Cruzroy Battery Mod

WilsonFlyer · Sep 19, 2019

Does anybody have any follow-up information of the mod Cruzroy did with the cap/top of the TB47? It all appeared to work on the YouTube video, but he never really did a follow-up on the re-calibration to the new battery or what the "final" verdict was. There's a video that appears to be of him flying the mod, but there's nothing but video and music so it's hard to tell if that's what it actually is, and there's really nothing after that on YT that I can find.

I'm having a hard time finding a way to carry on the legacy of my I1 from a battery perspective, but from what I can find, this seems to be the best and most long-term solution or fix. If anybody knows of anything better, I'd love to see some links. Even more information and specifics on the mod Cruzroy did would be appreciated.

Cruzroy's mod was pretty tedious, but once it's done, it appears to really solve the long term battery challenge. Anybody have any feedback?

The Editor · Sep 19, 2019

WilsonFlyer said:
Does anybody have any follow-up information of the mod Cruzroy did with the cap/top of the TB47? It all appeared to work on the YouTube video, but he never really did a follow-up on the re-calibration to the new battery or what the "final" verdict was. There's a video that appears to be of him flying the mod, but there's nothing but video and music so it's hard to tell if that's what it actually is, and there's really nothing after that on YT that I can find.

I'm having a hard time finding a way to carry on the legacy of my I1 from a battery perspective, but from what I can find, this seems to be the best and most long-term solution or fix. If anybody knows of anything better, I'd love to see some links. Even more information and specifics on the mod Cruzroy did would be appreciated.

Cruzroy's mod was pretty tedious, but once it's done, it appears to really solve the long term battery challenge. Anybody have any feedback?

Why not just ask him?

The thread is here ....

Battery Mod Info

The battery mod link on the Inspire Help - Tips & Accessories page is dead, can admins please update or request/notify someone to update?

inspirepilots.com

@cruzroy - over to you.

WilsonFlyer · Sep 19, 2019

I have and he hasn't responded. I saw a blip somewhere (another RC forum) that alluded to the fact that he may have had some health issues, hence the post here to see if anyone else knew anything I couldn't find posted already.

Thanks for the help.

WilsonFlyer · Sep 23, 2019

RETRACTED: SEE FULL POST BELOW

~~For anybody that's interested, Cruzroy is fine and followed up with me on another board. His mod is still available for anybody that's interested.~~

Dobmatt · Sep 25, 2019

WilsonFlyer said:
For anybody that's interested, Cruzroy is fine and followed up with me on another board. His mod is still available for anybody that's interested.

Since I'm heavily involved in the issue, would you mind to share the link(s) to Cruzroy? Did he actually flew Inspire 1 with this mod?

WilsonFlyer · Sep 26, 2019

Sorry. I just realized I posted this to the wrong thread. I know you've probably already seen it in the other one, but I'm re-posting it here for the historical record in case someone else has the same question at some future date.

There are actually a few. Take a look at all his videos. They're pretty easy to find near the top. This will point you in the right direction.

Dobmatt · Sep 26, 2019

WilsonFlyer said:
Take a look at all his videos.

Yes, I've seen all these videos twice at least, looking for a convincing proof of viability. For whatever reason Cruzroy didn't provided final conclusions, supported by actual videotaped flight of Inspire 1 with modded battery. I remain skeptical, but adoring his attitude of mad scientist...

WilsonFlyer · Sep 26, 2019

I saw what appeared to be "the" test flight. Ironically, he never commented during the video at all and never followed up with any details as far as conclusions. I understood he had some health problems so maybe that was a factor? I don't know. I've dropped him messages but he's never responded.

I've ordered connectors myself, and if they're the right ones when they come in, I'm going down a similar same path. My long term goal is to monitor the ports on the Inspire itself and get rid of the proprietary top altogether. I refuse to believe it's used for anything special other than charging and maintenance. It's a low priority project probably for this winter, but I'll keep the forum posted as to my progress and findings. I believe the telemetry provided to and from the Inspire 1 is completely an analog process and everything is provided in a normal balance lead. I'm not sure why anyone would believe any differently. I'm actually amazed somebody hasn't already been down this rabbit hole, but I Can't find any evidence that anyone has.

Dobmatt · Sep 26, 2019

"I'm actually amazed somebody hasn't already been down this rabbit hole, but I Can't find any evidence that anyone has."

Only true maniacs like Cruzroy or myself may attempt to find ultimate solution to keep Inspire 1 alive for years to come. Not many of us is is left, that's the reason

... Keep pushing and - if God will allow - I may challenge you sometime this winter. Meantime check this thread, posted by a longtime contributor to this society. You'll better understand the scale of this endeavour and various obstacles to overcome ...

POLL: Would you purchase a harness to fix TB-47/8 batteries??

WilsonFlyer · Sep 27, 2019

That thread is what convinced me it's possible and kinda threw the gauntlet for me. I bought a harness from Rich just because I was having a hard time sourcing the proprietary connector on the TB48 after it swore to me it was dead and I knew better. I've been flying RC for over 30 years. I fly everything from gas giants to turbines and helis. None of this scares me very much. There aren't many things in this hobby I haven't built at least once.

I'm also a network security professional and a systems programmer before that out of college, so I get the potential challenges of the handshake between the Inspire and the battery. I just don't think DJI went to that much trouble and encrypted anything. I'm convinced it's an analog proposition and that the circuitry built into the batteries wasn't some conspiracy to sell batteries so much as lessons learned from a support standpoint in an attempt to make the system fool-proof. I'm an adequately armed fool to move forward because I'm convinced the system can be beaten. If my 30 YO trainer is still flyable and hanging up in my shop, I certainly don't intend to retire a $4k quad because some a-hole in communist china tells me I can't have batteries for it anymore.

Cruzroy's got the right idea. I just don't think having to source TB tops and proprietary logic boards is a viable long-term solution. Or necessary. We shall see.

WilsonFlyer · Sep 27, 2019

I need to retract the statement regarding Cruzroy's condition. Someone responded to me that I THOUGHT was him and it was NOT. I do not know his condition and he has not responded to my attempts to contact him. Not that he's under any obligation, of course, but he hasn't updated his YT channel in over a year and he used to be fairly active on there. He also hasn't responded on any of the boards very recently. I hope he's OK.

Dobmatt · Sep 27, 2019

WilsonFlyer said:
I need to retract the statement regarding Cruzroy's condition. Someone responded to me that I THOUGHT was him and it was NOT. I do not know his condition and he has not responded to my attempts to contact him. Not that he's under any obligation, of course, but he hasn't updated his YT channel in over a year and he used to be fairly active on there. He also hasn't responded on any of the boards very recently. I hope he's OK.

Oh, you're a stubborn nerd

! Probably no more stubborn than myself, so let's stay in touch. Good to know you've been talking with Richard, who's involved in early attempts to dissect and cure failing TB batteries. He promised to think about this concept as well ...

WilsonFlyer · Sep 27, 2019

Yeah. That's kinda the reason I want to make the I1 a long-term solution too. It's the geek in me. I can't help it. The I2 is an entirely different animal, and more likely than not, it is totally proprietary and encrypted through and through. I just don't think DJI knew how or even cared up until the time the I1 (and v2) came out. The I1 may be one of the best and most affordable (now especially) opportunities to salvage a work-horse style multi for long term use, and I refuse to let something as simple as a darn battery be what stops me.

I'm still beating myself up for not jumping on an I1 V2 that dumped on eBay a week or so ago with SEVEN TB48s and one 47 with an X5 (not RAW but who cares?) for less than $1300. Unbelievable. Guy swore the batteries were numbered and rotated (I asked privately.) and all charged < 25 times. Dangit!

Anyway... I want to pick up an X5 and find a long-term battery solution. I keep thinking the X5 is going to fall off the face of the marketplace price-wise, but it just seems to have hit a sticking point and I can't decide whether to pull the trigger now or not. One thing's for sure. If for nothing else but a spare parts thing, buying it together with a used I1 seems to be the way to go. Hell, I already have the Osmo and all the accessories for the original so there's that.

We'll definitely stay in touch. I refuse to lose this war. I don't accept losing the easy ones.

Dobmatt · Sep 27, 2019

WilsonFlyer said:
I'm still beating myself up for not jumping on an I1 V2 that dumped on eBay a week or so ago with SEVEN TB48s and one 47 with an X5 (not RAW but who cares?) for less than $1300. Unbelievable. Guy swore the batteries were numbered and rotated (I asked privately.) and all charged < 25 times. Dangit!

We'll definitely stay in touch. I refuse to lose this war. I don't accept losing the easy ones.

I think I've seen this offer on eBay. Unbelievable indeed, almost to the level of "too good to be true". But it's the symptom of I1 fate ... I have also Inspire 2 in my fleet, even a mighty M200, and I still refuse to retire my trustworthy I1 with X5 or X5R camera. Anyway, here's another opinion about this mad idea, published by one of more influential members of our society just after I start to stir the issue:

#22814

Personally I don't believe DJI packs are that much sensitive to a different charging curvatures as Mad suggests. I had a great success developing field charging devices with various power supplying blocks (both DC-DC step-up converters and AC-DC ps's). None of DJI batteries I'm using refused to accept reasonably adjusted charging current, usually about 1-1.5A above specified. So that shouldn't be a major problem. However, I firmly believe that TB47/48 batteries are employing the same "smart" circuitry and philosophy as later TB50 batteries for Inspire 2. Same encrypted proprietary BS, just different cover ...

cruzroy · May 20, 2020

sorry folks im still alive, just been real busy, but ive been trying to contact a few other folks, but its slow going, i would assume the inspire 3 will be out buy the time i see one, but its a program issue, i had a 7900mah and 9000 mah and i got 30 minute video thats for proof but i over charged lipo one day and inspire board detected it, i love the inspire one, it can be easily modded and hacked , but the batteries are out of site, but in the back wing im still trying to figure the board software out, its funny nobody in the us can figure this, most of these tech batteries are overseas, and a rare find, but they work, but there is a program that i have not located yet, and a dji passcode to engage the board that ive not found, and EX-dji workers are not talking, these are unsafe times, to all be safe and keep flying . as you see in video, software????

cruzroy · May 28, 2020

i got the 9000 coming from HONG KONG, when i get it i will do a video on my tube channel, but getting little info from the MAKER, it is in the battery software witch is creating problems with any types of mods, weather they are clip ons on total rebuilds like i did, like i said before, i had it working, i even recharge thru DJI charger, and after to great 30 minute APPOX flights, the battery started blinking, and i asked the guy from hong kong if there was a fuse or something, and his reply was (Sorry so busy , 1. TB47/48 not is fuse , it is chip have data , it is lockup 2. ) i dont know what it means, but i asked if he teach me, no response yet, i got a call from 2 people that say they worked for DJI and know all secrets, but no answers yet, but i will wait for my new battery, and see what its all about , the 9000 is supposed to give a I1 30+ minutes with x5 camera, i have x3, we will see

Greg Huntoon · May 28, 2020

cruzroy said:
i got the 9000 coming from HONG KONG, when i get it i will do a video on my tube channel, but getting little info from the MAKER, it is in the battery software witch is creating problems with any types of mods, weather they are clip ons on total rebuilds like i did, like i said before, i had it working, i even recharge thru DJI charger, and after to great 30 minute APPOX flights, the battery started blinking, and i asked the guy from hong kong if there was a fuse or something, and his reply was (Sorry so busy , 1. TB47/48 not is fuse , it is chip have data , it is lockup 2. ) i dont know what it means, but i asked if he teach me, no response yet, i got a call from 2 people that say they worked for DJI and know all secrets, but no answers yet, but i will wait for my new battery, and see what its all about , the 9000 is supposed to give a I1 30+ minutes with x5 camera, i have x3, we will see

Cruzroy, thanks for keeping us posted on this. I've been lurking on your progress for quite a while. I find it hard to believe the circuit board knows what battery or combination of cells is attached to it as long as the voltage is correct. I find it more likely that DJI put in some kind of a recharge count cap and when it's exceeded, it stops regardless of whether the cells are good or not. Maybe this is what that guy refers to as 'it is lockup'. In the original FCC tear down it shows a TB45 4500 mAh battery but it doesn't look like the FCC ever disassembled the battery as a part of their certification for the original Inspire.

Greg Huntoon · May 28, 2020

FYI - I found an old Vimeo video called "Reset DJI INSPIRE TB47 / TB48"
Reset DJI INSPIRE TB47 / TB48

French translation below -

1. disconnect the battery
2. disassemble the white cover
3. disconnect the molex connector
4. press the button 2 or 3 times
5. wait 5 minutes
6. reconnect the molex connector
7. press the button or put the battery on the charger to see if it works again
8. if it works again, close the white cover, charge the battery and update the battery with the latest firmware

cruzroy · May 29, 2020

Greg Huntoon said:
Cruzroy, thanks for keeping us posted on this. I've been lurking on your progress for quite a while. I find it hard to believe the circuit board knows what battery or combination of cells is attached to it as long as the voltage is correct. I find it more likely that DJI put in some kind of a recharge count cap and when it's exceeded, it stops regardless of whether the cells are good or not. Maybe this is what that guy refers to as 'it is lockup'. In the original FCC tear down it shows a TB45 4500 mAh battery but it doesn't look like the FCC ever disassembled the battery as a part of their certification for the original Inspire.

i think the cells i used, i did not set my charger to stop at 22.2 for the 3rd or 4th charge, so the lipos went to 25.6 and then i set into inspire, and it would try to start up then shut down...so i thought i FXXXed my drone, but put stock battery in, and safe..

cruzroy · May 29, 2020

Greg Huntoon said:
FYI - I found an old Vimeo video called "Reset DJI INSPIRE TB47 / TB48"
Reset DJI INSPIRE TB47 / TB48

French translation below -

1. disconnect the battery
2. disassemble the white cover
3. disconnect the molex connector
4. press the button 2 or 3 times
5. wait 5 minutes
6. reconnect the molex connector
7. press the button or put the battery on the charger to see if it works again
8. if it works again, close the white cover, charge the battery and update the battery with the latest firmware

cool i will try on my modded battery