Batteries and their storage

[holtneil]

You should only store Lipos at 3.2-3.7 per cell any thing over this will start the chemical reaction in the lipo the same as a full charge ,so any resting the battery is going to have at over store charge will slowly damage the battery
When you buy a new Lipo if you don't charge it, it will be safe in its new state for approximately a year once you start to charge it the chemical make up of the lipo will change ,you can't go back to new state so the only thing you can do from that point on is store charge
Also most get confused with fast charge mode this does not mean the charge rate goes up when charging fast charge will bring the battery up to about 90% so that you can do a quick flight it will not balance the cells as close as the balance charge programme will and the cell balancing happens at 90-100% full charge

 

[pdmike]

You should only store Lipos at 3.2-3.7 per cell

How do I determine what per-cell level my lipo is at?

 

[Gyro Doctor]

How do I determine what per-cell level my lipo is at?

With a voltmeter (very carefully) using the balance leads or, preferably, one of these.
https://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-...rm-p-26049.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

I ALWAYS put one of these on board anything that doesn't have telemetry to let me actively monitor the battery.
They are pretty loud when they go off and will let you know when it's time to land before finding out the hard way.
I'll also usually adjust the beeper's trip setting a bit on the high side to be sure I have enough juice left to bring it back in

 

[pdmike]

With a voltmeter (very carefully) using the balance leads or, preferably, one of these.
https://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-...rm-p-26049.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

I ALWAYS put one of these on board anything that doesn't have telemetry to let me actively monitor the battery.
They are pretty loud when they go off and will let you know when it's time to land before finding out the hard way.
I'll also usually adjust the beeper's trip setting a bit on the high side to be sure I have enough juice left to bring it back in

And I can use one of these (in the link) to check the voltage level of all of the cells in my Phantom 4 batteries? These are dedicated, self-contained batteries where the three cells are encased in what appears to me to be a permanent (i.e., don't try and open it) plastic case. I thought we were talking about cell voltage levels for STORING batteries, not for monitoring voltage level while FLYING the quad. My DJI Go App tells me when the batteries are winding down and when I should bring the quad back.

 

[holtneil]

Hi mate DJI naza has battery alerts if you land after the last warning of battery low that will be a good store voltage
Just check in the naza assist that the last warning is set for no less than 3.2 volts per cell

 

[pdmike]

Hi mate DJI naza has battery alerts if you land after the last warning of battery low that will be a good store voltage
Just check in the naza assist that the last warning is set for no less than 3.2 volts per cell

What is naza?

 

[holtneil]

The naza is the DJI flight control board that's what your app naza assist talks to when you go into settings

 

[pdmike]

The naza is the DJI flight control board that's what your app naza assist talks to when you go into settings

I am not a technician nor am I an engineer. I don't build 'em, I just buy 'em and fly 'em. Right now I have a Phantom 4. Are you saying I have to take it apart and install one of these flight control boards, simply to determine the voltage level of the cells in my lipo battery?

 

[holtneil]

No it's already in there it's what flies the phantom your have a usb lead to plug into the phantom (remove props) this lead will let you set up things and any software up dates for the phantom and transmitter

 

[pdmike]

No it's already in there it's what flies the phantom your have a usb lead to plug into the phantom (remove props) this lead will let you set up things and any software up dates for the phantom and transmitter

I'm sorry, but I don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about here. Let me ask it this way - will my DJI Go App allow me to check the voltage level of the cells inside of my Phantom 4 lipo battery?

 

[Rick M]

The DJI Go 4 app shows you the voltage level in each cell. It's in the menu under the icon that looks like an arrow/cursor superimposed over a battery icon. In there you can also set the time to begin discharge. That controls how soon your batteries will begin a slow discharge to a storage level. For example, if you set it to 3 days the cells will stay with a full charge for 3 days then begin to discharge until they are around 60%, which is the level DJI recommends for long-term storage.

You can connect the DJI Go 4 app on your device directly to the Phantom 4 using the connector supplied with the quad. That's what Holtneil is referring to.

 

[pdmike]

Thanks for clearing all of this up for me, which you have done.

 

[mozquito1]

Purple flame...... purple flame

 

[Steven Campbell]

I just ordered a couple dozen of those things on a sale, ordered myself dome heat shrink banding non perforated (have to find another seller as they sent me perforated).

The idea I had is to heat shrink it to battery so it's a quick and easy plug in and less likely to be damaged if the battery launched.

With a voltmeter (very carefully) using the balance leads or, preferably, one of these.
https://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-...rm-p-26049.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

I ALWAYS put one of these on board anything that doesn't have telemetry to let me actively monitor the battery.
They are pretty loud when they go off and will let you know when it's time to land before finding out the hard way.
I'll also usually adjust the beeper's trip setting a bit on the high side to be sure I have enough juice left to bring it back in

 

[Chiapa33]

If you want to expand your drone battery life move camera and frame. It will give you additional 20%