Careful Buying Battery Dust Caps

[Clintsc9]

So I found some silicon dust caps on Ebay for AU$8.99 for 4 out of China. Thought I'd give them a try. Turns out not such a good idea.
First time I pressed the cap into position, it didn't slide in easily so gave a gentle push and it slotted in.
Went to pull it off and the two little tabs immediately broke off and were left wedged in the locating holes of the battery.
It took me half an hour using a sewing needle to pry the **** things out and even that left some minor damage to the battery. It still locates in the Mavic OK and powers up. The locating pins and holes are just two of several locating points - thank goodness.
The particular dust caps I received are quite brittle and I even managed to destroy one with just rolling it in my fingers.
I imagined they'd be soft silicone but not so.

Maybe all dust caps are not this brittle, but beware if you decide to get some.

 

[BCMoto]

Thanks for the 'heads up' - I'll not be getting those for my batteries!

 

[Former Member]

Hope you get your money back.

 

[Cut.Aussie]

I've seen these for sale on eBay but would you think they were necessary

 

[Robbyg]

Thanks for the heads up on this.

Rob

 

[Clintsc9]

I've seen these for sale on eBay but would you think they were necessary

I'll be travelling later this year so thought they'd be easier than taping.
Looks like I'll be taping.

 

[rudeboy1063]

I bought a pack of 10 of these for 6pound free postage there brilliant

 

[Mikewilltakeyouto]

I'll be travelling later this year so thought they'd be easier than taping.
Looks like I'll be taping.

Why do you tape the batteries

 

[Clintsc9]

I bought a pack of 10 of these for 6pound free postage there brilliant

Are yours soft silicon or brittle? I was expecting something flexible.

 

[Clintsc9]

Why do you tape the batteries

Its part of the requirements for taking batteries on an airplane.

 

[rudeboy1063]

There soft not dead soft but not brittle at all

 

[rudeboy1063]

Multirotorspares sell them on ebay

 

[Logger]

Its part of the requirements for taking batteries on an airplane.

Not really. These terminals are not exposed and they are protected from a short circuit by design, if stowed properly in the mavic bag.

Taping battery terminals is just one option and not a specific requirement provided protection from short circuit is provided by some other means.

This from the FAA site (my bold). Similar rules elsewhere:

Q5. What does “protected from short circuit” mean?

A5. When metal objects such as keys, coins, tools or other batteries come in contact with both terminals of a battery it can create a “circuit” or path for electricity to flow through. Electrical current flowing through this unprotected short circuit can cause extreme heat and sparks and even start a fire. To prevent short circuits, keep spare batteries in their original packaging, a battery case, or a separate pouch or pocket. Make sure loose batteries can’t move around. Placing tape over the terminals of unpackaged batteries also helps to insulate them from short circuit.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...fo/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf

 

[Mikewilltakeyouto]

Not really. These terminals are not exposed and they are protected from a short circuit by design, if stowed properly in the mavic bag.

Taping battery terminals is just one option and not a specific requirement provided protection from short circuit is provided by some other means.

This from the FAA site (my bold). Similar rules elsewhere:

Q5. What does “protected from short circuit” mean?

A5. When metal objects such as keys, coins, tools or other batteries come in contact with both terminals of a battery it can create a “circuit” or path for electricity to flow through. Electrical current flowing through this unprotected short circuit can cause extreme heat and sparks and even start a fire. To prevent short circuits, keep spare batteries in their original packaging, a battery case, or a separate pouch or pocket. Make sure loose batteries can’t move around. Placing tape over the terminals of unpackaged batteries also helps to insulate them from short circuit.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...fo/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf

Sounds like the Mavic shoulder bag would be fine then?

 

[Clintsc9]

I'm using the DJI bag and it should be ok but I thought these might be an easy extra cover to convince that "difficult" airport security dude I sometimes encounter.

 

[quick_dry]

I'm using the DJI bag and it should be ok but I thought these might be an easy extra cover to convince that "difficult" airport security dude I sometimes encounter.

exactly this. The situation is getting better as people are more familiar with drones now (and we're not using Lipos with dangling balance leads, etc) but it is better to cover them in case you get a difficult person, and when you see them pause at the bag scanner screen on you "Hi, they're drone batteries, they're all under the limit and terminals covered" seems to put them at ease a bit more. I see it as every second spent near security is a second longer that something could go wrong.

Those terminal covers seem like a bad design - those little lugs are so small it's a given that they;d break like that (I've gone through that pain with broken lugs on XT60 - much better to just take out the lugs entirely). I printed my own Mavic terminal covers from ABS, no lugs - just the box around the outside of the contacts, then theres no worries of it breaking like that.

 

[Logger]

I'm using the DJI bag and it should be ok but I thought these might be an easy extra cover to convince that "difficult" airport security dude I sometimes encounter.

Yeah that's fair enough. It's not required but it cannot hurt and it shows you taking things seriously.
I am more than happy to travel with the batteries in the Mavic shoulder bag, comfortable in the the knowledge, that by design they cannot realistically short on anything.