Charging Mavic Air RC with Power Bank while flying

daisy-girl · Mar 10, 2018

I searched for an existing thread on this topic but did not find one as of 3/10/2018 in the early a.m.

Go to 34:20 of Rick's clip on Drone Valley, where he speaks of keeping the Power Bank in his pocket. In this same clip, Rick observes that a) the iPad Mini 4 fits perfectly into the arms of the Mavic Air RC and b) the cable that is pre-installed in the left arm is for an Apple product.

Kilrah · Mar 10, 2018

Same as Mavic Pro.

brilock1 · Mar 10, 2018

He will change his mind again when the Mavic pro 2 gets released.

daisy-girl · Mar 10, 2018

brilock1 said:
He will change his mind again when the Mavic pro 2 gets released.

Rick says that, for what he wants from a drone, the Mavic Air is his new favorite. Are you predicting that he will say the same about the Mavic Pro II?

brilock1 · Mar 11, 2018

I certainly am!

Prismatic · Apr 5, 2018

daisy-girl said:
I searched for an existing thread on this topic but did not find one as of 3/10/2018 in the early a.m.

Go to 34:20 of Rick's clip on Drone Valley, where he speaks of keeping the Power Bank in his pocket. In this same clip, Rick observes that a) the iPad Mini 4 fits perfectly into the arms of the Mavic Air RC and b) the cable that is pre-installed in the left arm is for an Apple product.

That's three topics, as I count them.

One of them is really important! I'll address them in reverse order:

3. The pre-installed left-side cable is indeed a Lightning connector. It's a very short one, just long enough for an iPhone. It will never mate with an iPad Mini 4. Ever.
2. I fly with an iPad Mini 4. You can jam it into the MA controller, but without 8" (200mm) fingers, it's really awkward and unbalanced, and you're never sure if the iPad is secure. Seriously the RC was never designed for that. I recommend a @MavMount, paired with a sun blocking hood.
1. Saved for last because I have the most to say. Like you, I've heard of using a power brick to pump external power to the RC on the left-side microUSB, while connecting DJI GO 4 on the iPad via the USB-A port that's centered under the arms. It isn't a crazy idea; we use lots of devices while they're charging ... like an iPad, right?

One thing bothers me: both my power bricks (3000 & 20000 mAh) specifically warn not to do this! Charging while discharging can ruin the battery and possibly cause heat, fire, and/or explosion: "DO NOT attempt to charge the Zeus2000 while using it as a power supply!" the instructions fairly shout.

Now, the battery in the RC is 2970 mAh, so we're in the "power brick" range. The question is, which sort of circuitry is in the RC? The "don't worry, be happy" kind, or the "I pity the fool" kind?

Ya' feelin' lucky?

Lake_Flyer · Apr 5, 2018

Prismatic said:
Now, the battery in the RC is 2970 mAh, so we're in the "power brick" range. The question is, which sort of circuitry is in the RC? The "don't worry, be happy" kind, or the "I pity the fool" kind?

I do this a lot and have tested this. But with a MP RC. I think they are practically the same. When you have the RC ON the power bank will only trickle charge the RC, so as long as the power bank has enough juice, the RC will not deplete (even while it also trickle charges your phone). As soon as you switch the RC OFF the power tank will QUICK charge the RC, with my 5A power tank even faster then with the original charger, So between flights it is still doing a great job in extending you fly day.

daisy-girl · Apr 6, 2018

Prismatic said:
The question is, which sort of circuitry is in the RC?in' lucky?

Exactly.

I've read that the danger is that if I keep the RC always at 100% with the Power Bank, the RC's battery may become overcharged. And in any case, LiPo batteries should not be kept at 100%.

So, from now on I won't attach the Power Bank until the RC is down to, say, 70%, and I will be sure to use specifically the 1A output from the Power Bank. If I observe that the RC charge varies little from 70%, I'll be quite confident that I am not damaging the RC's battery or circuitry.

I've also asked DJI Support for a opinion in the meantime.

Prismatic · Apr 6, 2018

I really don’t know the answer, but I think a fully charged RC has a minimum of five perfectly safe flights. Charge during any down time.
Good idea to check with DJI! Let us know what they say.

diego · Apr 6, 2018

I went on vacation to Punta Cana and one day just before flying, I discovered that I had accidentally left the RC on and it had discharged to zero. I hooked up the USB adapter to one of my drone batteries and connected it to the RC. I flew with the RC fluctuating between 7% and 8%. Only problem was the loud beeping low battery warning.