Longtime user of Wyze cams for both indoor and outdoor surveillance. Recently added an OG camera outdoors with the outdoor power adaptor and ran into a problem that I’ve never had before.
The camera kept powering down and after investigating, I discovered that the supposedly watertight connector at the microUSB junction between the camera and the power supply had leaked. Rainwater got in and both sides of the connector (make and female) were corroded. The camera had been operating for only two months and Wyze is replacing it under warranty.
I’m wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem and what you’ve done to make the connection between the camera and power supply cord truly watertight.
Welcome to the Wyze User Community Forum @dadubow!
I try to keep all connection points to outdoor cams inside the soffit or inside a junction box. That is difficult when cams have such a shirt pigtail though. I have found that non-adhesive self-fusing Silicone Sealant Tape works wonders for sealing up connections. They do make it in white too.
The recommended procedure for outdoor coax is to first wrap the connection with high quality electrical tape (I use 3M 88 which is the high temperature version of the 3M Super 33+ tape) with the adhesive out, not in, overlapping every 1/2 inch. Putting the electrical tape on with the adhesive out makes the tape easier to remove and doesn’t leave any residue. Then wrap the connection again with the 88 tape with the adhesive side in (toward the cable). Cut the tape, don’t pull it until the tape breaks.
Then wrap the connection with coax seal tape or equivalent.
The coax seal tape is messy. If you use just the seal tape and have to disconnect the connection later, you will be spending a lot of time removing the gooey seal tape. If you use 3M 88 electrical tape first, you can easily remove the coax seal along with the electrical tape.
I use this on the coax for my outdoor scanner antenna connections and it should work great for your application.
A little dab of Silicone brake paste, ( dielectric grease ) PTFE silicone grease, food grade silicone grease - all are the same stuff with different price / packaging. On the actual metal connector and then the outside can be either silicone sealant or “monkey stuff” that grey ( or white ) electricians putty.
As a retired mechanic, I found when a connector is corroded, cleaning it may not be a permanent solution. Corrosion is like cancer. It grows and seeps into places that can’t be cleaned. You might get lucky flooding both connector halves withCRC QD Electronic Cleaner
The corrosion eats the metal and if the connection was powered, the heat from the poor connection may have decreased the tension inside the connector.
Most of the time, I replaced both connectors for a permanent repair after removing whatever caused the corrosion.
I agree, I’m also a retired mechanic. This is a design flaw and they shouldn’t be claiming these cameras are weatherproof. My outdoor cam just stopped working and I pulled the usb and couldn’t believe the green corrosion on both the usb cable and connection slot on the camera.
I just replaced my third "waterproof " connection between the Wyze Outdoor and the solar panel. It always is corrods between the camera and the last connector. I’m in the process of replacing the third camera too, as it corrods, it fries the camera’s charging boards. Ive seen 2 with green corrosion.
Fill the plug / connectors with dielectric grease before plugging in. If there is corrosion already Deoxit spray first and let dry, then dielectric. superlube 41160 is a good / inexpensive choice for everything needing a silicone paste. I use it on everything electrical outdoor. Cameras, camper, extension cords, plugs, low voltage, automotive , power sports, equipment - there is no downside to using it.
