Do batteries normally lose charge over time?

Product Support Forum
1

I charged all three of my batteries a couple of weeks ago, but when I went to fly today, they were all down to about 25%. One of them is brand new, only on its second charge cycle. Is this normal? #djisupport

2

People really need to read the manual…

Not only do batteries naturally self-discharge, but DJI smart batteries actively do this to protect themselves. Leaving them fully charged for too long can wear them down.

3

@Lennox
OR, hear me out…

At least, the very least, do a quick search before posting.

But hey, that would be the day the world finds peace. :joy:

4

Yep, after a day or so, DJI batteries will discharge to about 60% to help extend their lifespan.

Always top them off before you fly.

5

Mal said:
Yep, after a day or so, DJI batteries will discharge to about 60% to help extend their lifespan.

Always top them off before you fly.

Got it, thanks! I’ll start doing that.

6

Mal said:
Yep, after a day or so, DJI batteries will discharge to about 60% to help extend their lifespan.

Always top them off before you fly.

Honestly, that’s a cool feature. I always go back and forth on whether to keep them fully charged and ready to go or let them sit at 50% to protect longevity.

7

This guy did a deep dive on DJI batteries and made a super informative video. Worth a watch!

8

It’s always good to have a pre-flight checklist. After learning the hard way, here’s what I do before heading out:

  1. Charge all batteries and controllers.
  2. Transfer and format SD cards, then put them back in the drone and controller.
  3. Make sure I’m logged into the app on whatever device I’ll be using.

Nothing worse than getting to your spot and realizing your battery is dead, you forgot an SD card, or you can’t log in because you have no signal. :sweat_smile:

9

Yep. My Spark batteries are completely dead now. RIP.

10

Grayson said:
Yep. My Spark batteries are completely dead now. RIP.

Even if they weren’t dead, at that age, I wouldn’t trust them anyway.

11

I’m actually glad they do this. If they didn’t, we’d end up with batteries that charge poorly over time.

12

Yep, you’re not supposed to leave them fully charged for too long. They’ll self-discharge to protect themselves.