LiPo Batteries
Source: (http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-lipo-batteries.html)
LiPo (Lithium Polymer) are a type of rechargeable battery. They are light weight, large capacity, high discharge rates and unlike NiCad or NiMh have no 'memory-effect'.
Disadvantages are expensive, short life 300-500 charge cycles (less if not maintained properly). Safety issue - fire potential. Requires more care, charging, discharging, storage and temperature affects its life cycle.
LiPo batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts per cell. Phantom 3 battery is 15.2 volts so it has 4 cells. Some batteries use a code like 3S for 3 cells and P for the number of packs, e.g. 2S2P means two cells hooked up in parallel to double capacity.
1000 mAh rating is the load in milliamps that can be put on a battery for 1 hour after which it will be discharged. The DJI P3 battery has a capacity of 4480 mAh. If a load of 15 amps is applied to the battery it will discharge in about 17 minutes.
Charging at maximum charge rate will shorten battery life. DJI P3 has 'intelligent' battery and charge unit to maximize life. Other batteries have a C code. For example discharge rating of 10C means you could theoretically and safely discharge it at 10 times more than the capacity of the pack. For a 1000 mAh battery it would be 10 amps. This is useful to calculate how long a duration you could have with your drone. The DJI P3 has a theoretical duration of 20 minutes. In real terms it is more like 15 -17 minutes.
General rule to get maximum life out of your batteries limit the discharge to between 60 to 70%. You will shorten its life if you constantly discharge to 80%.
LiPo (Lithium Polymer) are a type of rechargeable battery. They are light weight, large capacity, high discharge rates and unlike NiCad or NiMh have no 'memory-effect'.
Disadvantages are expensive, short life 300-500 charge cycles (less if not maintained properly). Safety issue - fire potential. Requires more care, charging, discharging, storage and temperature affects its life cycle.
LiPo batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts per cell. Phantom 3 battery is 15.2 volts so it has 4 cells. Some batteries use a code like 3S for 3 cells and P for the number of packs, e.g. 2S2P means two cells hooked up in parallel to double capacity.
1000 mAh rating is the load in milliamps that can be put on a battery for 1 hour after which it will be discharged. The DJI P3 battery has a capacity of 4480 mAh. If a load of 15 amps is applied to the battery it will discharge in about 17 minutes.
Charging at maximum charge rate will shorten battery life. DJI P3 has 'intelligent' battery and charge unit to maximize life. Other batteries have a C code. For example discharge rating of 10C means you could theoretically and safely discharge it at 10 times more than the capacity of the pack. For a 1000 mAh battery it would be 10 amps. This is useful to calculate how long a duration you could have with your drone. The DJI P3 has a theoretical duration of 20 minutes. In real terms it is more like 15 -17 minutes.
General rule to get maximum life out of your batteries limit the discharge to between 60 to 70%. You will shorten its life if you constantly discharge to 80%.
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