Condensation
This is the humid air inside a sealed enclosure turning into water droplets on the internal surfaces when the temperature falls. IP protection prevents water ingress from outside but does not solve the moisture trapped inside; this is most often the real mechanism that leads to corrosion and leakage current on the board.
The air inside an enclosure that heats up during the day expands, and contracts as it cools at night. Humid air is drawn in through every entry that is not fully sealed; when the temperature falls below the dew point, this moisture condenses on the board, connectors and relays. Because the process repeats every day, moisture accumulates.
- Symptom: a receiver that does not work in the morning hours and recovers as the day warms up; white-green salt marks on the board; rust on the terminals.
- Precaution: if possible, position the receiver close to a surface that warms up, and avoid mounting the enclosure where the morning-evening cycle is harshest (e.g. a metal panel exposed to the sun).
- Desiccant: a small moisture-absorbing sachet in a closed enclosure is a temporary solution; its effect ends when it is saturated, and it must be replaced at maintenance.
- Cover discipline: do not open the cover in rainy and humid weather; every time you open it you fill the internal volume with that day's humidity.
The outdoor receiver of the ST200 and SF200 sets has a sealed enclosure; condensation is a subject that must be monitored in these enclosures independently of the IP code.
The context in which this term is used: Wireless Crane Remote Control Selection Guide