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Drones are now facing a new challenge. If you’ve tried flying a drone in the rain or live in areas where it rains, you’re probably familiar with rust stains on your drone. So how to waterproof your drone? The following article will give some tips to help you waterproof the drone. This can save your device from water or moisture damage.
Which Drone Electronic Components Do You Need To Be Waterproof?
Electronic Control
Electronic control is the brain of the drone because it is like a computer that controls engine functions, agility and other systems. When waterproofing a drone, the ECU should either be encased in a waterproof enclosure or incorporate waterproofing features into its design.
Electronic control, circuit board, the battery are important components that need to be waterproof
Circuit board
A circuit board is a flat, rectangular board with small electronic components called chips. These electronic components help the drone do many things, like store data and communicate wirelessly.
The plastic you use to make the inside of your drone waterproof will need to wrap around this circuit board for it to work still.
Polyethylene is an ordinary plastic material that can be used to waterproof your circuit boards. You probably use polyethylene every day without realizing it – polyethylene is the plastic used to make shopping bags, food containers and pipes!
While polyethylene is an excellent choice for making the inside of your drone waterproof, acrylic is also a perfect choice, as they are already waterproof.
The battery
Drone batteries are similar to power electric cars or bikes. If the drone battery gets wet or damaged, it will fail to fly. Therefore, it is essential to protect batteries with waterproof measures and pack them in a waterproof bag when unused.
When drones are stored for long periods, cells can be affected by cold temperatures and prolonged exposure to air, causing them to discharge.
The best way to avoid this problem is to wrap each cell in food wrap and place them in a zipper bag before long-term storage. You can also store the battery outside the protective case if you need more room for other components.
Tips and tricks to waterproof your drone
While flying a drone in the rain might not seem like a good idea, there’s still a lot of fun out there. As long as you’re careful, your drone will do just fine in the rain. These tips and tricks, will help you how to waterproof a drone
Waterproof case is a favorite way to protect drones
Waterproof case
A waterproof case is the best way to keep your drone dry. This is a hard plastic outer shell that provides complete coverage for your drone. You’ll have to take the case off when you fly, so it won’t protect it when you fly, but it will protect it when you store it or take it with you while travelling.
One downside of waterproof drone cases is that they are expensive; they can cost hundreds of dollars or more. If you buy one, make sure it’s made from high-quality materials and fully sealed to ensure no water gets in, which could damage your drone even if it doesn’t house in a waterproof case.
Also, be aware that these covers tend to be more fragile than regular covers so they can crack and break with normal use.
Spray silicone
Waterproofing your drone is not only fun, but it can also allow you to shoot videos in adverse weather conditions.
It’s essential first to understand the basics of drone waterproofing and what products are available if you want to waterproof your drone
Silicone spray is an effective way to waterproof a drone. You can use this product to wrap the rubber parts of your drone. However, it is unsuitable for plastic or electrical components as it will cause corrosion.
Find out more https://droneforbeginners.com/how-to-fly-drones-in-cold-weather/
Tape
It can be said that duct tape is a quick, cheap method to waterproof your drone. You can buy duct tape at most hardware stores for a reasonable price. You won’t have to worry about the tape covering important labels or details.
There are also tapes in various colours and patterns, so if you have a taste for this, this could be the perfect material for you. (Make sure it’s duct tape, not the gaffer tap you use).
Liquid Electrical Tape
Liquid Electrical Tape is a sealant that you stick around all electrical connections on your drone. The tape is entirely waterproof. It also protects against corrosion and should be applied around sensitive areas of your drone, including the battery.
If you want to be extra cautious, use liquid electrical tape before applying regular electrical tape or heat shrink tubing to protect your drone’s water-sensitive parts further.
Plastic bag and Zip
To waterproof your drone for underwater activities, you can refer to the following method:
Put your drone in a plastic bag.
Secure the plastic bag to your drone with a lanyard. Make sure you clear a small belt around the propellers so that the plastic has enough room to fly freely without getting caught in them.
You’ll also want to leave enough slack in the back of the bag to fit the power cable and battery charger, which will lead us to the next step.
Punch a hole in the side of the plastic bag and thread one end of the power cable through it. Then, wrap the tape around the area where it goes into the bag, covering any exposed areas. It’s just sealing an opening so water can’t enter your drone lover’s makeshift raincoat.
Newer drones are designed to be waterproof
Using Drones with waterproof function
Suppose you know you’ll fly over rainy terrain or extreme weather conditions where rain is more likely on the horizon. In that case, investing in propellers explicitly built for indoor use in wet weather is a good idea.
An example is DJI’s “Waterproof Carbon Fiber Propeller” series, designed to repel water to prevent it from malfunctioning or being damaged by moisture build-up as you fly over rough terrain or encounter Heavy rain mid-flight.
Conclusion
Depending on the activity you’re doing with your drones, such as aerial photography or video, consider keeping things like the camera lens safe from raindrops. Hopefully, the above valuable tips can help you waterproof your drone.
