Your hatred of the rain as a drone pilot reminds you of being a petulant baby desirous to exit and play, however stormy days hindered your enjoyable.
Each time you see a misty day within the forecast, you forego flying, however is it at all times crucial?
Can you are taking the DJI Mini 2 SE for a flight within the rain? You’ll be able to fly the DJI Mini 2 SE within the rain with no ensures it’s going to come out scot-free. DJI states that the Mini 2 SE isn’t waterproof and shouldn’t be flown even in a light-weight drizzle.
Be sure you take a look at the knowledge on this submit earlier than you intend your subsequent drone flight. It simply might protect your pricy DJI drone!
High Drone Programs
Is the DJI Mini 2 SE waterproof?
DJI states upfront on its FAQ web page that the Mini 2 SE isn’t waterproof.
Right here is the total FAQ reply: “No. Keep away from contact with water throughout use because it might result in harm of the system.
If it rains throughout flight, please return and land as quickly as potential, and wait till the plane is totally dry inside earlier than utilizing it once more.”
» MORE: Can I Fly My DJI Drone within the Rain?
Are you able to fly the DJI Mini 2 SE in mild rain?
Regardless of DJI’s warnings, not all pilots hear. Generally, it’s a state of affairs of getting caught within the rain unawares and questioning easy methods to deal with this predicament.
Different pilots can’t assist however marvel what sort of footage high quality they’d get by flying a drone just like the Mini 2 SE within the rain.
Bearing that in thoughts, will a light-weight drizzle harm this drone?
Doubtlessly! The Mini 2 SE isn’t any completely different than every other drone in that regard.
There are too many hazards when utilizing a drone in mild rain. For one, the misty, foggy climate will scale back your visibility, making drone piloting tougher.
Is the Mini 2 SE the most costly drone within the DJI household? Not even shut! It’s not even the most costly drone within the Mini household, however that’s additionally as a result of it’s removed from the most recent. It prices about $400.
Which may not be a lot cash to spend on a drone, however it’s all relative.
I don’t find out about you, however I don’t wish to throw away $400 by crashing my drone in an avoidable state of affairs like flying in a drizzle.
» MORE: Can You Fly a Drone in Mild Rain?
Okay, let’s say you get a spotter to take care of drone visibility. There are nonetheless extra points afoot when working the Mini 2 SE within the rain.
For example, these high-quality photographs or movies you anticipated capturing? They probably received’t occur.
The lenses and sensors of the Mini 2 SE aren’t waterproof, so that they’ll get water droplets on them, decreasing your navigability and picture and video high quality.
The most important bummer of all is the harm that rain could cause to a drone. The venting holes all through permit water proper into the Mini 2 SE.
When moisture reaches {the electrical} parts, they will short-circuit and fail.
Your drone can crash by the sky into the rain-soaked floor (or a physique of water; it relies on the place you’re flying).
It might nearly actually be a goner in that situation.
Even in the event you handle to deliver your drone to a comparatively protected touchdown, rainwater within the electrical parts can result in everlasting breakage.
You’d need to pay for alternative components or presumably purchase a brand new drone.
At that time, you would possibly as effectively think about an improve to the Mini 3 or Mini 3 Professional.
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional vs. Holy Stone HS720E (Right here’s My Selection)
Can the DJI Mini 2 SE fly in heavy rain?
As I’m positive you might guess, in the event you shouldn’t fly the Mini 2 SE in mild rain (like a drizzle), it’s not a a lot smarter thought in heavy rain.
In fact, pilots have accomplished it, generally by accident and different occasions deliberately. Right here’s a video exhibiting the latter.
This pilot appeared curious whether or not flying the Mini 2 SE in heavy climate may very well be accomplished. The drone survived, a minimum of in that it didn’t short-circuit, fall, or fail through the flight.
Nevertheless, who is aware of how effectively the drone fared afterward? There’s no video exhibiting that.
So let’s discuss additional concerning the dangers of flying your Mini 2 SE in heavy rain so you already know higher than to aim it.
» MORE: Can DJI Avata Fly within the Rain? (Defined)
Worse visibility than traditional
In case you’ve taken your Mini 2 SE out for a couple of spins on a drizzly day and had a tough time seeing, think about how a lot worse it is going to be with pelting rain.
You’ll battle to see a number of ft in entrance of you, which isn’t conducive to flying a drone.
You’re placing the Mini 2 SE in peril and risking the well being of anybody else round you. You additionally enhance your probabilities of inflicting property harm.
» MORE: How Does Climate Have an effect on Drones? (Defined for Newcomers)
Larger winds
A drizzle doesn’t at all times include blustery winds, however a storm usually does. The Mini 2 SE is a light-weight, like the remainder of the drones within the Mini household.
In case you want the refresher, it weighs below 249 grams with none extra payload.
Its wind resistance of 10.7 m/s is first rate, however even Degree 5 wind resistance received’t assist this drone a lot in critical climate.
» MORE: DJI Mini 2 SE and Climate (Defined for Newcomers)
Higher threat of water harm
Heavier, quicker rainfall presents extra alternatives for moisture to enter the interior parts of the Mini 2 SE, damaging or completely breaking it.
Even when your drone survives one rainstorm, tempting destiny and doing it once more isn’t clever. The harm will meet up with your Mini 2 SE ultimately!
» MORE: Can You Fly a Drone within the Rain? (Defined for Newcomers)
Precautions to take when flying a drone in moist climate
Nevertheless, generally you could fly in moist climate, particularly commercially.
You should be ready for the precipitation. Listed here are some precautions so as to add to your pre-flight guidelines.
- Maintain it quick: You would short-circuit your drone throughout the first 30 seconds of flying it within the rain. It’s unlikely, however it will possibly occur. Preserving the drone from harm normally means shielding it from dangerous climate, so spend as little time on this operation as you possibly can. Get the footage you want, or do the job required and get out.
- Think about using auxiliary lights: Wet days are normally darkish, so you need to take into consideration including lights to your Mini 2 SE to make sure safer flights. Needless to say equipment can drive the payload over the 249-gram threshold. You’d need to register your drone with the FAA earlier than flying it.
- Fly short-range: In the present day isn’t the day to push the Mini 2 SE to its limits. Maintain it near you so you possibly can monitor it in flight.
- Don’t go quick: On that very same notice, keep a constant pace, however don’t zip round, reaching near the Mini 2 SE’s pace limits. That mentioned, don’t fly as gradual as a turtle, as that permits extra rainwater to enter the drone.
- Skip flights over the water: A flight over a placid lake or rolling stream is nice on a transparent day, however within the rain? I wouldn’t suggest it. In case your drone short-circuits and falls, you don’t need it touchdown in a physique of water. Will probably be toast.
- Take out the battery: When you’ve landed, you could proceed your precautionary measures to make sure your Mini 2 SE lives to fly one other day. Take away its batteries from the compartment, drying them on a towel and permitting them to sit down and dry out the remainder of the best way. Please flip your drone off earlier than you are taking out the batteries to reduce the danger {of electrical} shock.
- Let the drone dry: Use a towel to sop up extra water on the drone’s physique, however don’t attempt to attain inside the interior parts. You would trigger harm the place there was none earlier than or worsen what was solely a minor problem. Give the drone a minimum of a day to sit down out in a room-temperature atmosphere and dry out.
- By no means use heating strategies like a hair dryer/blow dryer or radiator to hurry up the method. You should use your drone once more if you’re assured it’s utterly dry.
» MORE: Flying a Drone in Sizzling Climate (Issues You Ought to Know)
Are you able to waterproof the DJI Mini 2 SE?
You should use conventional waterproofing strategies, resembling a water-proof pores and skin or conformal coating on the Mini 2 SE, however do I essentially suggest it? No.
These strategies might void your DJI guarantee, leaving you by yourself in case your drone breaks from future flights within the rain.
Moreover, you could waterproof a drone fastidiously, as in the event you block any vents or openings, it will possibly overheat the following time you fly.
You’re higher off utilizing your drone in clear climate. Solely think about waterproofing if it’s a must to fly your Mini 2 SE within the rain typically.
» MORE: How Does Climate Have an effect on the DJI Mini 2? (With 30 Suggestions)
Can its controller face up to rain?
The Mini 2 SE makes use of the DJI RC-N1, a normal controller. Just like the DJI drone itself, the RC-N1 isn’t waterproof or water resistant.
You shouldn’t get it moist in the event you might help it, because the battery doesn’t come out practically as simply because the Mini 2 SE’s battery.
You won’t be capable to take the battery out in any respect, making it harmful to dry the controller.
