DJI Drones Waterproof: Versatility & Durability

One of the top manufacturers of drones, DJI offers a variety of models for various uses and price points. Are DJI drones waterproof, though? Can you fly them in the snow, rain, or next to water? We will address these concerns and offer you some advice on how to guard against water damage to your DJI drone in this comprehensive tutorial.

Quick Summary

• Although some types of DJI drones are water-resistant, they are not waterproof.
• Water resistance is a feature of drones like the DJI Mavic Pro, DJI Spark, and DJI M30 Enterprise.
• Drones that have experienced water damage may have developed corrosion, oxidation, mold, or swelling.
• Before taking off, check the weather prediction to protect your DJI drone.
• Land on dry areas and steer clear of flying over bodies of water.
• When not in use, keep your drone in a cool, dry area.
• Turn off your drone, take the batteries out, and dry it with a soft cloth if it gets damp.
• In a jar containing rice or silica gel packets to absorb moisture, keep the drone and batteries.
• Before you test the drone, give the drone at least 24 hours to dry completely.
• Disable the Vision Positioning System when flying near water or in a wettish environment.
• To avoid signal or battery loss, set a maximum flight distance.
• Increase speed and height progressively as you practice flying over snow or water at low altitudes.
• For safe return home, manually update the home point.
• Avoid impediments and, if possible, employ obstacle avoidance sensors.
• For stable and comfortable flight over water or snow, use the Course Lock mode.
• Keep an eye on the wind and avoid flying in gusts more than 10 m/s (22 mph).
• Always adhere to the guidelines and recommendations provided by the manufacturer for your individual DJI drone model.

What Does It Mean for a Drone to Be Waterproof?

Let’s first define what it means for a drone to be waterproof before delving into the specifics of DJI drones’ waterproofness. The IP (Ingress Protection) rating assigned by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) designates the degree of water ingress protection for electronic equipment.

The IP rating is two digits long; the first one represents protection from solids like dust, and the second one represents protection from liquids like water. The protection increases with the number. A gadget with an IP67 rating, for instance, is dust-tight and can resist immersion in water for 30 minutes up to 1 meter deep.

But not all water exposure is created equal. Water damage to a drone can be caused by a variety of sources, including:

• The kind of water: polluted water, salt water, or pure water
• How much water is present: splatters, jets, or submersion
• The exposure time in seconds, minutes, or hours
• The degree of water’s temperature—cold, warm, or hot
• Low, medium, or high: the pressure of the water

A drone may not be able to withstand any form of water exposure, even if it has a high IP certification. Prior to flying your drone close to water or in wet or icy weather, it’s crucial to review the manufacturer’s specifications and instructions.

Are DJI Drones Waterproof?

No, DJI drones are not waterproof as of yet. There are a few DJI drone models that can withstand water, but the most of these are not intended for the typical drone enthusiast.

Although some versions of DJI drones are water-resistant, it is crucial to realize that they are not waterproof. To prevent water damage, care should always be made to keep your drone out of the rain, snow, and other wet environments. To avoid harming its electronic components, it is critical to dry your drone as soon as it comes into contact with water.

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Which DJI Drones Are Water-Resistant?

Some DJI drones are water-resistant even though none of them are waterproof. The DJI Mavic Pro and DJI Spark, for instance, have an IP43 waterproof classification. This implies that while they can resist occasional water splashes, direct contact with water or submersion are not possible. Although you can fly these drones in mild rain or close to water sources, you should avoid doing so in heavy rain or snow.

The DJI M30 Enterprise, which was unveiled in March 2022, is another water-resistant model. This drone has an IP55 waterproof rating, which means it can survive jets of water and dust coming from any angle. This drone is made for industrial use and can fly in all kinds of weather, including heavy rain, strong winds, high altitudes, and even icy and snowy conditions. The price of this drone, however, makes it unsuitable for the average buyer.

How Does Water Damage Affect DJI Drones?

Depending on the degree and type of exposure, water damage can have different effects on DJI drones. The following are a few typical outcomes of water damage:

• Corrosion: Water can cause metal components including screws, motors, wires, and connectors to corrode. Short circuits, malfunctions, and decreased performance may result from this.
• Oxidation: Electronic components such as chips, boards, and sensors can oxidize due to water. This may result in data loss, mistakes, or failures.
• Mold: On organic materials like foam pads or stickers, water can lead to the growth of mold. Health risks or offensive odors may result from this.
• Swelling: Water can cause items like batteries or plastic parts to expand. This might cause a rupture or deformity.

Additionally, water damage can nullify your warranty and exclude your drone from DJI’s repair or replacement programs. As a result, it is essential to keep your drone out of the water whenever possible and to treat it carefully if it does.

How to Protect Your DJI Drone from Water Damage?

You should always take precautions to guard against water damage even if your DJI drone is water-resistant. Here are some pointers to remember:

• Before flying your drone, check the weather forecast. Avoid flying when it is raining, snowing, or cloudy.
• Avoid flying your drone near bodies of water like lakes, rivers, oceans, or pools. Keep a safe distance and steer clear of splashes or waves if you wish to take pictures close to the ocean.
• To launch and land your drone, need a dry surface or a landing pad. Be careful not to land on wet grass or sand.
• Remove the battery and quickly turn off your drone if it becomes wet. Before using it once more, wipe out any extra water with a soft towel and allow it to thoroughly air dry.
• Keep your drone in a cool, dry location. Keep it out of damp or direct sunlight situations.

What to Do If Your DJI Drone Gets Wet?

Don’t freak out if your DJI drone gets wet. To lessen the harm and improve the likelihood of recovery, take the following actions:

• As soon as you can, shut off your drone and take out the batteries. By doing this, further harm from short circuits or overheating will be avoided.
• With a soft cloth or paper towel, remove any extra water. Avoid using a heat source, such as a hair dryer, as this can worsen the situation.
• Put your drone’s battery and parts in a jar filled with raw rice or silica gel packets. This will hasten the drying process and aid in moisture absorption.
• Until they are totally dry, keep your drone and batteries inside the container for at least 24 hours. Until the batteries are dry, avoid attempting to switch on your drone or charge them.
• Examine your drone and batteries for any indications of corrosion, oxidation, mold, or swelling once they have dried. Do not use your drone or battery if you see any of these, and get in touch with DJI for support.

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How to Fly Your DJI Drone Safely Near Water Sources or in Rainy or Snowy Conditions

It can be difficult and dangerous to fly your DJI drone close to water sources or while it is raining, snowing, or icy. The performance and stability of your drone might be impacted by water, which can also harm its electronic components.

Moreover, it may be more difficult to control your drone and get quality images when there is poor sight, a high wind, or glare. As a result, you should adhere to the following safety advice to prevent accidents and water damage

• Before flying your drone, check the weather forecast. Avoid flying when it’s snowing, raining, or foggy. Land your drone as soon as you can if any of these situations occur while it is in the air.
• Turn off your drone’s Vision Positioning System (VPS). VPS is a system that positions the drone by mapping the ground underneath. It could not be as effective over water or snow, though, since it might mistakenly identify the ground with reflections or a white surface.
• Activate your drone’s maximum flight distance setting. By doing this, you’ll be able to keep your drone from straying too far and risking signal or battery loss. In the DJI GO app, you can configure the maximum flight distance.
• Before attempting any complicated maneuvers or shots, practice flying your drone over snow or water. As you gain confidence and experience, start at low altitudes and slow speeds and progressively increase them.
• On your drone, manually update the home point. In the event of a low battery or signal failure, your drone will return to the home point. In the DJI GO app or by hitting the Return-to-Home (RTH) button on your remote controller, you can adjust the home point.
• Avoid hitting anything like electricity lines, trees, buildings, and bridges. If your drone has obstacle avoidance sensors, use them, but don’t rely only on them. Use your mobile device’s live view to always keep an eye on your drone and scan the area for any potential dangers.
• Use your drone’s intelligent flight mode, Course Lock. No matter how your drone is oriented, you may lock its forward motion in this mode. You may be able to fly over snow or water more stably and smoothly as a result.
• Keep an eye on the wind’s direction and speed. Your drone’s flying time, speed, and stability can all be impacted by wind. When returning to your starting position, always check the wind speed on your DJI GO app and fly against it. Flying should be avoided in winds greater than 10 m/s (22 mph).

Conclusion

Although some types of DJI drones are water-resistant, they are not waterproof. However, you should use caution while using your drone in wet or icy weather or when flying it close to water sources. The performance and stability of your drone might be impacted by water, which can also harm its electronic components.

Moreover, it may be more difficult to control your drone and get quality images when there is poor sight, a high wind, or glare. In order to prevent water damage and accidents, you should abide by a few safety precautions, such as checking the weather forecast, turning off the VPS, enabling the maximum flight distance, honing your skills, updating your home point, avoiding obstacles, using the Course Lock mode, and being conscious of the wind’s strength and direction.

You may increase the lifespan of your DJI drone by using these suggestions, and you can fly it without being concerned about water damage.

We sincerely hope that this post has given you a better understanding of how waterproof DJI drones are as well as how to operate them safely in wet or icy weather.