 – Protection assured against vertical drops of water when the product is tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
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3 – Protection assured against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
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4 – Protection assured against water splashing from any angle.
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5 – Protection assured against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
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6 – Protection assured against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
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7 – Protection assured against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
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8 – Protection assured against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
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9K – Protection assured against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP44 and IP65 string lights
After learning the knowledge of IP rating, my question is which string lights can be used outside in rain, IP44 or IP65? The answer is Both. Both IP44 string lights and IP65 one can be used outside, but IP65 is with a higher quality level than IP44.
IP44 string lights
IP65 string lights
In a word, IP65 string lights can resist much worse weather than IP44 ones do, but it doesn’t mean you have to buy IP65 one when you are planning an outdoor project. For most conditions, IP44 string lights will satisfy you with acceptable quality and competitive price.
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