{"id":700,"date":"2023-02-17T19:23:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T19:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.audiogrounds.com\/?p=700"},"modified":"2023-04-24T09:12:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T09:12:55","slug":"ipx6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.audiogrounds.com\/ipx6\/","title":{"rendered":"IPX6 Water-Resistant Meaning (Protection Against Powerful Water Jets)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you know what IPX6 rating and term water-resistant mean? Is IPX6 good enough for workouts or swimming? Can you use an IPX6 device in the shower or in the rain?<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep reading, and you will find out what kind of protection to expect from an IPX6 device. My focus will be on speakers and earbuds, but most of the story applies to all <\/span>IPX-certified<\/span><\/a> devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IPX6<\/p>\n

What Are IPX Ratings?<\/b><\/h2>\n

An IP rating is a confirmation of device’s dust and water resistance. It is an international standard used for all kinds of equipment \u2013 industrial machines, devices used in the oil and gas industry, electrical devices, car parts, and even everyday electronics.<\/span><\/p>\n

If a device is not IPX-certified, that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the device doesn\u2019t offer any protection against water ingress. But if it is IPX-certified, you will know exactly what to expect based on its IPX rating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since we use our phones and portable audio equipment more than ever before, we tend to pay more attention to things like IPX ratings. Why? Because these ratings guarantee our equipment will last longer and won\u2019t get damaged if some liquid gets spilled over it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To understand what kind of IPX rating is adequate for your needs, you need to know what each IPX rating means.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

First of all, the actual term is IP rating. IP stands for Ingress Protection. The international standard that ranks levels of ingress protection (IP ratings) is defined by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), and it\u2019s called <\/span>IEC 60529<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

ISO 20653<\/span><\/a> is the second international standard that ranks levels of dust\/water ingress protection. This international standard is based on the IEC\u2019s standard. Most of the IP ratings appear in both nomenclatures (IEC and ISO).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"International<\/p>\n

The form of an IP rating is defined by the IEC, and it’s the same for the ISO standard. It consists of two letters (IP) and two numbers. The first number gives you info about dust ingress protection. The second number represents the level of protection against the ingress of water.<\/span><\/p>\n

A device doesn\u2019t have to be tested for both \u2013 dust and water ingress. If it wasn\u2019t tested for one of the categories, there will be a letter X instead of a number.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IEC standard also defines an optional (supplementary) letter as a third part of an IP rating. This letter gives you some supplementary info about testing conditions or the device’s resistance. As far as I know, this letter is never used for portable audio equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ingress<\/p>\n

IP tests are performed by certified labs. The manufacturers can test their equipment, but they can\u2019t publish IP and IPX ratings on their own. If they want to advertise their equipment as IPX-certified, they need to send the equipment for testing to a certified lab.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having in mind what I have just said, a device doesn\u2019t need an IPX rating to be waterproof or water-resistant. Some manufacturers simply choose not to send their equipment for IPX certification, even though their equipment is waterproof.<\/span><\/p>\n

GoPro<\/span>, for example, makes very rugged and fully waterproof cameras, but the cameras are not IPX-certified. You won’t find any information about IPX ratings in the specs, even though they certainly are waterproof.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Levels of Dust and Water Ingress Protection<\/b><\/h2>\n

IEC grades the levels of water ingress protection on a scale from 0 to 9. Zero obviously means no protection, while rating 9 describes protection against high-temperature and high-pressure water jets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Levels of protection against the ingress of solid objects and dust are graded on a scale from 0 to 6. The rating 6 is given to dust-tight\/dustproof devices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s important to make a distinction between level 0 and the letter X. While 0 means no protection, X means not tested.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A device that was given some water ingress protection rating, but wasn’t tested for dust ingress, will probably offer some level of protection against the ingress of solids. But since it wasn’t tested, there will be a letter X instead of a number.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most popular water ingress protection ratings among audio equipment are those between <\/span>IPX4<\/span><\/a> and IPX8. You can find a limited number of speakers and earbuds with rating <\/span>IPX1<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>IPX2<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>IPX3<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ratings IPX1 and IPX2 provide protection against dripping water, but only when the water is dripping at specific angles. IPX3 protects against spraying water, while IPX4 offers protection against splashing water from any angle.<\/span><\/p>\n

IPX5<\/span><\/a> and IPX6 ratings are very similar. They both provide protection against water jets. The difference is in water pressure and volume. These two ratings are usually referred to as water-resistant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ratings IPX7 and IPX8 offer protection against submersion in water. The difference between the two is in water depth (1m Vs. up to 4m) and duration of the test (30 mins Vs. 30+ mins).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Devices with IPX7 and IPX8 are usually advertised as waterproof.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Levels

Levels of Ingress Protection (IEC Standard)<\/p><\/div>\n

As discussed earlier, the ISO standard is mostly the same as the IEC standard. However, three ISO ratings don’t exist in the IEC standard. The ratings are IPX4K, IPX6K, and IPX9K. The letter K at the end of these ratings means <\/span>increased pressure<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The level IPX9K in the ISO nomenclature is exactly the same thing as the IPX9<\/a> in the IEC nomenclature. The other two ratings with the letter K do not exist in the IEC nomenclature in any form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IPX6 Water-Resistant Rating<\/b><\/h2>\n

IPX6 rating is given to devices that can withstand powerful water jets. The exact conditions for each IPX test, including IPX6, are strictly defined by the IEC.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IPX6\"<\/p>\n

The iPX6 test is done with a 12.5mm nozzle. It\u2019s the same-looking nozzle as the one used for the <\/span>IPX5 test<\/span><\/a>, but with a bigger diameter (6.3mm Vs. 12.5mm).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IPX5

IPX5 and IPX6 nozzles<\/p><\/div>\n

The distance between the nozzle and the tested device is 3 meters. The jet hits the enclosure at all angles for at least 3mins (or 1min per m<\/span>2<\/span> for bigger devices).<\/span><\/p>\n

The water pressure is 100 kPa, while the volume of water is 100 liters\/min.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IPX6<\/p>\n

If the device under test survives this powerful water jet and remains fully functional, it will receive an IPX6 rating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IPX6 Test<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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IPX6 - Protection Against Powerful Water Jets<\/div><\/div>
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