DJI Air 3 Battery in Saltwater… Is it still safe to use?

My Air 3 has been submerged in saltwater a few days ago, along with its battery. It’s been in contact with the water for just around a second since I caught it immediately.

Now, there’s a somewhat blue substance coming out of its connection pins. But, the LEDs are still blinking. They blink at random times in the day and now I’m wondering if there’s a workaround in fixing this. I understand that this is worth around $150 and I want to know if there’s still a chance I could use this.

For context, I haven’t washed this with freshwater after the crash.



Don’t fly it, don’t charge it, and don’t keep it in your house.

Kim said:
Don’t fly it, don’t charge it, and don’t keep it in your house.

Hard to throw out a $150 battery that’s only been used once :cry:

Remington said:

Kim said:
Don’t fly it, don’t charge it, and don’t keep it in your house.

Hard to throw out a $150 battery that’s only been used once :cry:

Better to lose $150 than risk a fire at home.

Remington said:

Kim said:
Don’t fly it, don’t charge it, and don’t keep it in your house.

Hard to throw out a $150 battery that’s only been used once :cry:

Just get rid of it. Next time, if anything gets exposed to saltwater, clean it right away with isopropyl alcohol.

@Xan
Even with IPA, saltwater exposure is hard to recover from. If the battery got even slightly wet, there’s likely irreversible damage.

Mackenzie said:
@Xan
Even with IPA, saltwater exposure is hard to recover from. If the battery got even slightly wet, there’s likely irreversible damage.

Exactly. Not worth risking a $1,500 drone over a $150 battery.

Remington said:

Kim said:
Don’t fly it, don’t charge it, and don’t keep it in your house.

Hard to throw out a $150 battery that’s only been used once :cry:

It’s toast, honestly. If saltwater hit any of the internals, it’s game over for the battery.

@Mackenzie
Not sure about that; it’s still lighting up the LEDs. Here’s a video.

Remington said:
@Mackenzie
Not sure about that; it’s still lighting up the LEDs. Here’s a video.

Up to you, but everyone here is warning against it for a reason. If you’re set on trying, focus on cleaning the contacts completely—just be careful not to short anything.

@Mackenzie
Thanks for the advice. I’d just hate to waste it, but if it’s dangerous, I’ll let it go.

Remington said:
@Mackenzie
Not sure about that; it’s still lighting up the LEDs. Here’s a video.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-G1ukb04GuC-qRfaKZKc4LbJGnl-stqx

Remington said:
@Mackenzie
Not sure about that; it’s still lighting up the LEDs. Here’s a video.

Maybe save it for a future DIY project. You might be able to swap parts with aftermarket options down the line.

If you’re even asking, the answer is no. In this case, a definite no. Don’t put it on the charger or in your home.

Daxton said:
If you’re even asking, the answer is no. In this case, a definite no. Don’t put it on the charger or in your home.

Is there really nothing I can do to save it? Just feels like such a waste.

@Remington
Totally get that, but I’m saying this after almost losing my office to a battery fire. Saltwater corrosion can spread internally without you seeing it.

@Remington
If you really wanted to save it, you’d have to replace damaged cells, re-solder components, and test everything. It’s honestly not worth it, especially with safety risks.

Repeatedly asking won’t change the answer. It’s not safe.

Kip said:
Repeatedly asking won’t change the answer. It’s not safe.

Yeah, sorry. Just hard letting go of an expensive item like that.

Remington said:

Kip said:
Repeatedly asking won’t change the answer. It’s not safe.

Yeah, sorry. Just hard letting go of an expensive item like that.

Understandable. This hobby is pricey, but let this be a lesson—never expose the Air 3 (or any of its parts) to moisture, especially saltwater.