What is IP Rating and why is it Important for my Grinder VFD?

What does IP Rating Mean?

IP Rating stands for Ingress Protection Rating (also known as International Protection Marking), which is a code that that a manufacturer is required to specify so that customers know if a product is protected against solid-state or liquid particle incursions. It gives consumers the confidence to know they are buying a solid and safe product from the elements in their environment. This is especially important for workshops where the atmosphere is often dirty and dusty.

The IP code is a clear instrument that can assist anyone in purchasing higher-quality products without being mislead by jargon or vague specs.

Ingress Protection is a globally recognised grade that anyone can use. regardless of where they are. These electrotechnology standards were established to inform consumers about the product’s casing capabilities, which range from water to solid object protection. The code looks like this: IP, which is the abbreviation for Ingress Protection, followed by two digits or the letter X. The first digit denotes the object’s resistance to solid items, while the second denotes the protection provided against liquids.

Solid Object Protection

The number for solid protection comes first. It denotes the level of protected provided by the encased VFD or other electronic device. The ranking ranges for 0 – 6. 0 means there is no protection against any solid objects (dust or other) and 6 being fully dust tight and compete protection against solid objects.

(This does not mean that an IP6 Drive is capable of being stabbed by your freshly ground knife and will be happy about it. Its simply an indicator of protection against the size of object getting inside with little to no force)

Liquids Ingress Protection

The same goes for liquids. “liquids ingress protection” refers to moisture & water protection. The number for this rages from 0 – 9. 0 means there is no protection against moisture or water. 9 means it can be submersed underwater for long periods of time at a depth of 1 meter.

Exposure to water, even in small amounts can be highly damaging to the internal workings of a VFD. So its important that we have a high IP rating to protect your grinder.

(does this mean you should go take your grinder through the carwash and power wash it? No, please don’t do that. But now you have the assurance that regardless of the atmosphere in your workshop you know you are protected, or if you need extra protection)

Summary

For a “real world” Example, Most High end phones these days are rated to ~IP66 – IP68. AS long as they are undamaged they are waterproof to a decent degree and have no problems dealing with dust (although they might get dirty)

Any VFD you buy can and does have IP rating, if its not provided you can ask and if the supplier is reputable they’ll be able to tell you.

All of our Belt Grinders, including the Reaper 72″, Brodbeck Ironworks 72″ and the Reaper 48″, as well as our Disc Grinders and other items that use our VFDs come with IP66 protection out of the box.

If you’re buying a VFD elsewhere make sure to check the IP rating to see if its suitable for your workshop environment. If it’s a low IP rating you can take steps to protect it, like putting it inside a sealed box. If it’s a high rated IP then you’re good to go!