Do Ring cameras actually hold up well to the abuse from weather and sunlight? Yes and no. In general, they really do a great job of holding in there when it comes to rain, sleet, snow, and other forms of abuse from mother nature. But this isn’t always the case. Especially, when it comes to sunlight and heat.
When it comes to weather, there have been reports of a foggy lens or moisture build-up behind the glass. In most cases, this resolves itself over time, or Ring (and others) will generally tell you the best you can do is remove it from the wall and let it sit in some rice or something to absorb that moisture.
Thankfully, this doesn’t happen that often as many users can go years without ever experiencing this (or at least ever noticing that it ever happened in the first place). But when it comes to the sun and heat, this isn’t always the case.
These cameras don’t always do so well when they are battered by the sun. Regardless of if they are in direct sunlight or simply installed in a really hot location (Arizona, Nevada, etc). The enclosure can sometimes discolor and the lens cover may experience clouding over time. When this happens, there isn’t much you can do if it runs out of warranty.
Except, you can reduce the effect some in order to squeeze as much life out of the camera as possible. Preventing you from having to buy a new one when it works perfectly fine beyond that one little disadvantage.
So how do you do it? Simply grab some scratch remover, like Meguiar’s PlastX. Apply some of that like you would an old headlight and rub it into the lens cover. Wash it off gently with water and a non-abrasive cleaner like dish soap, making sure to use a soft cloth.
If this doesn’t do the trick, you can try sanding it. Although for this, you want to make sure you know what you are doing or have someone else do it that does (if not). Sandpaper will help level the plastic down from scratches and help smooth away the layer of cloudiness that has formed over time.
Start with an 800-grit paper and work your way up to 2,000 or so. Be gentle and use a circular motion. It can sometimes help to soak the sandpaper before you use it so dust and other elements do not get stuck into the paper as you are using it. When finished, touch it up with some polish and you should be good to go.
In many cases, most people will likely get away with just using the scratch remover. The sandpaper approach is only for the more extreme cases. And again, for those who know what they are doing so that you do not cause any additional damage to the lens cover.
There are stories out there where users take it even further by disassembling the camera to get to the inside portion of the cover and maybe even the lens itself if they find it isn’t just the cover. But this should be taken very carefully as things might not be so weathertight when re-assembled and placed back into operation. These are extreme cases and if it comes to this, you may be better off just getting a new camera.
Hopefully, if you are reading this, you find this information helpful. I know it has helped a lot of users extend the life of their cameras a little further. At least, it has in my own circle. Instead of having to buy a new camera every 3-5 years, just give the cover or yours a little love and attention from time to time to make sure that cloudiness isn’t forming. And you should get another number of years out of it.
If you did find this helpful, feel free to share your experiences below in the comments. Or if you have come across your own strategies that have helped you squeeze some additional life into your cameras.
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IT WORKED THANKS