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Battery management in cold weather - what's your approach? | DroneSurvey

c/equipment•Posted byu/cascadedroneguy•about 1 month ago

Battery management in cold weather - what's your approach?

Working a project in northern Montana this week. Temps hovering around 15°F. Lost about 40% of my battery capacity on the first flight before I figured out my warming strategy.

Currently keeping batteries in a cooler with hand warmers, pre-warming to about 70°F before loading. Getting about 25 min flights instead of the usual 35.

What's everyone else doing for cold weather flying? Any better tricks?

Comments

LarryTheMapper•about 1 month ago

Heated battery case is the move. I use the DJI battery station in my truck with the heater running, rotate batteries so they stay warm. Never start a flight with a battery under 68°F.

Also fly slower in cold - the motors work harder in dense cold air.

MarkDavison•about 1 month ago

Insulated lunch bag + chemical hand warmers. Cheap and effective. I also plan shorter missions in winter - 20 min max - and just do more flights.