Flying your DJI Quadcopter in winter can be fun, but we have
heard that some of our users have experienced issues when flying in cold
weather. Did you know that as the temperature drops, so does the performance of
the LiPo battery inside your aircraft? Read on to find out how to look after
your battery and keep yourself in the air.
The Science
LiPo, or Lithium Polymer batteries drain faster the colder they get because the
chemical reactions that they use to create electricity are slowed. This starts
to occur at temperatures lower than 59°F (15°C) and is a known issue of
all LiPo batteries.
At high altitudes where air pressure is low, motors on an aircraft have to spin
faster to produce enough lift, meaning even more power is needed, in turn
accelerating battery drain.
What this Means
In extreme cases, a battery could drain below 3V, causing reduced thrust or
even battery shutoff due to over-discharge protection systems designed to keep
your battery healthy.
Hot Tips for Beating the Cold
1. Make sure batteries are fully charged before each flight.
2. Warm batteries to 25°C or more before flight. We recommend using a battery
heater.
3. Hover the aircraft for around a minute to allow the battery to warm up.
4. Turn on “Show Voltage on Main Screen" on the "Aircraft
Battery" page of the DJI Go app. Do not continue flying if battery
voltage drops below 3.2V.