How to Prevent Fog in an Enclosed Camera Outdoors

Some areas have greater moisture concerns than others.

Anytime you have an enclosed outdoor camera, humidity becomes a concern. In an enclosed space, humidity can cause fog or condensation to form on the lens of the camera and on the automated sensor, causing low-quality photographs, false motion sensor positives or failure of the motion sensor to activate. If condensation occurs inside the body of your camera, it can even cause shorts and permanent damage to internal components. Fortunately, moisture can be minimized using a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Caulking
• 1/8-inch foam weatherstripping
• 3 to 4 packets of silica gel desiccant

Instructions

1. Caulk along the seams of your camera enclosure using a latex or silicone caulk rated for outdoor use.

2. Glue a 1/8-inch strip of foam weatherstripping to the lip of the enclosure's lid.

3. Drop three or four packets of silica gel desiccant into the camera enclosure. Replace the packets monthly or weekly if you are deploying the camera in a high-moisture environment.

Tips & Warnings

• Silica gel can be reused by baking it in an oven heated to 200 degrees F for five to 10 minutes.

References

• Crow Systems: Tips For Better Automated Photography
• Camera Care and Feeding
• Hag's House: Build Your Own Homemade Trail Camera