Dealing with Weather Damage to Your Tend Outdoor Camera
Tend outdoor cameras are designed to be weather-resistant, but they are not indestructible. Severe conditions like driving rain, heavy snow, extreme heat, or hail can sometimes cause damage, leading to malfunctions or complete failure. This guide will help you assess potential weather damage to your Tend camera and walk you through the necessary troubleshooting steps.
## Safety First: Disconnect Power
Before you begin any inspection or troubleshooting, your first and most important step is to disconnect the camera from its power source. Handling a potentially water-damaged electronic device while it is connected to electricity is extremely dangerous. Unplug the power adapter from the mains socket before you touch the camera.
## Step 1: Assess the Camera for Physical Damage
Bring the camera to a dry, well-lit area and carefully inspect it for visible signs of weather damage.
- Check the Housing: Look for any cracks, splits, or holes in the plastic casing. Hail or flying debris during a storm can cause impact damage that compromises the camera's weatherproof seal.
- Inspect the Lens Cover: Check the clear lens cover for cracks. Look closely for any signs of moisture, condensation, or fogging on the inside of the lens. This is a clear indicator that water has breached the internal housing.
- Examine Seals and Gaskets: Look at the rubber or silicone seals around the seams of the camera, especially where the mounting bracket connects or where any access panels are. Ensure they are not cracked, brittle, or out of place.
- Inspect Cables and Connectors: Carefully check the entire length of the power cable for any cuts, frays, or signs of corrosion on the metal connectors. The connection point is a common vulnerability for water ingress.
## Step 2: The Drying-Out Process
If you suspect water has entered the camera, but there is no major physical damage, you may be able to salvage it by drying it out thoroughly.
- Do NOT apply heat: Never use a hairdryer, oven, or microwave to dry the camera. This can warp the plastic and permanently damage the sensitive internal electronics.
- Use a Desiccant: The best method is to place the camera in a sealed, airtight container filled with a desiccant like silica gel packets (the kind found in new shoe boxes or electronics packaging) or uncooked rice.
- Be Patient: Leave the camera in the container for at least 48-72 hours. This gives the desiccant enough time to absorb as much moisture as possible from the internal components.
## Step 3: Attempt to Power On and Troubleshoot
After the drying period, you can attempt to power the camera back on.
- Test the Power Adapter: Before plugging it into the camera, you can test the power adapter if you have a multimeter to ensure it's providing the correct voltage. Sometimes, only the adapter is damaged, not the camera itself.
- Connect and Observe: Plug the camera back in and observe its behaviour. Check if the status LED lights up. Try to connect to it using the Tend Secure app.
- Check Functionality: If it connects, test all its functions:
- Is the video image clear, or is it blurry/distorted?
- Does the motion detection still work?
- Can it record clips successfully?
If the camera powers on but the image is foggy, there is likely still moisture inside the lens assembly which may or may not dissipate over time. If it fails to power on at all, the internal circuitry has likely been shorted and permanently damaged.
## Prevention: Protecting Your Next Camera
If you need to replace a weather-damaged camera, take steps to better protect the new one.
- Strategic Placement: Install the camera in a more sheltered location if possible, such as under the eaves of the roof, a porch ceiling, or an awning. This protects it from the worst of direct rainfall and sunlight.
- Drip Loop: When running the power cable, create a "drip loop" by allowing the cable to dip down before it goes up to the power outlet. This makes water droplets drip off the bottom of the loop instead of running along the cable into the socket.
- Seal Connections: Use weatherproof electrical tape or a small amount of silicone sealant around the power connection point to provide an extra barrier against moisture.