Mini 5 Pro is Broadcasting RID with ALL Batteries, Including the Mini 5 Pro Standard Battery

[mavic3usa]

DJI says you cannot safely use Mini 3 Pro or Mini 4 Pro batteries in the Mini 5 Pro. Voltages are slightly different and even though it will launch, it will throw low power errors during flight that can lead to forced landings. Not good.

This is the only chart I can find so far, if someone wants to translate. The caption is below but unconfirmed.


"Note that mini 5 pro batteries are not reverse compatible with mini3/4. DJI also notes that mini3/4 batteries are smaller than mini 5’s, thus you should expect shorter flight time if you do so."

 

[mavic3usa]

DJI says you cannot safely use Mini 3 Pro or Mini 4 Pro batteries in the Mini 5 Pro. Voltages are slightly different and even though it will launch, it will throw low power errors during flight that can lead to forced landings. Not good.

This is probably what you are referring to so while marked "compatible" the compatibility-testing has not been completed.

 

[TT3023]

Hi all. I took this question to DJI corporate. In fact, I pointed them at this thread specifically as a reference. Their official response is that the Mini 5 Pro transmits Remote ID irrespective of whether the Standard or Plus Intelligent Battery is used, and this is the intended behavior. They note that the manual is being corrected to reflect this fact.

 

[TT3023]

This is probably what you are referring to so while marked "compatible" the compatibility-testing has not been completed.

View attachment 185902

It would be interesting to hear anyone's first person experiences with flying the Mini 5 Pro with Mini 4 Pro batteries (standard or plus), or even Mini 3 Pro batteries. Much shorter flight times or not? Power-related error messages? Forced landings? Other anomalies or problems?

 

[GadgetGuy]

It would be interesting to hear anyone's first person experiences with flying the Mini 5 Pro with Mini 4 Pro batteries (standard or plus), or even Mini 3 Pro batteries. Much shorter flight times or not? Power-related error messages? Forced landings? Other anomalies or problems?

Several people online that tried eventually received intermittent insufficient power related messages during extended flight flights with accompanying forced landing notifications. Not worth the risk, as DJI Support now also strongly discourages doing so. Mini 5 Pro batteries only in the Mini 5 Pro.

 

[BossBob]

It would be interesting to hear anyone's first person experiences with flying the Mini 5 Pro with Mini 4 Pro batteries (standard or plus), or even Mini 3 Pro batteries. Much shorter flight times or not? Power-related error messages? Forced landings? Other anomalies or problems?

At least one case of damage due to forced landing while using Mini 3 Pro Plus batteries in a Mini 5 Pro. Luckily, DJI have picked up the tab and the user has had a replacement drone. Lower voltage and higher power output from the 5 Pro batteries mean that 3/4 batteries aren’t going to work reliably even though they fit as the cause according to DJI was ‘a loss of connection’ but the motors just stopped and the logs showed loss of power.

 

[TT3023]

Given that U.S. users can't buy the batteries directly from DJI -- I will refrain here from a detailed rant about the bipartisan political stupidity of our government that has led to this situation -- one hopes that there aren't a lot of counterfeit Mini 5 Pro batteries floating around from the alternative sources (e.g. AliExpress, eBay) that many U.S. users will be turning to for batteries for these drones.

 

[BossBob]

No good using even a standard Mini 4 Pro battery in a Mini 5 Pro, the 4 battery is over 5g heavier than the 5 battery. Definitely take you above the 250g limit.

 

[TT3023]

Given the reported weight variances on the drone itself, this may be something of a moot point technically. But I agree that use of the standard Mini 5 Pro battery provides the best argument for at least attempting to stay under 250.

 

[TT3023]

BTW, does anyone have a reliable source for Official DJI Mini 5 Pro batteries (standard and/or plus) that will ship to/in the U.S., given that DJI won't? Obviously you can find loads of supposedly official DJI batteries on AliExpress, eBay, etc., but which are real? Which are fake and unreliable? Given there is no official way to get the official batteries from DJI in the U.S., this will be an ongoing question, which will be similar for other mission critical parts like propellers!

 

[mavic3usa]

BTW, does anyone have a reliable source for Official DJI Mini 5 Pro batteries (standard and/or plus) that will ship to/in the U.S., given that DJI won't? Obviously you can find loads of supposedly official DJI batteries on AliExpress, eBay, etc., but which are real? Which are fake and unreliable? Given there is no official way to get the official batteries from DJI in the U.S., this will be an ongoing question, which will be similar for other mission critical parts like propellers!

It's a bit too early for fake/counterfeit Mini 5 Pro batteries to be showing up on the internet (there are barely any knockoffs for the Mavic 4 Pro) but as long as there is an AliExpress, nothing is off the table. Nevertheless, I believe the current reliable eBay sellers from South Korea and Japan who sell authentic DJI drones to the US also offer authentic batteries. It does them absolutely no service to sell fake batteries, especially since they are all currently "overpriced" is a good indicator.

When we start seeing standard batteries for $39 and plus batteries for $59, then we know. Not my endorsement but I think it's safe to buy from those listings that explicitly claim they are original or authentic especially when they list the part number since any deviation would be easily refunded. Sellers from China are still maybe questionable, maybe look at the ratings and the prices. I plan to order the two-pack Plus batteries shortly from eBay.

 

[HaroldCal]

FWIW, I always thought it was silly that previous models with RID would not allow the pilot to force it to turn on even when not required by weight. For example, a 107 pilot flying a mini 4 pro with the standard battery.

I understand them not allowing it to be disabled when required by weight, but why not allow it to be forced on when not required?

It's silly to have to strap a RID module onto the aircraft when it has RID built-in.

Another good example: The Neo, being the only Class 1 drone that can be used for OOP (US). But it requires a RID module (and light) on board. Fortunately, it keeps the weight low enough to still qualify as Class 1. But RID is literally a software switch. AFAIK, it uses the same 2.4/5.x radio that's used for control, and just adds another SSID to it. So it should be as easy as allowing me to turn it on. It would be nice as a firmware update to enable this on all models.

 

[TT3023]

It's a bit too early for fake/counterfeit Mini 5 Pro batteries to be showing up on the internet (there are barely any knockoffs for the Mavic 4 Pro) but as long as there is an AliExpress, nothing is off the table. Nevertheless, I believe the current reliable eBay sellers from South Korea and Japan who sell authentic DJI drones to the US also offer authentic batteries. It does them absolutely no service to sell fake batteries, especially since they are all currently "overpriced" is a good indicator.

When we start seeing standard batteries for $39 and plus batteries for $59, then we know. Not my endorsement but I think it's safe to buy from those listings that explicitly claim they are original or authentic especially when they list the part number since any deviation would be easily refunded. Sellers from China are still maybe questionable, maybe look at the ratings and the prices. I plan to order the two-pack Plus batteries shortly from eBay.

Can you point me at the eBay listing you're using? This whole situation is madness, with the added confusion of the import fees/tariffs being a crap shoot even with sellers who claim they cover them from their end (as indeed, some actually do). Over on AliExpress, there are now sellers claiming authentic M5P batteries at price points like $73 or $80 or such +$10 shipping, with imports/tariffs supposedly covered, which seem ... problematic, though the stores seem to have good reps -- for whatever that's actually worth. Mission critical stuff like batteries and props just aren't worth taking chances with. Thanks!

 

[mavic3usa]

FWIW, I always thought it was silly that previous models with RID would not allow the pilot to force it to turn on even when not required by weight. For example, a 107 pilot flying a mini 4 pro with the standard battery.

I understand them not allowing it to be disabled when required by weight, but why not allow it to be forced on when not required?

It's silly to have to strap a RID module onto the aircraft when it has RID built-in.

Another good example: The Neo, being the only Class 1 drone that can be used for OOP (US). But it requires a RID module (and light) on board. Fortunately, it keeps the weight low enough to still qualify as Class 1. But RID is literally a software switch. AFAIK, it uses the same 2.4/5.x radio that's used for control, and just adds another SSID to it. So it should be as easy as allowing me to turn it on. It would be nice as a firmware update to enable this on all models.

I can only guess this is a government regulation thing, something about turning RID on and off.

Let's say in your example, you were allowed to turn ON the RID function, does it stay on permanently or can you later turn it OFF? (which is against the regulation). If it stays on for good, then you have drones where some of them are ON and some of them are OFF, how would you know unless there is a robust UI that clearly indicates. It's hard enough for the average consumer to know whether RID is transmitting or not. Don't forget, there is an RID check process that first verifies RID is functioning properly before allowing props to spin and take off. Such a switch complicates that process.

For the NEO, in order to transmit standard RID, DJI must first obtain a valid RID DoC from the FAA, without it....no standard RID. Sounds like they didn't bother.

 

[mavic3usa]

Can you point me at the eBay listing you're using? This whole situation is madness, with the added confusion of the import fees/tariffs being a crap shoot even with sellers who claim they cover them from their end (as indeed, some actually do). Over on AliExpress, there are now sellers claiming authentic M5P batteries at price points like $73 or $80 or such +$10 shipping, with imports/tariffs supposedly covered, which seem ... problematic, though the stores seem to have good reps -- for whatever that's actually worth. Mission critical stuff like batteries and props just aren't worth taking chances with. Thanks!

If I were to recommend, this listing seems reasonable; you should not have to worry about authenticity or tariffs:

DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight Battery Plus - Authentic- No Tariffs In US

This is the one I plan to use, I'm willing to take transaction risks to save a few dollars and will report back my eBay experiences:

2PCS Original DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight Battery Plus- Mini 5 Pro Battery

As with most posts in this forum related to drone and drone-related purchases, the details are time-sensitive. What happens today can vary wildly by what happens tomorrow. The entire situation is unpredictable so please aware there could be drastic changes in the future.

 

[TT3023]

If I were to recommend, this listing seems reasonable; you should not have to worry about authenticity or tariffs:


2PCS Original DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight Battery Plus- Mini 5 Pro Battery

This is the one I plan to use, I'm willing to take transaction risks to save a few dollars and will report back my eBay experiences:

DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight Battery Plus - Authentic- No Tariffs In US

As with most posts in this forum related to drone and drone-related purchases, the details are time-sensitive. What happens today can vary wildly by what happens tomorrow. The entire situation is unpredictable so please aware there could be drastic changes in the future.

Thanks!

 

[TT3023]

M5P might be a great drone but the launch is a cluster.

Yep. But it's not DJI's fault. They've been bending over backwards to try avoid this kind of mess, and politicians in both parties here have just plowed ahead with their agendas to kill Chinese drones without any demonstration that they actually are a security risk, and not even letting DJI prove otherwise no matter how often DJI asks for that opportunity.

 

[TT3023]

For reference, here are a couple of the AliExpress listings for batteries that seem uncomfortably low priced:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809807355416.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809807135631.html

 

[mavic3usa]

For reference, here are a couple of the AliExpress listings for batteries that seem uncomfortably low priced:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809807355416.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809807135631.html

I believe the M5P standard battery is MSRP $69.

 

[TT3023]

I believe the M5P standard battery is MSRP $69.

Yeah, but that's straight from DJI. With prices this low, a reseller isn't making much if anything on the sale, especially if tariffs/import fees are covered as claimed, even with a $10 shipping free.