For anybody who deploys a UPS system in their manufacturing or processing units, IP rating is not a new term. They buy UPS systems with a suitable IP rating for the environment in which the system is deployed. 

In most industries, such as cement, manufacturing, and food and beverage, dust is very common. Besides, many industries like pharma, chemicals, etc tend to expose UPS systems to moisture. Therefore, UPS systems with suitable IP ratings are deployed to prevent them from getting damaged by dust and water.

Without a suitable IP rating, a UPS deployed in harsh environments may get damaged or overheated. Sometimes, short circuits may take place, or corrosion can occur. For those of you who do not know, this blog will help you understand every aspect of IP ratings.

Understanding IP Rating

The term “IP” means Ingress Protection. It is a globally recognized and followed term set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in order to check the level of protection the UPS enclosure can give against dust and water.

Every term in an IP rating means something. For example, in UPS 1P55, the first digit “5” represents the protection against dust, while the second digit “5” represents the protection against moisture or water. 

Let’s decode all the numbers in IP ratings. In solid particles like dust, the first digit in IP ratings usually falls between 0 and 6. Here, “0” means no protection against the dust, “1-4” means protection against very small particles like fingers and tools. The digit “5’means protecton against limited dust particles, while the digit “6” means full protection against dust. 

Similarly, in liquids, the second digit falls between 0 and 9. Here, obviously, “0” means no protection against water, “1-3” means protection against dripping water, while “4-6” means protection against splashing water jets, and “7-9” means protection against any immersion situations. 

IP ratings are important to determine durability, enhance the safety of industrial equipment and property, and improve compliance. 

Choosing Between UPS IP42 and UPS IP55 for Industrial Applications

As discussed earlier, choosing the right UPS, like Prostarm, with the right IP rating, depends completely on the need and the level of protection required. And of course, industry too. Let us discuss what constitutes IP42 and IP55, their uses, and industrial applications. 

UPS IP42:

If industries need protection against small solid objects like tools and dripping water, they generally choose UPS IP42. The significance of the digit “4” here encompasses protection against objects that are more than or equal to 1mm (tools, wires, etc). Suppose the device is tilted up to 15 degrees, then it needs protection against vertically dropping water. Digit “2” signifies it. 

Uses of UPS IP42:

1. It is used in industries like steel and petrochemical manufacturing, etc where it controls programmatic logic controllers and SCADA systems.
2. It is also highly used in transport industries in domains like air traffic control, railway signaling, etc.
3. Highly useful for emergencies, especially to power emergency lighting and emergency shutdown devices (ESD).
4. Better than IP20 systems, where protection is needed against harsh environments with dust and light moisture. 

UPS IP55:

If industries need protection against water jets coming from any direction and some dust, they generally choose UPS IP55. The significance of this IP rating is that it is not fully dust-tight, but does not allow dust to enter in harmful amounts. This type of protection is commonly used in telecommunications cabinets to protect them and make them much more resistant. The device is generally safe from rain and splashes. 

Uses of UPS IP55:

1. An IP55 rating is commonly used in electronic equipment designed for outdoor cabinets, like LED garden lights, security cameras, cell towers, and microwave links that are generally exposed to weather.
2. It is useful to power battery management systems used in solar farms and wind turbines.
3. They also power remote terminal units (RTUs) and critical instruments that are kept in dusty or wet environments.
4. They are also used in the transport industry for traffic management systems and tunnel ventilation controls.

Conclusion:

Every UPS system is unique in its own way. How they perform, at what level they increase efficiency, entirely depends on the buyer who must select the right IP-rated UPS inverter from Prostarm, a reliable UPS manufacturer in India. Because sometimes, choosing the right UPS system can change the whole fate of an industry.