Both IP44 and IP65 are technical words that you may have come across while looking for outdoor festoon lights. But do you understand what these ratings indicate? More significantly, do you understand why, if you intend to use festoon lights outside, you should only buy models with an IP rating of 44 or higher?
If not, you should read this post. Purchasing a festoon light of inferior quality increases the risk of fire, arc faults, power surges, and other dire effects. Understanding IP rating and the distinction between IP44 and IP65 is crucial for this reason.
IP Rating Summarised
Simply explained, an IP rating is a number that is issued to an electrical item, such a set of string lights, to show how resistant it is to solids and liquids.
Products with an IP rating are safe to use; the higher the IP code value, the more protection the equipment in question has.
Two numbers make up an IP rating, such as IP44 or IP65. The level of a device's resistance to solids is indicated by the first numerical value in the IP code. The range of this number is 0 to 6.
How resistant an electrical device is to liquids is indicated by the second numerical value in the IP code. Its ratings range from 0 to 9, with 0 denoting no protection.
The second number will be zero if an electrical product is only resistant to solids and not liquids. A product is not waterproof at all if it has an IP20 rating, for example, which indicates that it obtained a "2" rating for resistance against solids and a "0" rating for resistance against liquids.
What does the rating of IP44 mean?
An electrical product with an IP44 classification is protected against the majority of solid objects and is well-suited for light rain or water splashes.
In Australia, festoon lights having an IP44 grade can be used outside.
What does the rating of IP65 mean?
A device that is electrically powered and has an IP44 certification is shielded from the majority of solid objects and is easily able to endure direct water jets, splashes, or heavy rain. Products with an IP65 rating, however, cannot withstand total submersion in water.
Australia accepts festoon lights with an IP65 grade for outdoor use.
Festoon lights in the IP44 vs. IP65 range
Australia has certified string lights with IP44 and IP65 ratings for outdoor use. Their degrees of resistance to solid particles are comparable. IP44 has less waterproofing protection than IP65, nevertheless.
Which of these should you utilise then? A covered patio or porch can be lit with either IP65 or IP44. However, IP65 festoon lights are a better choice if you want to use them in an area that is exposed to the weather (although IP44 festoon lights are still an option).
Additionally, confirm that the cable is 1.5mm rubber. The lights do not comply with the SAA standards to be used outside if they are made of PVC or have a thickness of less than 1.5mm. Use only authentic SAA-certified festoon lights since non-SAA items are of poor quality and using them could endanger you and your family.
