How to extend drone battery life?

How to extend the life of the battery is a topic of great concern to many drone users. To understand how to extend the battery life, we must first know what factors affect the battery life of the drone.

The factors affect a drone battery life

The most important feature of the drone is its flight time, which enables it to fly. The flight time of the drone refers to the time that the drone battery can fly in the air on a single charge. Why can't you fly a drone for a long period of time, even with a proper battery charge. So, what are the factors that affect the flight time?

1.??Battery capacity and type

The capacity and type of a drone's battery directly affect its flight time. Larger batteries and higher milliamp ratings will allow drones to fly for longer periods of time as well as drone battery life.

2.??Flight time

Flight time is the most important factor in determining battery life. In general, the longer the flight time and the fewer times of recharges, the longer battery life will be.

3.??Temperature

Because of the chemical reaction inside the battery, heat will be generated. In a low temperature condition, the heat generated by the battery easily dissipates. Therefore, in cold weather conditions, additional or even external heat would be needed for the battery to maintain the chemical reaction and work. And when you fly your drone in areas of temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the battery will drain fast.

4.??Drone weight

The heavier the drone, the more energy it consumes, and the battery consumption will increase. Conversely, the lighter the weight of the drone, the better it performs in terms of flight light with the same battery. At the same time, it will reduce consumption and extend flight time.

How to increase drone flight time?

Here are some tips to improve a drone’s flight time:

1.??Reduce unnecessary weight

When you're not using the unnecessary items attached to drones, it's best to remove them while flying. Please pay attention that more weight means more battery power consumption.

2.??Have Spare Batteries

Keep spare batteries on hand when you fly, you will get a longer flight time and better battery performance.

3.??Use power-saving modes

Some drones have power-saving modes that can help extend flight time. Using a power-saving mode can help extend a drone's flight time by reducing the amount of energy it consumes.

4.??Avoid extreme temperatures.

High temperatures will cause the battery to overheat and reduce battery capacity and life, while low temperatures will reduce battery efficiency and reduce battery performance.

5.??Avoid overcharging

Some traditional lithium batteries can still be damaged by overcharging, although many batteries now have overcharge protection. Drone batteries are highly volatile and can even cause chemical fires if overcharged.

6.??Store batteries properly

Storing the battery in a stable temperature and humidity environment. Excessive humidity or extreme temperatures will damage the battery.

7.??Don't fly at high altitude

Avoid flying at high altitudes. The problem at high altitudes is not only about the thin air, but also that the temperature is lower and the battery consumption will be greater.

How to maintain drone batteries?

If you want your battery to be in prime working order and ready for every flight, then maintenance is crucial. So, how should we maintain drone batteries? We will briefly analyze the daily maintenance of drone batteries for you from battery storage to battery disposal.

Store a drone battery

l?Avoid overcharging and overdischarging.

l?Store batteries in a cool and dry place or refer to the instructions on the manual of a battery.

l?Clean the battery terminals with a clean dry cloth, ensuring that they are clean before use and before charging.

l?Always keep your drone battery in the same firmware version as your drone.

l?Fully charge at least every three months to keep the battery healthy.

l?If the battery level is already below 40-60%, it should be charged to reach this range for storage.

Dispose a drone battery

Batteries are a kind of hazardous waste. They contain toxic heavy metals and are corrosive making them unsuitable for disposal in municipal waste, as they can contaminate surface and groundwater. Here are a few tips to help you dispose of your battery properly.

1.??Don't put them in regular trash cans.

2.?To safely dispose of batteries, you?need to discharge them completely. It can be done in a salt bath (where the battery is soaked in saltwater for a few days with the required concentration), a light bulb (where the battery is connected to a light bulb and used to drain the charge), or by running them on your drone.?

3.?Take them to the recycling center or electronic waste station.