Closed Circuit Television security systems have a ratings system that reveal the toughness of the cameras used. The Ingress Protection rating, or IP for short, shows how resistant the video camera is to water and moist conditions, and it also indicates how resilient it is to physical objects.
The IP of an outdoor CCTV camera is a 2 digit number, with each digit having a completely separate relationship to the other. By checking the IP rating before purchasing a camera you will be able to understand what conditions it is suited to – the higher number the better.
Let’s examine an example IP rating: 67
The first digit denotes two things: the CCTV camera kit’s ability to withstand foreign objects being inserted into the enclosure, and the amount of protection the camera offers from its own internal moving parts – from fingers getting stuck in gears, for example.
In this case the number 6 shows that the camera is dust tight and has no exposed moving parts that can be interfered with. 6 is actually the best rating that a CCTV camera can have, so in this case the CCTV kit would be perfect for a dirty environment such as a car garage.
The second number in the IP rating denotes how waterproof the camera enclosure is. This value is graded on a scale of 0 to 8, and once again the higher the value the better the protection. A 7 means that the enclosure can be completely submerged in water, but only for a limited time. So no using this one in a swimming pool! That would require an IP rating of 8, and as you can imagine, the higher the rating the more expensive the camera is likely to be.
When buying a CCTV camera kit for the home the most suited rating would be 54 or above. This would offer protection both from rain and the types of wildlife commonly found in the garden.
I hope you found this description useful!
