Hey guys, it's Tyler from Nelly's Security,
and today we're going to be talking all about IP ratings.
Alright, we'll check on that camera again at the end of the video. But first,
let's talk about IP ratings. In this context, IP stands for "Ingress Protection," and it
has to do with how protected your camera is from outside elements.
An IP code is divided into two digits: we have the first digit, which tells us how protected your
camera is from solids; and the second digit, which tells us how protected the camera is
from liquids. Taken together, this two-number code tells you how durable your camera is and
how well it can stand up to the elements. Let's talk about each of these digits individually.
The first digit in an IP code tells us how protected the camera is from solids. This is on a
scale ranging from 0 to 6, 0 being "not protected at all" and 6 being "completely air-tight and
dust-proof. Pretty much for our purposes here when we're talking about security cameras
we don't really want to see anything less than a 5. A 5 means it's dust-resistant. It's going
to be hard for solids to get in there, while 6 means it's completely dust-proof and nothing
can get in there. If you're installing a security camera indoors, you can probably get by with a 5
for that first digit, but we definitely don't recommend going lower than a 5. If you're
installing a camera outside, however, you should probably stick with 6 here, just to ensure that
your camera is totally 100% protected from any outside elements getting inside of your camera.
The second number in an IP code tells us how protected the camera is against water getting
inside. This also ranges on a scale going from 0 to 8, 0 being, again, not protected at all,
while 8 means you can submerge this camera in water deeper than three feet.
if you are installing a security camera inside, the second digit really doesn't matter a whole
lot. In fact, we usually don't even advertise our IP numbers for our indoor cameras. You might want
to go for something that's at least 3 or 4, just in case it gets splashed on or anything like that.
When it comes to outdoor installations, there is a little bit of flexibility here. We definitely
wouldn't recommend going anywhere lower than IP65, and in most cases you don't really need to go over
an IP67. First let's talk about IP65. An IP65 security camera can handle light jets of water,
so for the most part, you should be able to install these cameras outside with very little
issues. However, we do not recommend installing these in an area where they will get head-on
exposure to the elements. An IP65 security camera is perfect for installing nder the eave of a roof
or even on a porch, someplace with an awning or some kind of covering.
Again, it's okay if it does get wet. It's okay if it gets light jets of water.
But if you need to install a security camera outside and there's no covering and
no protection at all, you should probably invest in a camera that is at least IP66.
IP66-rated cameras can withstand more powerful jets of water, meaning these cameras are perfect
for most outdoor situations. If you're installing this outside on your wall or
in an area where there is no coverage, these cameras can get direct contact with rain,
storms, they can handle pretty much anything that comes their way. The only difference between an
IP66-rated camera and an IP67- or 68-rated camera is that IP66 cameras cannot be fully submerged
in water. So if you are going to be installing a security camera in an area where you expect
an abnormal amount of rain, maybe this is just in a very wet climate,
or if you're installing a security camera in a car wash, we recommend going with IP67.
IP67 security cameras can be submerged in water up to three feet. The camera you
saw me pour water on at the beginning of this video is an IP67 security camera, which is why
it's able to be submerged in that small bucket. However, most people don't purchase security
cameras just to go submerge them in water, so you probably don't need an IP67 security camera
for most situations. The difference between IP67 and IP68 security cameras, again, is that IP68
security cameras can be submerged in even deeper water. This is overkill for most situations,
even if you're installing as security camera in a car wash, IP67 is perfect for that. However,
if you do prefer the extra protection, there is that higher level rating,
IP68. It just may be a little bit harder to find a security camera that matches this rating.
So there's one last thing I want to point out here, and that is your cable connections.
Be sure to keep these in mind when installing your cameras, because even if your camera is fully IP68
weatherproof, your cable connections are not. It's really simple to do. If your cables are exposed to
the elements, just be sure to use a weatherproof grommet to cover your Ethernet connection.
And if you're not using your 12V DC connection, be sure to seal that off as well. If you need
help installing these grommets, we do have some other videos on our channel to help you out.
Now this is actually the second time that I tried to make this video.
In case you're curious what happens when you skip this step, check out
what happened the first time when I totally forgot to seal off that 12V DC connection.
What is an IP rating? What does the code mean? And what IP--
So that is everything you need to know about IP ratings. Now,
before we go, I do want to revisit that camera from the beginning of this video,
so let's check it out and see if any damage has been done.
Alright, let's check this out.
Alright.
It is nice and wet. You can check it out for yourself. It was fully submerged and,
I mean everything looks good. The video is still there.
Just at first glance, I don't see any moisture inside. So I think we are good, I think the IP67
weatherproof rating held up. However, I do not recommend trying out this test at home.
Well that about wraps it up for this video. Thank you guys so much for watching. If you enjoyed it,
go ahead and like this video, subscribe to our YouTube channel,
follow us across social media, and I will see you in the next video.