When working with power supplies, engineers and electronic system designers regularly come across an “IP rating”. Generally, this rating stands for “international protection” and indicates the extent to which an electrical device is protected against intrusion of foreign objects and moisture, which can prevent the power supply from functioning properly. In addition to environmental influences, the power supply’s interior must be protected from intrusion of foreign objects such as tools, screws and wires, and from accidental user contact.
It’s worth knowing the types of IP codes, their meaning, the differences between them, and what to pay attention to when choosing a power supply, especially when power supply is installed outside a cabinet. It’s crucial that this piece of equipment is used safely, so the IP rating must be carefully selected for the conditions.
Existing IP codes
The IP code generally consist of the abbreviation IP – also known as “ingress protection” – and two digits, for example IP20, IP54, IP67 etc. The first digit identifies the protection against accidental contact and the intrusion of foreign objects, like sand and dust. The second digit indicates the protection against liquids and moisture.
In industrial power supplies, DIN EN 60529 is the relevant standard for determining the IP rating. The ISO 20653:2013 standard is also frequently used for road vehicles; however, it only applies to electrical components that need additional protection against pressure washing, for example with a steam cleaner.
In the context of power supplies, IP codes are occasionally confused with protection classes. Whilst IP codes relate to the intrusion of foreign objects and liquids and accidental contact, the IEC protection (or appliance) classes determine the structure and insulation of power supplies to protect users from electric shocks.
IP ratings in the industrial world
The IP rating required in industrial power supplies depends on the installation site and the environmental conditions in each case. Power supply manufacturers who offer ex-stock generally only offer industry-standard products.
If different combinations of protection against contact and moisture are needed, it’s ideal to turn to customised power supplies.
The meaning of the IPX4 and IP6X codes
Electronic devices are often tested in relation to only one of the two codes for foreign objects and liquids. The “X” indicates that the product has not been subjected to the corresponding tests for this code. Therefore, this is not a variable that can simply be replaced by any other value from the IP ratings table.
A power supply with the code IP6X offers full protection against contact and is dust-tight but has not been tested for liquids intrusion. In a similar way, a power supply with the code IPX4 has undergone the necessary tests for liquid splashing but has not been evaluated for the intrusion of foreign objects.
IP ratings offered by Puls Power
Puls Power offers many power supplies with the IP ratings described in this article. Principally, the products can be divided into two categories:
In the light of the growing trend for decentralisation, the IP rating of industrial power supplies now plays a more important role than ever before. The DC supply is very often installed directly on the machines, outside the protective cabinet. To ensure the safety of employees and the correct functioning of the power supply, IP54 is required as a minimum across all system components: e.g., SPS, HMI, sensors etc.
For these applications, Puls Power offers its FIEPOS family of power supplies.
By Maximilian Hülsebusch, Global Proct Marketing and Communications Manager, PULS Power
