My DJI Neo ended up in water for a few seconds. Pulled out the battery and wiped it down. I’ll leave it to dry for 24 hours. Am I in trouble, or do you think it’ll be okay?
Leave it for at least 24 hours, though longer might be better. If it didn’t short out, it might still work.
Would you be comfortable taking it apart and cleaning it with Isopropyl Alcohol and a soft toothbrush?
Corin said:
Would you be comfortable taking it apart and cleaning it with Isopropyl Alcohol and a soft toothbrush?
…Only as a last resort. If I take it apart, will that void the warranty?
@Brianna
Most likely.
@Brianna
Disassembling a device doesn’t void its warranty per federal law. However, doing things like throwing it in a river would affect it.
Storm said:
@Brianna
Disassembling a device doesn’t void its warranty per federal law. However, doing things like throwing it in a river would affect it.
What you’re saying might be true, but it doesn’t really matter when it comes to warranty. Trying to take apart small electronics usually risks damaging them, which wouldn’t be covered by warranty. Also, many small electronics are glued together, which makes disassembly harder. Bottom line, you’re at the mercy of the manufacturer because trying to take legal action over this is usually not worth it.
@Talon
The point is, you’re allowed to disassemble the device. If you break it while doing that, it’s not covered, but you’re allowed to do it. The issue here is whether it works after you take it apart.
@Brianna
Water damage likely already voided the warranty.
I’ll go with both suggestions. I’m comfortable taking the case off and cleaning it out. Thanks .
Valen said:
I’ll go with both suggestions. I’m comfortable taking the case off and cleaning it out. Thanks!
Be sure to wait a long time. If there’s any water left, it could take days to dry out. Since you said ‘cheers’, I’m guessing you’re in the UK, and with the rain, maybe wait a few extra days just to be sure! (Smiles)
@Elliot
Haha! Honestly, it was such a dumb mistake. I put it in circle mode and forgot about clearance. I’m still a rookie. I won’t make that mistake again. If there’s a short, I can get it fixed easily.
@Valen
You’ll be fine. Drones are surprisingly okay with moisture. I’ve flown through clouds and fog without any issues. Just make sure to dry it thoroughly and be patient. No need to rush.
Valen said:
I’ll go with both suggestions. I’m comfortable taking the case off and cleaning it out. Thanks!
Just be careful, make sure you’re grounded (like when you build a PC) and use the right tools, and it should be fine.
Mine never worked again after a quick dunk in the pool. DJI Care fixed it for me, though.
Finlo said:
Mine never worked again after a quick dunk in the pool. DJI Care fixed it for me, though.
Did they repair it?
Finlo said:
Mine never worked again after a quick dunk in the pool. DJI Care fixed it for me, though.
Did they repair it?
I paid for DJI Care, knowing I’d crash my drone at least once. (If you haven’t crashed, you haven’t flown enough…) They just replaced it, and I even got a call to check in that it had arrived.
I hope I never need to dry out my Neo, but if I did, I’d probably put it in my filament dryer on a very low heat for 24 hours.
I used to build circuit boards and experiment with cleaning. Two main issues happen with water: 1) A short circuit can fry something. 2) Electrolysis can damage the traces on the board and other components. If there’s no power applied, cleaning with rubbing alcohol works well.
@Fay
I work in industry, and I find the biggest threat to PCAs is actually hardware engineers.