WHY???? have you tried mavic batteries and gotten more time, remember they are 3 cell so takes 2 to make 6 cell, and so far every test has left me at 37-48 % power in backpack batteries, SO MAYBE, because i use clip, and not hard wired to tb47 lipo, that might be problem
I'd agree extended times have a diminishing return, based on increasing payload / energy. The more you add the smaller the return in gained energy due to payload weight.
Don't think the adapter clip has any significant difference comparable to modified with soldering. The voltage drop / resistance of the clip is minimal and not enough to influence any discharge time difference. The ambient temps, wind, humidity, temp of batteries, added payload, etc would have a greater influence in duration outcome. The safety debate of clip is separate issue; I personally hear & feel the positive click of the core battery and am not concerned with losing electrical contact vs modified procedures disturbing electronics with re-soldering additional wires or modifying the electronics of the I1 connections. I personally like the adapter and ability to completely remove when not needed which is most of the I1 operation.
The 3S series pair vs 6S also has essentially no difference if coupling harness has no additional resistance in connectors since the final plug to core battery has no indicator of how the current arrives: as 6S or 3S source. As indicated in above post, I tried the LiHV 3S 5200 10C with about a 40% increase, 8 minute avg increase for a static hover. I'm also not convinced running a higher C rate than the core battery makes any difference; in a "loose" comparison, that would be comparable to running 2 side O2 tanks at 50psi and the main at 20psi Regulated. If the load of motors & electronics are not requiring more C rate than provided by the core battery, I doubt it's beneficial not to mention the flow of current with uneven discharge C Rates would flow more between batteries attempting to maintain balance discharge. I would agree strongly that the "balance" of charge & discharge benefit with comparable batteries: LiHV 4.35 vs LiPo 4.20, does have an effect on discharge balance and on Delta C rate too. LiPo spec range is 4.2 to 3.0, 3.7 nominal and the LiHV have a higher upper charge 4.35 but share the same lower specification. LiHV has a wider discharge range and if Core & Saddle share the same discharge range provides a more efficient discharge balance between the packs. Additionally in generality: the higher the C Rate, the heavier the battery payload. The heavier, higher C Rate provide a lower return benefit, an equilibrium of energy & payload with longer discharge duration may be available as indicated in above discussions but it'll take a higher mAh to achieve.
I initiated 3S pair experiment with objectives: 1) weight of payload, 2) close to equal mAh Core & Saddle Pair (5400 & 5200) and as close to equal C Rate: 10C / 25C burst, 3) Physical size of saddle package. With light weight of 3S HV batteries, I was estimating a 30-40% gain. A gain of 7-8 minutes: moving from 15 to 22.5 minute avg was a pleasant result for $60 saddle sets.
Last edited: