Hey everyone,
I have three original DJI batteries for my Mini 4 Pro, and I’ve noticed something strange. After fully charging them to 100% using the official charging hub, if I leave them unused for a week, their charge level drops to around 60%.
Is this normal behavior, or could there be an issue with my batteries or charging process? I’d appreciate any insights.
Thanks!
This behavior is normal to protect the batteries. These batteries last longer when they aren’t kept fully charged at all times. It’s best to charge them right before flying rather than after.
It’s a protection feature to prolong the lifespan of the battery. All devices that use Li-ion batteries should not be kept in storage with a fully charged battery. For example, if you have an old phone and store it in a drawer for backup, it’s never a good idea to store it fully charged but rather at 60%. Same applies for an empty battery; it’s not good for its health to be at 0%.
Yes. That’s storage voltage. The battery will always drop to 66% after not using it for a few days. You just need to top it up before flying.
Nico said:
Yes. That’s storage voltage. The battery will always drop to 66% after not using it for a few days. You just need to top it up before flying.
Hmm. Objectively this is an approach that potentially saves cost for DJI (not needing to replace batteries under warranty) and the customer (not having to pay to replace the battery post warranty). The cost is an effective loss of operating time, but that problem is a customer issue.
I don’t see the switch on the battery to disable this ‘feature’ for people who care more about having a charged battery available for immediate use than battery replacement costs - so the one reaping most of the benefit is DJI, with the customer accepting all the pain (half charged batteries) to enable it. I’d like to be pissed at DJI specifically for this sort of behavior but it’s common practice in the electronics industry.
@Westley
It’s a safety feature. It’s a good thing.
@Westley
How is it bad for DJI to implement a safety feature so that if you leave your batteries on full charge for a long time they are not completely unusable when you want to go fly? But I agree that a switch for that feature would be nice.
@Westley
Higher-end DJI drones allow you to set a value between 2 and 10 days.
Just accept that DJI’s battery management is part of what you’re buying into, and be thankful you’re not dealing with balance leads and charging adapters—you can just slot a battery into your drone.
@Westley
Tell me you don’t know how lithium-ion batteries work without telling me you don’t know how lithium-ion batteries work. When your phone/laptop/whatever says it’s at 100%, the battery isn’t at its full capacity; it’s at what the battery management circuit has decided is a safe maximum. And even with that, you end up with swollen batteries busting open laptops over time.
@Westley
If you care about having a battery ready to go, buy a third-party single battery charger and keep it plugged in. It’ll keep the battery topped off.
Congrats, you just saved yourself 10 minutes, but taken a few months off the life of the battery. You can top up a battery quicker than 33% of battery life would’ve cost you, and you can fly the 66% battery for almost 20 mins. Just buy the fly more kit and enjoy the system.
Yep, as others have said, it’s automatic. Description here:
“The battery automatically discharges to about 96% when it is idle for 3 days. To prevent swelling, the battery automatically discharges to 60% when it is idle for nine days.”
You should not under any circumstances keep your batteries at 100% charge unless you intend on using it soon after. The batteries will discharge automatically to protect themselves. If you don’t use your drone for several months, discharge the batteries to around 65%, this is an optimal charge for long-term storage.
Wait until you realize that sometimes you have to update the firmware on the ‘intelligent’ batteries.
Yeah, the old Phantom batteries would automatically drain completely after non-use for a few days. These newer ones drain less. Didn’t know about the 60% though.
DJI’s website has a full chart on how much drain happens in how much time. Also, look up some quick tips on how to maintain LiPo batteries when not using or when traveling with them on planes. Always good info to have when you use this specific type as it’s different than your regular batteries.
You’re fine. It will increase the overall life of the battery anyway. Plus, you have more than one, so you should be fly-ready at any given moment.
This explains what’s happening
