Tips For Storing Drones
Posted on: 28 May 2016
Share
Drones, whether you fly them for work or pleasure, can take up a lot of room in your home. Add on some of the necessary peripherals, such as cameras and video equipment, and it may feel like you need to dedicate an entire room to the enterprise. Fortunately, self-storage facilities provide a secure off-site location to keep your drones and their equipment. The following tips can help you store everything safely.
Tip #1: Get climate-controlled storage
The electronics in your drone and the peripheral equipment can be prone to damage from extreme heat or moisture. Opting for a climate controlled unit means the space remains cool and is less likely to become overly humid. If you live in an extremely humid environment, such as in some areas of the southern United States, you may also want to find a unit that has humidity control.
Tip #2: Check out the security
An interior storage unit is often more secure than an exterior unit since it is harder to get on the premises without the code or key for the door. These units are also often monitored by both video surveillance and onsite management or security. Units that allow you to use your own locks, either alone or in conjunction with site locks, are even better since you will be the only one with access. Drones are an investment, so you want to make sure they are protected.
Tip #3: Case everything carefully
It's best to store your drones in the boxes they came in if these boxes are strong enough. Otherwise, consider purchasing drone-specific cases. These hard-sided cases have shaped foam inserts that protect your drone from damage. You can also get large cases filled with pluck foam. Simply pluck out the foam where needed to shape it to your drone. Remove all batteries the remotes and units, and unplug any chargers, before storing. Keep the batteries stored separately in a sealed bag (in case they leak). Camera and video equipment are also best stored in cases made for photography equipment or in pluck foam cases custom fit to the equipment. Label the cases with the contents if others will be accessing the drones, such as if you are holding them for use by agents in your real estate office.
Tip #3: Manage the moisture
Even units with moisture control can still suffer some moisture issues. If you are concerned, place a silica gel packet in each case to absorb excess moisture. You should also store the cases off the ground in case of flooding, or simply to protect the drones from moisture seeping through the concrete floor. You can do this by placing the cases on a storage shelf or by stacking them on top of a pallet that is placed on the floor.
Contact a storage facility in your area to get started. Companies like All American Mini Storage may be able to help.