Signs of camera corrosion and how to fix it

NGÀY ĐĂNG 17/09/2025

Admin

Installing a camera near the sea but the device quickly rusts, has a blurry image, or loses signal? Have you chosen the right type of camera for this environment?

Why are cameras susceptible to corrosion in coastal areas?

The coastal environment is always a big challenge for outdoor electronic devices, especially surveillance camera systems. Here, salt vapor in the air often adheres to the camera surface, combined with high humidity all year round, creating ideal conditions for rapid oxidation and metal corrosion. Not only that, heavy rain and strong winds carry seawater and tiny salt particles that easily penetrate weak points on the body, causing leaks, rust, and damage to internal components.

In addition, day and night temperature fluctuations in coastal areas cause the camera to expand and contract continuously, cracking the protective paint layer or loosening the rubber gasket - opening the way for moisture and salt to penetrate. If the device is not equipped with a corrosion-resistant housing that meets NEMA 4X, IP66, IP67 standards or special coating materials, damage after a short period of time is inevitable. Therefore, to ensure long-term stable performance, using a specialized corrosion-resistant camera is an essential choice in areas such as seaports, coastal factories or resorts near the sea.

5 signs that the camera is corroding

The camera's outer shell changes color or peels

One of the most noticeable signs when the camera begins to corrode is the outer shell changing color, peeling or appearing dark stains. In coastal areas, salt vapor and high humidity not only affect the metal structure but also directly affect the protective paint layer on the outside. Initially, you can see the shell losing its shine, then peeling off in patches, revealing the oxidized metal layer underneath.

If not promptly repaired, the corrosion process will spread, causing the camera to lose its aesthetic value, reduce its internal protection, and increase the risk of component damage due to water and salt seepage. This is the reason why outdoor cameras installed on coastal areas need to be equipped with special anti-corrosion coatings, NEMA 4X standard housings, or high-quality anti-oxidation materials such as powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel, etc.

Screws, bases, and joints are rusted

In coastal environments, the camera's screws, bases, and joints are the first places to corrode and rust. Due to frequent direct contact with salt vapor, sea breezes carrying tiny salt particles, and high humidity, small metal parts - if not treated against corrosion or made from substandard materials - will quickly turn rusty brown, black, or even rusty.

When the connection points are rusted, it not only affects the aesthetics and sturdiness of the device, but also threatens the safety of the installation: the camera can become loose and fall when there is strong wind or strong vibration. In addition, widespread rust can also affect the internal circuit if rainwater seeps through these joints.

The camera lens is cloudy, has water stains inside

A worrying sign that the camera is being affected by the coastal environment is the lens cover glass is cloudy, has water stains or condensation inside. This phenomenon occurs when the outer protective layer is no longer completely sealed, allowing moisture and salt vapor to penetrate through gaps, aging rubber gaskets, or damage from long-term corrosion of joints.

Condensation inside reduces image quality, causing the captured image to be blurry, blurred or unclear in low light conditions, especially at night when the camera uses infrared. More seriously, high humidity accumulated inside for a long time will oxidize electronic circuit boards, causing damage to sensors, short circuits or reducing the life of the device.

Camera works intermittently, loses signal

One of the serious consequences of using substandard cameras in coastal areas is that the camera operates unstable, the image is jerky, intermittent or completely loses signal. This is the result of corrosion of electrodes, circuit boards and internal contact points, when salt vapor and humidity penetrate the body of the camera through gaps, vents or unsealed installation locations.

Salt vapor in the air is a conductive agent, when it penetrates inside it will create a slight short circuit, interrupting signal transmission or causing interference. Over time, electronic components are oxidized, causing the camera to be unable to connect to the central system or display images full of errors, discoloration, and flickering.

Blurry, grainy or color-shifting images

When the camera image appears blurry, unsharp, grainy or color-shifting, this is an early sign that the device has been affected by corrosive elements or moisture intrusion from the outside environment.

In coastal areas, salt vapor and high humidity can seep through small gaps in the camera housing, fogging the protective glass, staining the lens or causing condensation inside the lens. In addition, corrosion of the contact points or image signal processing circuit boards can also cause color noise, tone distortion or light bleed.

Remedy

To effectively deal with signs of corrosion such as peeling housings, rusty components, cloudy lenses, intermittent signals or noisy images - choosing the right camera from the start is key. Prioritize camera lines specialized for coastal environments, with NEMA 4X corrosion-resistant housings, water and dust resistance (IP66/IP67) and impact resistance (IK10). At the same time, it is recommended to combine stainless accessories, anti-oxidation coatings, water-tight signal protection boxes and specialized protective housings if needed.

Refer to the article: Criteria for choosing cameras for marine environments

In addition, to ensure the device operates stably for a long time, periodic maintenance, checking the tightness of the joints, cleaning the camera lens, and promptly replacing damaged components are indispensable.

Recommended i-PRO anti-corrosion camera

WV-S15500-V3LK

• 5MP AI bullet camera, anti-corrosion coated metal housing.
• IP66, IK10, FIPS 140-2 level 3, NEMA 4X protection standards.
• Color night vision and AI human/vehicle recognition.
• Suitable for seaports, factories near the sea, outdoor high-voltage poles.

WV-S15700-V2L

• 4K AI dome camera, anti-corrosion coated metal body.
• High resistance to temperature, humidity and salt vapor.
• Excellent environmental and impact protection standards.
• Ideal for industrial park monitoring, coastal radar.

WV-S25500-V3L

• 5MP outdoor dome camera with integrated AI.
• Supports anti-corrosion, can be combined with housing for especially harsh environments.
• Wide-angle observation, high light sensitivity, suitable for high-altitude installation areas, lamp posts.

WV-S85402-V2L (Multisensor AI)

• Multi-sensor camera (4 sensors x 4K), 360° coverage.
• Waterproof, dustproof, stable operation in sea wind and heavy rain conditions.
• Combined with AI to analyze behavior, classify objects.

Aero PTZ Camera – WV-SUD638

• 360° rotating PTZ design, with automatic windshield wipers and heating.
• Withstands winds up to 60 m/s when operating and 80 m/s when not operating.
• NEMA 4X standard, ideal for ships, coastal radars, and stormy areas.

Contact for advice

With more than 15 years of experience in the field of distributing security solutions, surveillance and low-voltage electrical systems, KPS is proud to be an i-PRO distributor. When choosing KPS, you not only receive genuine products, but also enjoy in-depth technical support services, comprehensive solution consulting, as well as clear and transparent after-sales policies.

KPS is committed to accompanying construction units, contractors and investors throughout the project life cycle - from consulting, equipment demo, technical support to warranty and maintenance after installation. We understand that, for projects with high requirements for durability, stability and long-term operation such as at seaports, factories, industrial parks, choosing the right equipment and the right partner is the deciding factor.