Air3/3S battery charge speed & charger discussion

[BenThe]

Hello everyone!

I tried charging the Air3/3S batteries for the very first time a few days ago, but I have a problem: I have 3 Air3S batteries and one extra genuine Air 3 battery, along with one original 3-slot charging hub. I hooked it up to a 90w charger that came with a phone, but the charging speed was extremely slow. We are talking >15 hours for one Air3S battery from (1 solid one flashing light) to full, and it has taken way too long to charge up the four batteries. This 90w charger supposedly have PD as it outputs 5-20V at 5A.

I tried to speed it up by placing one battery in the drone and charging it through a 5V2A charger that does not have PD, and it took roughly the similar amount of time. That probably indicates I do not have 90w at the charging hub. Before I spend more money on a new charger, how is everyone's experience with the charging speeds?

If I have to spend money on a new charger, would this one work? Thank you!

toocki 140W USB C Charger Block 5 Port GaN USB C Charging Station with Digital Display, PD PPS 100W Power Adapter

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0D4LFVP79

 

[Reagan Tennent]

Personally one thing i ask is are you using an original dji charging hub
I would always get DJI Ones Or rick slow charging

 

[msinger]

toocki 140W USB C Charger Block 5 Port GaN USB C Charging Station with Digital Display, PD PPS 100W Power Adapter

I haven't used that one, but it should work.

If you're looking for something a little more compact, I'm using the 100W Anker Nano Charger to charge my Air 3S batteries.

 

[Cafguy]

DJI chargers are junk! ...Sorry get this and say goodbye to charging problems.

https://www.amazon.ca/Intelligent-Multiple-Battery-Compatible-Controller/dp/B0CJ96HPVT/ref=sr_1_22_sspa?crid=3325M2S4AR6JP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.550-INyGTQLCv1NAUjWB-dT7nCThmIICmUIVWrXsfxQwxB-1SmC9_uKXPLgivcHw8IOjhrWgc1F7-8EhfyGg4jJ2vgcBaNaC5GF9bHDV_QKAtPekc8xbhbcbxGfYZZeE9goEQPcyjeLsHaSdmSXSu66mzBWSMKHqoT-O0zIhdOFLaKR7ypz06a7vaaFU5EHcjdmoXEAogQgEbk-sAbybn3TCJ-t3R96jD-oVNhvLEYqX5k5vgfxBlArYs5XpC-YYjzwPKk-ghsQCs7B0nULRqgbcBSSlLy_Q--VDxpizDEw.upirsdNnQvQYxBA_40mlwgSCHl82grUtz-iem17IBn4&dib_tag=se&keywords=hanatora+charger+for+dji+air+3&qid=1747781331&s=electronics&sprefix=hanatora+charger+for+dji+air+3%2Celectronics%2C128&sr=1-22-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

 

[msinger]

Yx parallel chargers are a nice option. The only downside is you need a separate charger for nearly every drone model.

 

[Rchawks]

You're using the usb-c to usb-c cable, and not the usb-usb-c right? It charges much slower with the usb to usb-c cables.
I use a Anker 65 W with usb out and 2 usb-c ports.

 

[BenThe]

Personally one thing i ask is are you using an original dji charging hub
I would always get DJI Ones Or rick slow charging

Yes, it is the original DJI charging hub that came as part of the fly more combo.

Re: Rchawks

The 90w charger comes with a USB-A female side on the brick itself, so I used a USB-A to USB-C cable that is rated for 100w from non-generic brand (nothing fancy like Anker or Ugreen though).

Re: msinger

I have also seen LKTOP branded chargers that offers dual 100w input parallel charging, but pretty expensive.

 

[Rchawks]

The charging rate and time is very slow using the USB side for all my hubs compared to using the usb-c to usb-c option on my Anker and well worth the price I paid for it, which I don't think was all that much compared to all the other things I've purchased for this hobby.
I corrected my earlier post, it's a 65W Anker charger. It's listed online now for 40 dollars.

 

[Felix le Chat]

The charging rate and time is very slow using the USB side for all my hubs compared to using the usb-c to usb-c option on my Anker and well worth the price I paid for it, which I don't think was all that much compared to all the other things I've purchased for this hobby.
I corrected my earlier post, it's a 65W Anker charger. It's listed online now for 40 dollars.

Concur. I've been using an 'Amazon basics' 65w charger for the last 3 years (mini 3 pro). USB-A to USB-C is like molasses in winter compared with USB-C to USB-C.

I'd definitely look at using a 100w+ brick. Using a good quality USB3 fast charge/data cable helps as well.

 

[NZBob]

I am using a UGREEN 65W charger using a USB-C to USB-C cable and the charging rate is fast. I think that you need to get a charger with a USB-C port.
I also have a 65W Anker charger with a USB-C port that works about the same, fast.

 

[Kyle76]

What wattage provides the quickest charge?

 

[BenThe]

Update for everyone: the 140w charger I mentioned above works great. It was charging at around 90w for the hub, goes to about 110w if I add the remote. Still got about 30w headroom for other devices.

I am guessing the previous 90w charger does not have a proper PD protocol or something, so it wasn't providing the proper power.

 

[wco81]

Just got the FMC. Back of the charging hub says get a 65W or greater PD charger.

So I'm trying the Anker 65W PD charger that I use for my MacBook Pro. The issue isn't the expense, just seeing if it charges 3 batteries, all at 2 bars or less, quickly enough that I don't have to pack another charger for trips.

I also pack the 96W charger which came with the MacBook Pro so I could always use that too.

 

[Picodemano358]

I'm using the 3 battery charging block that came with it plugged into this.
Amazon.com: Anker Mac Book Pro Charger, 100W USB C Charger, Compact and Foldable Fast Charger for MacBook Air, Samsung Galaxy, iPad Pro, and All USB C Devices, 5 feet USB C to USB C Cable Included : Electronics https://share.google/4A7iBp9hyrIWGXeap

 

[LimitedPowers]

This problem confuses everybody it seems. The current USB power standards are not only dependent on the charger and the device it is charging, but also the USB cable itself. USB A cables are limited to 5 V and maybe 3 Amps on the best of days, giving you a paltry 15 watts. The newer USB C PD standards require properly rated USB C - USB C cables or you will be limited by the cable. USB C cables are often labelled without this crucial information, which means people often buy cheap cables not knowing they are cheap because they low wattage cables. You want the highest wattage rated USB C cables you can find for your device, For instance my Anker charger is 100 Watts, so I use a 100 Watt USB C cable, which on the newer USB C PD standard delivers 20 V and 5 Amps over the cable. USB A should only be used for very low power 5V devices.

 

[TerryOregon]

How I got 100W into the DJI charging hub - with video:
https://mavicpilots.com/threads/another-alternative-to-the-dji-

 

[NZBob]

Just remember that fast charging shortens the life of the battery. 100W is probably fine occasionally, but you will get a longer battery life if changed at 60W.

 

[TerryOregon]

Just an FYI, even at 100 watts, it's only for the first fifteen minutes, then the charging cradle will start throttling down the input wattage. This is for a battery discharged to 5%.

 

[NZBob]

Yes, very typical for all Li ion charging. Do you have the charging curve for 60W? I would love to see it...
Did you measure that yourself, or is this a published graph?

 

[TerryOregon]

Yes, very typical for all Li ion charging. Do you have the charging curve for 60W? I would love to see it...
Did you measure that yourself, or is this a published graph?

No curve for 60W. Yes, I measured that myself. I had to videotape the wattage meter and take readings over time when I played back the video. It's a bit crude, but illustrates the point.