Tutorial for using battery in extreme cold conditions

[Aeoutsider]

Resource with professional pilots from DJI Studio talking about batteries usage in extreme cold conditions
DJI Forum|Using batteries in the cold weather

All we know that batteries used in DJIaircraft are Li-Po batteries. Li-Po stands for Lithium-Polymer, which means it allows us to withdraw a lot of power out of small battery pack.
Basic knowledge:
1. Full charge your battery before each flight.
2. Never overdischarge your battery
3. Cycle the battery by discharging to 8% and full charging again every 20 flights
4. Intelligent flight batteries can automatically discharge themselves to enter storage mode
5. Discharge time depends on users settings and takes from 1 to 10 days
Alright, let’s get back to our topic. Since Li-Po batteries are not made to fly below 0 degree C︒ battery performance can be not as good as in a normal temperature 5C︒ to 30C︒
Low temperature flight negative consequences:
1. Shorten flight time
2. Fast voltage drop
Ways to prevent the issues described up there:
1. Never store packs in cold
2. Start the motors but don’t fly up, let your bird to warm up for a minute.
3. Please keep the aircraft hovering for 30 to 60 seconds before taking further action.
4. Do not keep the aircraft fully accelerated for long time.
5. Be gentle on a RC sticks
6. Outdoors keep your batteries in thermal insulation box with bag of hot rice
(Uncooked rice warmed up in a microwave keeps temperature very good)
7. Inspire owners can use the battery insulation stickers

8. Inspire owners also can use a battery heater to pre-heat their batteries before the flight.

 

[Joola]

All good advice. I'm headed to the mountains for Thanksgiving so cold weather tips are welcome.

 

[ovisopa]

The original stikers didn't helped me too much in the past weeks as in the morning when I was flying at -4 I needed the protection but in the evening when filming the sunset it was too hot for them, I had them mounted for one day and then I made my self something that can be easily removed or applied when needed. I will make some photos soon.

But I have another problem in cold whether and I curious if you guys have it too, my iPad battery drops like crazy in cold (for example at -4 degree C it dropped from 80% to 5% in one flight, I believe the aluminium backside of the iPad doesn't help at all in cold weather )

 

[Marketal]

I have an iPad mini 4 in a beetle defense case. Cold doesn't seem to affect it much.

Marketal

 

[ovisopa]

I received a plastic back case with a front cover, if I flip the cover on the back it still can be mounted on th DJI stand, so far looks good, hope it will protect the iPad in cold.

 

[Airtech Inspect]

Any progress on the removable pads? I was thinking maybe a wetsuit like material sleeve for the iPad might keep it a little better insulated

 

[ovisopa]

Any progress on the removable pads? I was thinking maybe a wetsuit like material sleeve for the iPad might keep it a little better insulated

You're interested also on the battery pads ? This week I've been quite busy making some videos with the Osmo and Inspire and also, I finally got my drone registered, not that easy in Romania, I had to drive to the capital so they install a tiny chip inside it... but my brother told me he will finish the better looking model on monday