Degree of protection: very important when it comes to electricity!

Degrees of protection and protection levels make it safer to handle electrical equipment if you can understand them correctly and use the equipment accordingly. We clarified the label jungle. Here you can read the basic knowledge of these two terms, taking the lamp as an example, which protection levels and IP protection levels are required for installation in different locations.

Why is there a protection level?

For lights, electric drills, or cable reels, whenever electricity is involved, safety is the top priority. For electrical installations, multiple DIN and VDE standards are defined. Because electricity can neither be seen nor touched, but electric shocks can be fatal. Therefore, it is not only do-it-yourself and builders who rely on well-defined standards, reasonable protective measures, and last but not least high-quality electrical equipment to prevent sudden electric shocks. This equipment can be used as emergency brakes to shock.

Electrical equipment is constructed according to its performance and purpose, and used in different environments. Of course, the lights by the pond must be constructed and insulated differently from the lights in the living room, and the latter will never be exposed to the shower.

Just in case: repairs to electrical equipment, housings, plugs, or cables can only be carried out by qualified electricians! Not only is there a risk of electric shock, but it can also be very expensive in the event of a fire because you are responsible for indirect damage.

IP protection level and the protection level

They sound the same and are often used as synonyms, but these terms indicate different safety precautions. To ensure the reliable operation of electrical equipment under the most diverse conditions, they are divided into protection levels and protection levels:

• The IP protection level determines the degree of protection of the device itself under environmental conditions, where it can be used, and what it can withstand.
• The protection level describes how the device protects the user from electric shock. In addition to insulation, there are other safety precautions for these devices, which are divided into protection levels I ​​ to III.

Whether you correctly call it IP protection level or popular IP level or IP protection level-whenever the term IP appears, experts will immediately know that it is important to protect equipment from foreign objects and contact. Because "IP" stands for "Ingress Protection"-to prevent intrusion. According to DIN EN 60529, the IP code consists of two numbers, such as IP44, and indicates the effect of the protective device or device. The first code of the IP protection class indicates protection against solid foreign objects, and the second indicates protection against water-the higher the number, the higher the protection.

When do you need which IP protection level?

In dry rooms, IP20 is usually sufficient because no water is expected. For bathrooms, depending on how high the risk of splashing or spraying water is during use, IPX4, IPX5, or even IPX7 are specified-in this case, dust protection is not important, so X. For hobby rooms, on the other hand, IP 4X or IP 5X (dustproof) is suitable.

Application protection level taking lamps as an example

Electrical equipment, such as electric lights, of course, maybe exposed to foreign objects or rain outside. In addition to dust, foreign objects can also be small insects that penetrate the housing.

The degree of protection depends on the location. The lights under the roof should be IP 23 splash-proof, and the lights on the walls of the house should be IP 44 to prevent splashing from all sides. As an IP 65 path lighting, it should be dust-proof and water-spray-proof. On the other hand, the light in the garden pond or fountain must be able to withstand the temporary flood of IP 67, and as an underwater light, it even has IP 68.

What are the protection levels?

Electrical equipment is classified into I to III protection levels. There is a protection level of 0, but it corresponds to the protection of the insulating tape on the bare power cord.

Protection class I

You can remember the symbol that reminds you of I through the vertical line. Equipment of protection class I has simple insulation, and all conductive parts are connected to the protective conductor-yellow-green cable (read here, the meaning of the color of the power cord). For built-in equipment, this is done by connecting cables permanently installed in the house. Mobile devices with plugs can only be operated with protective contact plugs and protective contact sockets. Through these plugs and protective contact sockets, they can be locked into the protection circuit of the home power grid. If the equipment fails, the protective conductor or grounding cable will divert the wrongly directed current to the earth. The grounding wire is a good conductor, and its attraction to electricity far exceeds the attraction of its high resistance to the human body. If the protective conductor is incorrectly connected or defective, the fuse will not work. Therefore, the power cord should always be protected under any circumstances with a residual current circuit breaker, which compares the current entering the house with the output current and interrupts the circuit with a difference of 0.03 ampere. When a small part of the current flows to other places, whether it is on the housing or in the human body, there will be differences. Devices with safety plugs are kettles, stoves, irons, microwaves, or compressors.

Protection class II

The equipment of this protection level has reinforced insulation or double protection insulation around live parts, so there is no need to protect the contact plug, but it has a so-called profile plug. However, they are also suitable for protecting contact sockets. If the basic insulation is defective, the protection of double insulation will take effect. The additionally insulated components are not live during normal operation.

The symbol for protection class II is a double square. You can also remember the protection level, the two squares represent II. Typical equipment is electric tools such as vacuum cleaners, TVs, and electric drills.

Protection class III

The three lines in the square at the corner represent this protection level. Maximum 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC-protection is to operate the equipment or equipment at a harmless low voltage, even if it is in contact with the enclosure, it will not be impacted by the failure. Flat insulated European plugs are typical. Equipment with protection class III has a safety transformer to keep the voltage low or battery. These include chargers, toys, or equipment such as shavers near the bathroom and shower.