Reverse cameras are designed to offer drivers an extra option when reversing their vehicle. These cameras are also known as backup cameras. They are attached to the exterior of the car and provide an image to video screens inside the car. This is a great safety measure for drivers. But there are instances where moisture can get in between the camera and display screen.
The moisture will eventually dry out on its own if left alone, or it can be removed by wiping it with a towel or cloth. If the camera lens is still wet after cleaning the screen, then the moisture is likely found inside the camera. In this case, you need to remove that moisture as soon as possible. In this blog post, we will show you how to remove moisture from the reverse camera. So, let’s get it.
What is Moisture and How Does It Affect the Reverse Camera?
According to Wikipedia, moisture is the presence of a liquid, especially water, often in trace amounts. Small amounts of water may be found, for example, in the air (humidity), in foods, and in some commercial products.
Moisture also refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air. The moisture can also be on the lens and it makes the camera’s lens foggy. Let’s take a look at this picture:
You can see the foggy camera or moisture on the lens. This is the moisture that is slowing down the operation of the camera. Also, it makes the camera’s viewfinder impossible to see anything in front of the camera.
Moisture usually gets on the camera by dripping from the weather conditions or the water that is on the ground. Similarly, reverse cameras easily get moisture from rain, fog, snow, and dew as they are usually installed outside the car.
Now the question is, what are the best ways to remove that moisture and how to protect the camera from it? You will get the answer in the remaining parts of this article.
How to Remove Moisture from Reverse Camera?
Your reverse camera can be foggy and covered with moisture because it’s constantly exposed to the weather. It can happen for many reasons: maybe you left your car in the rain or you had a snowstorm and your car slipped on the wet pavement and hit your camera.
It doesn’t matter how you got the moisture onto your camera, the first thing is to remove it. Anyway, if your camera’s lens gets moisture then you should remove it as soon as possible.
Fortunately, you don’t need much in order to dry out your camera, you just need air. You can do this by following a few steps. So, let’s get started
Check the Lens for External Faults
If the lens is covered in moisture and dust, you should first check if the lens is the cause of the problem or it is just an accident. If the lens seems to be too wet, you should immediately take it off and leave it dry. Do not wait, because the longer you leave it, the stronger the moisture becomes.
Wipe the glass surface of the lens with a dry and soft cloth. If the lens is dusty and covered, then you must first remove the dust particles. To do this, you need to slightly loosen the dust particles by spraying glass cleaner. Then carefully remove them using a soft brush or cotton swabs.
To remove the remaining dust particles, you should let the camera stay in a dry and ventilated environment. Finally, spray an anti-moisture layer, such as Rain-X to keep it safe from getting dirty again.
Check for Interior Condensation
The reverse camera lens has a large opening so that it can be cleaned in a matter of seconds. If you find condensation on the inside of the camera lens, then you should clean it immediately and dry it off completely.
Here is how to clean the reverse camera’s lens:
Method 1
At first, remove the camera from the car. Be careful while doing this, don’t break any part. Now, clean the whole camera with a soft and dry cloth. After that, you need to submerge the camera into some dry substance that encourages dryness and sucks up moisture.
You may get several such substances but uncooked rice will be the best option. It works magically in sucking moisture. So, submerge the camera into uncooked rice and wait until it’s dry completely.
Method 2
If you’re in a hurry or shortage of time you can do the same thing by using a blow dryer or hairdryer. In this method you need to do this carefully otherwise the hot air can damage the plastic parts of the camera.
Now, using a blow dryer, heat the camera for 2-3 minutes at a medium setting. This will help to dry the lens and remove any additional moisture.
Check the Cables and Electric Connections
Your camera can get moisture due to faulty electric connections. Sometimes it may be happened due to overvoltage or any other power issues like a blown fuse. So, you need to be sure whether the electric connections are ok or not.
Here is how to check the electric connections:
Turn on the vehicle and switch on the reverse camera display. If the display doesn’t turn on then we can say that the display is faulty. In this case, the display needs further treatment. But if the display turns on and loads but the camera doesn’t show any image then the display is ok and the problem is supposed to be in the power connections or camera itself.
In this case, at first check the cable connections of the display and the camera. To be sure about the connections diagram, you may read the manual. Don’t forget to check your car’s fuse box if there is any blown fuse. If any, replace it with a new one.
Now, if you find everything ok including electric connections, camera cables, fuse, and display then the camera is faulty. So, you need to take further steps.
Replace the Faulty Camera
If none of the above solutions work then you need to repair the camera by experts or replace it with a new one. You can always buy backup cameras from local or online markets. Don’t forget to claim the warranty if your camera is under warranty period.
What is the Best Reverse Camera?
There are many benefits to owning a reverse or backup camera. The most important part of using a reverse camera is to check what’s behind you while you are backing up. The HD eRapta ERT01 Universal Backup Camera is an excellent product that you can purchase to keep drivers safe on the road.
This is a high-definition backup camera that can be installed on the back of any vehicle. This device has a durable construction, high-resolution, and comes with 6 Glass Lens. It is easy to install and it comes with everything needed to get started. You can set up the device in less than five minutes.
The camera has a 149° wide view angle and 720P HD video resolution. It’s a weatherproof camera that is perfect for all seasons. This unit features true night vision that gives a crystal clear view at night. Furthermore, it has 8 LED lights so you will get a colorful image even in the dark.
Overall, this is one of the best backup cameras right now. So, it would be a great addition to your car or a perfect replacement for your previous camera.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to dry a reverse camera?
The length of time it takes to dry a reverse camera will depend on the type of camera, the location where it is being dried, and the degree to which it was wet. To get the most from your backup camera, it is important to dry it quickly.
Why does my reverse camera fog up?
Reverse cameras are a great addition to any car. It is a common occurrence that your camera might fog up or moisture might build up around the lens of the camera. This is a very common problem, and there are a variety of reasons why this can happen.
This can be caused by the cold weather, being close to water, being in an extremely humid climate, or just being in an area with high humidity. In most instances, if your vehicle’s outside temperature is cold, then it will cause condensation.
How to protect my reverse camera from moisture?
You can do this by using a clear plastic windshield cover over the lens. If you don’t want to use a plastic windshield cover, using a windshield cleaner that has an anti-fog agent can also help keep your camera clear.
Conclusion
The amount of moisture that can accumulate in a camera lens is not only inconvenient, but it can lead to serious consequences such as water drops refracting the light and impairing image quality. Fortunately, there are plenty of methods you can use to remove moisture from a camera lens.
In this article, we have discussed several methods of removing moisture from reverse cameras. Now, we are at the end of this article. Hopefully, it was helpful for you and you can utilize the knowledge when necessary. Feel free to visit our website to know many important things about cameras. Thanks for visiting us!