LOW FLIGHT TIME

[Memor Esto]

My drone is less than half a year old. I charge the batteries accordingly but today with testing flight time I could not get more than 15 minutes out of any of the three batteries. Any suggestions to get better flight time?

During my previous flight the drone flight was interrupted with a low battery warning at the drone landed almost immediately in an open field without my control or guidance. I had to go and find it. This battery issue in frustrating. I have never been able to get the 45 minute flight promised in the literature. What is the issue here?

 

[Cafguy]

You will never get the flight times you see in the adds. Those tests are done under very strict conditions.
What drone do you have? You should be getting a little more than that, with the older drones at least 20-30 min.

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America Memor Esto.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to the Forum.

.

 

[Meta4]

My drone is less than half a year old. I charge the batteries accordingly but today with testing flight time I could not get more than 15 minutes out of any of the three batteries. Any suggestions to get better flight time?

During my previous flight the drone flight was interrupted with a low battery warning at the drone landed almost immediately in an open field without my control or guidance. I had to go and find it. This battery issue in frustrating. I have never been able to get the 45 minute flight promised in the literature. What is the issue here?

The issue is probably your expectation is unrealistic.
DJI doesn't promise a 45 minute flight time.

DJI publish a "Max Flight Time" for reference and comparison purposes, just as your car manufacturer publishes fuel consumption specs, that you'd have trouble achieving.

Reading the fine print in DJI's specs explains how they achieve their times, flying in laboratory conditions.
For the Air 3S ....
Max Flight Time
45 minutes
Measured by DJI Air 3S flying forward at a constant speed of 32.4 kph in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Data is for reference only.

That's flying at only 9 metres/sec or 20.1 mph, which is about half of the Normal Mode full speed.
And it's at a constant speed - any slowing down or accelerating, or climbing will reduce flight time.
And they fly the battery right down to 0%.

 

[Memor Esto]

The issue is probably your expectation is unrealistic.
DJI doesn't promise a 45 minute flight time.

DJI publish a "Max Flight Time" for reference and comparison purposes, just as your car manufacturer publishes fuel consumption specs, that you'd have trouble achieving.

Reading the fine print in DJI's specs explains how they achieve their times, flying in laboratory conditions.
For the Air 3S ....
Max Flight Time
45 minutes
Measured by DJI Air 3S flying forward at a constant speed of 32.4 kph in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Data is for reference only.

That's flying at only 9 metres/sec or 20.1 mph, which is about half of the Normal Mode full speed.
And it's at a constant speed - any slowing down or accelerating, or climbing will reduce flight time.
And they fly the battery right down to 0%.

For my flight time tests today I flew the drone up to 10 meters and noted the time. It hovered there for 15 minutes and 5 seconds on # 1 battery and then landed automatically. #2 and #3 batteries did not do better. I do not think my expectations are unrealistic at all. I am a scientist in the aircraft design and development sector. When DJI makes a statement about flight time they should be able to back it up accordingly.

 

[Meta4]

For my flight time tests today I flew the drone up to 10 meters and noted the time. It hovered there for 15 minutes and 5 seconds on # 1 battery and then landed automatically. #2 and #3 batteries did not do better.
... When DJI makes a statement about flight time they should be able to back it up accordingly.

DJI's specs have always been realistic.

There may be another factor affecting your hover time.
If so, the explanation will probably be found in the recorded flight data from one of those flights.
Post the flight data and someone here will be able to see if there is something there.

To post your flight data there are a couple of options ...

1. Go to DJI Flight Log Viewer | Phantom Help
Follow the instructions there to upload your flight record from your phone or tablet.
That will give you a detailed report on the flight data.
Come back and post a link to the report it provides and someone might be able to analyse it and give you an understanding of the cause of the incident.
or
2. Just post the .txt file here
or
3. If you use Airdata, you can view the flight data on Airdata and post a link for the Airdata report.

 

[RodPad]

@Memor Esto.
Welcome to the forum, what are you flying?

What @Meta4 is asking you to provide is real info, data.
The procedure can be confusing the first time.
Ask the questions, you will get the help!

Rod ..

 

[AnzacJack]

What drone do you have

 

[BossBob]

If you are a “scientist in the aircraft design and development sector” then you should know that hovering is not the most economical flight mode for a rotary wing aircraft. That is normally when moving (forward) at a constant speed so that the aircraft is constantly moving onto a cushion of still air. Hovering in a fixed position is going to set up a downward moving column of air that the drone is having to climb through as well as maintaining its altitude.

 

[careless]

Welcome from Kentucky, what are you flying?

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[Laborous]

Welcome to the forum from the beautiful woods of Maine!

 

[Micky52]

Welcome,
I dont understand, the first thing to mention is your Drone model ???

 

[Meta4]

What drone do you have

Welcome,
I dont understand, the first thing to mention is your Drone model ???

It's going to be the Air 3S

 

[Memor Esto]

It's going to be the Air 3S

DJI 4 Pro - sorted the issue - we switched batteries to new carbon based batteries - flight time at hover, which is only one of our test criteria, is now 58 minutes 14 seconds best case and 56 minutes 19 seconds worst case scenario - we will do our other tests later in the week but we are confident that we are on the correct track - thanks for your feedback - enjoy you drones - keep safe.

 

[Meta4]

DJI 4 Pro - sorted the issue - we switched batteries to new carbon based batteries - flight time at hover, which is only one of our test criteria, is now 58 minutes 14 seconds best case and 56 minutes 19 seconds worst case scenario - we will do our other tests later in the week but we are confident that we are on the correct track - thanks for your feedback - enjoy you drones - keep safe.

The 15 mins you mentioned first sounds abnormal for the Mavic 4 pro.
Your flight data will probably find the reason for it.

Can you give a little explanation for your new "carbon based batteries" ?

 

[LoudThunder]

Any suggestions to get better flight time?

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

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mavicpilots.com

My DJI Drone and its three batteries are almost 4-years old. The three batteries are all pushing 80-charges each. They are numbered and I rotate them so all get about the same usage…

Even now, when I launch, the Fly App reports Flight time in the High 20's (27 to 29-minutes of flight time). I have not performed an actual time check against a secondary timer, but I am satisfied that the app is accurate within the parameters at the time of reporting… the variation in time would be based on the usage during the flight.

Flying in Sport mode, or in windy conditions will run the batteries down faster than initially reported when the drone took off…

If this situation was only one battery then it would be pretty obvious that the battery is a weak one… but you report this is true of all three of your batteries… So the only common denominator here is the drone, your charging method/system, and you…

If one of the motors is overdrawing power due to some condition it would probably be warmer, even hot, to the touch.

The DJI batteries are smart batteries and they should stop charging when they are full, so the question is what are you using to charge the batteries. As a "scientist" have you been experimenting with some method to "super-charge" the batteries?

Finally, there is you, are you following the charging instructions. Perhaps you leave them in a constant state of charge with the batteries all recharging, hoping the get them to 100%...

When DJI Batteries do not hold a charge it is often caused by the intelligent self-discharge feature, damage from physical impact or extreme temperatures, using an underpowered charger, or leaving the battery in an over-discharged state (meaning the batteries are always being charged, day-in, day-out…

Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

 

[Felix le Chat]

DJI 4 Pro - sorted the issue - we switched batteries to new carbon based batteries - flight time at hover, which is only one of our test criteria, is now 58 minutes 14 seconds best case and 56 minutes 19 seconds worst case scenario - we will do our other tests later in the week but we are confident that we are on the correct track - thanks for your feedback - enjoy you drones - keep safe.

I smell a sales pitch.

 

[wjkrysak]

Welcome to the forum. Happy that you got it sorted out.
We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.