Corrosion (Salty and Coastal Environments)
Salty moisture forming a conductive and corrosive film on metal surfaces that eats away connector pins, relay contacts and terminals. On port and coastal cranes the maintenance interval is therefore markedly shorter than for indoor applications.
Salt is hygroscopic: it draws moisture from the air and sets up a thin electrolyte layer on the surface. This layer behaves like a galvanic cell at every point where different metals touch; if the plating is weak, the copper and steel underneath oxidise rapidly.
- Critical points: charging connector pins, the antenna connection, receiver terminal screws, the metal parts of cable entries.
- Symptom: charging sometimes starting and sometimes not, green-white powder at the terminal, heating and voltage drop caused by rising contact resistance.
- Prevention: on coastal sites, carry out visual inspection and terminal torque checks more often; keep connector pins dry and clean and use a suitable contact protectant; if the remote control has been exposed to sea water, rinse it with fresh water and dry it.
An outdoor type IP67 receiver protects the inside of the enclosure, but corrosion progresses most at the contact points outside the enclosure; the protection class does not remove this risk.
The context in which this term is used: Wireless Crane Remote Control Selection Guide