What IP44 Means
An IP rating has two digits. The first is protection against solid objects, the second against water. On IP44, the first 4 means the enclosure keeps out solid objects 1.0 mm and larger, which includes most wire and tool tips. The second 4 means water sprayed at the device from any direction for at least five minutes does not cause harm. Neither digit says anything about being submerged.
| Rating | Solids | Water |
|---|---|---|
| IP44 | Objects 1.0 mm and larger | Spray from any direction |
| IP55 | Dust protected | Water jets from any direction |
| IP66 | Dust tight | Strong water jets, heavy seas |
| IP67 | Dust tight | Temporary immersion, up to 1 m for 30 minutes |
| IP68 | Dust tight | Continuous immersion, at the depth the manufacturer states |
Word of warning: "waterproof" is not a rating. When a specification says the cord has to be waterproof, ask for the IP number it is expected to meet. A cord that passes IP44 is not the same product as one that passes IP67, and quoting the wrong one is a costly mistake.
How the Sealing Works
A sealed NEMA plug is a molded body with three protected points. The blade face is covered by a hinged or moulded cover that closes over the pins when the plug is not in use. A gasket sits at the mating face so that, when the plug is fully inserted into a matching sealed receptacle, the interface itself is closed. The cable entry carries a molded strain relief with an internal seal, so water cannot track down the jacket into the body.
The protection is only complete when both halves of the connection are the sealed type. A waterproof plug pushed into an ordinary indoor receptacle closes the plug side, but the receptacle face is still open and water can sit in it. Outdoor installations therefore pair a sealed plug with a sealed receptacle or an enclosure cover, and the plug and cover are never used as a substitute for one.
Waterproof Configurations
IP44 versions are molded across the configurations we already stock in standard grade, in both straight-blade and twist-locking families.
| Family | Configurations | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-blade, 125 V | 1-15P, 1-15R, 5-15P, 5-15R, 5-20P, 5-20R | 15 A and 20 A, 125 V |
| Straight-blade, 250 V | 6-15P, 6-15R, 6-20P, 6-20R | 15 A and 20 A, 250 V |
| Straight-blade, 50 A | 14-50P | 50 A, 125/250 V |
| Twist-locking, 125 V | L5-15P, L5-15R, L5-30P, L5-30R | 15 A and 30 A, 125 V, 2P3W |
| Twist-locking, 250 V | L6-15P, L6-15R, L6-30R | 15 A and 30 A, 250 V, 2P3W |
| Twist-locking, 277 V | L7-15P, L7-15R | 15 A, 277 V, 2P3W |
| Twist-locking, 4-wire | L14-30P, L14-30R | 30 A, 125/250 V, 3P4W |
| Marine shore power | SS1-50P, SS1-50R, SS2-50P, SS2-50R | 50 A, 125 V or 125/250 V |
All of the locking versions use the ring rib or vertical rib body with a waterproof cover, and the shore power plugs are built for dock pedestals where the cord is plugged in and left in place. The locking side is covered in the twist-locking power cord guide.
Cable for Wet and Outdoor Use
The plug gets the rating, but the cable decides how long the cord survives outside. Sunlight, water and temperature swings attack the jacket, and an indoor cable used outdoors will harden and crack at the strain relief within a couple of seasons.
| Cable | Environment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SJTW | Outdoor tools, garden equipment, temporary site power | Thermoplastic jacket rated for weather and water resistance |
| SOOW | Industrial, welding, wet and harsh locations | Heavy rubber jacket, resists oil, abrasion and flexing at low temperature |
| Marine cable | Docks, marinas, boat pedestals | Tinned copper conductors and a jacket formulated against salt water and UV |
| SPT-1 / SPT-2 | Indoor lighting only | Not an outdoor cable, even with a sealed plug on the end |
For lighting strings and small outdoor loads, a sealed 1-15P or 5-15P on SJTW cable covers most garden and patio installations. For anything with a motor, a pump or a heater, size the conductor for the running current and the run length, because a long outdoor run drops more voltage than a short indoor one.
Connector Ends
The seal only holds when both halves are IP44. The plug end is fixed by the cord you order, so the far end has to match it.
| Connector end | Standard | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 5-15R / 5-20R | NEMA WD 6, IP44 | Outdoor tools, garden equipment and temporary site power |
| 6-15R / 6-20R | NEMA WD 6, IP44 | 240 V pumps, heaters and compressors |
| 14-50R | NEMA WD 6, IP44 | RV pedestals and EV supply equipment |
| IP44 C13 / C14 | IEC 60320, IP44 | Made to order for outdoor IT, signage and pump controllers |
| IEC 60309 16 A / 32 A | IEC 60309, IP44 | Industrial sockets, CEE plugs and site distribution |
| Open end | n/a | Gland, junction box or hard wired equipment |
An IP44 plug mated to a standard IEC connector loses the seal. The IP44 C13 and C14 connectors are a separate stock line, and on a waterproof cord set they are a made-to-order end built with the same gasket as the plug.
Where They Are Used
| Application | Configuration | Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor and patio lighting, lighting strings | 1-15, 5-15 | SJTW, SPT with sealed plug |
| Garden tools and lawn equipment | 5-15 | SJTW, SOOW |
| Pool, spa and pond pumps | 5-15, 5-20 | SJTW, SOOW |
| RV pedestals and campsites | 14-50, L5-30 | SJTW, SOOW |
| Marine shore power | SS1-50, SS2-50 | Marine shore power cable |
| Temporary site and event power | L14-30, L6-20 | SJTW, SOOW |
| Commercial kitchen washdown | 5-20, L5-20 | SJTW, SOOW |
IP44 Limits and Safety
IP44 covers spray, not standing water. The plug and receptacle should be mounted or hung so the connection is not sitting in a puddle, and the cover should be closed whenever the plug is not inserted. A gasket that has gone hard, or a jacket that has cracked at the strain relief, drops the protection to nothing and the cord should be replaced.
Outdoor receptacles are required to have ground-fault protection in North America, and that protection is what makes a wet connection survivable, not the seal. The IP rating keeps water out; the GFCI limits the consequence if water gets in anyway. Neither is a reason to use an indoor cord outdoors.
If the application is under water: an IP44 cord is the wrong part. Cord sets for submerged or continuously wet equipment are built to IP67 or IP68 with different seals and, in most cases, a different cable. Tell us the depth and the duty cycle and we will quote accordingly.
Ordering Notes
Waterproof configurations are molded off the same blades as the standard versions, so the tooling exists and the lead time is normal. Specify the configuration, the cable, the length, the color and the environment, and we will quote the sealed version with the matching receptacle where one is needed.
Looking for IP44 Waterproof Power Cords?
We mold IP44 sealed plugs and receptacles across the 1-15, 5-15, 5-20, 6-15, 6-20 and 14-50 straight-blade ranges and the L5, L6, L7, L14 and SS shore power locking ranges, with SJTW, SOOW or marine cable, in custom lengths and colors. Certification is UL, cUL and ETL with RoHS, REACH and PAHs documentation.
Typical MOQ is 200 to 1,000 pieces, samples ship in 7 to 15 days and production runs 15 to 20 workdays.