Issue link: https://te.mouser.com/i/1410848
Ingress Protection) followed by two digits. The first digit refers to protection from physical objects; the second digit deals with moisture. Most unsealed connector systems, therefore, have an inherent IP20 rating. Number Protection Against 1 st Digit 2 nd Digit 0 No special protection No special protection 1 Objects greater than 50 mm in diameter; hands and other large body parts Dripping water 2 Objects greater than 12.5 mm in diameter; fingers Vertically dripping water 3 Objects greater than 2.5 mm in diameter Sprayed water 4 Objects greater than 1.0 mm in diameter Splashed water 5 Dust sufficient to interfere with operation of the equipment Water projected from a nozzle 6 All dust (dust tight) Heavy seas or powerful jets of water 7 Immersion 8 Complete, continuous submersion in water Figure 6. IP sealing levels Preventing physical contact with the electrical contacts is also a key function performed by the housing and is particularly important in higher voltage applications. At a minimum, having some housing protection prevents or at least minimizes potential handling damage to the contacts themselves that may occur during assembly or installation of the end product. When dealing with elevated voltages (usually above 48 volts), most safety standards require design features to prevent accidental physical contact with the electrical contact. In this case, contacts are recessed to some extent and often shrouded as a mechanical barrier to contact. Most standards around the globe use a "standard" probe to confirm housing design is adequate to prevent access. Lastly, the housing must be robust enough to handle the end application's environmental conditions. It is important to understand and establish what these are early in the selection process. If outdoor use is anticipated, then it is natural to specify a housing with a UV exposure rating. If a connector is expected to be used in an abusive environment where it is subject to mechanical shock and impacts (such as what would be used in a concert or stage setting), then perhaps a heavily impact modified polymer housing would be used or, perhaps even a connector with a protective metal shell. High- or low-temperature applications require particular housing