{"id":423,"date":"2023-02-10T07:30:48","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T07:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.audiogrounds.com\/?p=423"},"modified":"2023-04-24T09:08:44","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T09:08:44","slug":"ipx5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.audiogrounds.com\/ipx5\/","title":{"rendered":"IPX5 Water-Resistant Rating (Resistance To Water Jets)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Devices with an IPX5 rating have enclosures so sturdy they can survive water jets. They can easily handle sweat, light rain, and even downpours, at least for some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this post, I will try to explain what an IPX5 rating tells you about the durability and water resistance of a device. The focus will be on audio equipment and activities you can and cannot do with IPX5-rated audio gear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with some basic terminology.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IPX5<\/p>\n

Why Are IP and IPX Ratings So Important?<\/b><\/h2>\n

We need IP and IPX ratings today more than we needed them before. In the past, terms water resistance and waterproofness, as well as IPX ratings<\/a>, were related to industrial or electrical equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, numerous electronic devices we use every day have some kind of IP or IPX rating.\u00a0 Most smartphones, Bluetooth earbuds, headphones, and speakers offer some level of protection against water and dust ingress.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since we depend on these devices so much (especially phones and laptops) and we take them with us everywhere we go, it\u2019s only natural to look for something durable. Something that could survive an accidental drop, spilled water, rain, or sweat.<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s why we all look for IPX-certified equipment. You don’t want your earbuds to fail after the first workout, and you certainly don’t want your phone broken after accidentally spilling water on it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IP and IPX ratings reassure us that our devices will survive occasional mishaps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you care about your equipment, you will look for an IP or IPX rating that matches your needs and specific use scenarios.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who Defines IP\/IPX Ratings?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first international standard that classified different levels of dust and water ingress protection and defined tests for each level of protection was the <\/span>IEC 60529<\/span><\/a>, brought by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1976.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides the IEC 60529, there\u2019s another international standard, <\/span>ISO 20653<\/span><\/a>, defined by the International Standardization Organization. ISO 20653 is based on the IEC, but there\u2019re some subtle differences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"International<\/p>\n

IEC introduced 7 levels (0-6) of protection against the intrusion of solid objects and dust. Level 0 provides no protection against the intrusion of solid objects, while level 6 provides protection against dust ingress (six means dustproof).<\/span><\/p>\n

The IEC standard defines 10 levels (0-9) of protection against the intrusion of water. <\/span>Level 0 means no protection<\/span><\/a>, while level 9 provides protection against the intrusion of water when the enclosure is hit by high-temperature, high-pressure water jets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Levels 7 and 8 are often referred to as waterproof since devices with these ratings are suitable for immersion or submersion in water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ISO standard is very similar to the IEC standard, but there are three ratings with the letter K in the end that don\u2019t exist in the IEC nomenclature \u2013 IPX4K, IPX6K, and IPX9K. Of those three, the first two do not exist in any form in the IEC standard, while the third (IPX9K<\/a>) is the equivalent of IPX9 in the IEC nomenclature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The letter K in those IPX ratings defined by the ISO standard stands for increased pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IPX Ratings Explained<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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What is IP Rating? (Ingress Protection Rating)<\/div><\/div>
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