I want semi-permanent socket out in the garden for my laptop. I want to be able to leave it out in the summer but bring it in during the winter when I am unlikely to be sitting outside surfing the web.

I keep seeing references to IP44, IP54 and IP55, but after much searching I have been unable to find a website which gives actual definitions of these.

I tried phoning the Electrical Safety Council, but after about 10 minutes of waiting for their Technica Helpline to answer, I gave up.

Can anybody please point me in the direction of a website that will explain what these blasted standards mean?

Many thanks

Dozy

They are standards defining protection against dust and water ingress to a container.

One digit refers to dust, one to liquid.

The higher the number the better the protection

What Andy said. :)

I'll see if I can dig out a link for you, with definitions of what the numbers mean in practice....


EDIT - that was easy, here you go;

Definitions:
http://www.aquatext.com/tables/ip_ratings.htm
or
http://www.protectingpeople.co.uk/fire_tech/ip_explained.htm

'Ratings checker' (same thing different format):
http://www.sensorsone.co.uk/ip-rating-checker.html

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I was really working myself into a proper little strop trying to find the definitions, I tried searching for all sorts of words, but didn't get anywhere.

Now I will be able to work out what I'm happy using!!

Dozy