MM controller charging phone.

[Andybez34]

Is there a way to stop the controller charging the phone when connected. Thanks in advance Andy.

 

[Davidmito]

I don't think that you can, I believe the reason for this is so that your phone does not die mid-flight and has always got power to it so that you will always have control of the aircraft, especially if it is out of sight etc. Not too sure if the RTH would work if the phone is dead as controller would not have access to maps etc (don't hold me to this).

 

[k.achilleas]

No there is not .it is an Android issue not a controller issue

 

[TruGreen]

switch to apple product is the only way to stop the RC from charging the screen device

 

[bagger07]

i found this for your info...
The Mavic Mini remote controller has a battery capacity of 2600 mAh. It takes about 120 minutes to fully charge with the DJI 18W USB charger, battery life about four and a half hours when using an iOS device, and about one hour and forty minutes when connected to an Android device.
(Note: when connecting to an Android device, in order to maintain a stable connection between the remote controller and the external device, the Android system will use some of the remote controller’s power. Therefore, the remote controller has a shorter battery life when connected to an Android device.)

 

[Deleted member 103366]

Ok one for the gurus, are the wires used to charge the phone, yes Android, ALSO used for data?
At a guess I'd say maybe one is (-ve) but the +ve might not be. If this is the case it would possible to make up a cable with the the not needed wire severed or not connected i.e no charging.
Would this still work as a data cable and feed the phone info etc.?
Given that there are charge only cables, a curse for Phantom flyers, it seems to me that data only cables might be feasible.

 

[ff22]

Ok one for the gurus, are the wires used to charge the phone, yes Android, ALSO used for data?
At a guess I'd say maybe one is (-ve) but the +ve might not be. If this is the case it would possible to make up a cable with the the not needed wire severed or not connected i.e no charging.
Would this still work as a data cable and feed the phone info etc.?
Given that there are charge only cables, a curse for Phantom flyers, it seems to me that data only cables might be feasible.

That's what I was wondering, too. I recall in the old days there were data only and charge only cables. The charge only cables are intended to protect the device from snooping while charging at places like airports, etc. If they charge only, they can't siphon off data. But data only?????

 

[scro]

I believe android devices expect to see a small charge current when connected to a HOST device. If they don't see this then they don't talk. This is a USB specification thing rather than an android problem. As apple products don't use a true USB cable they can avoid this requirement. Note the charge current is very small so it would take a very long time to charge your phone up off the controller.

Edit: Correction - it's an Android specification rather than a USB spec.

 

[Deleted member 103366]

It's not the charging of the phone that is the problem as such, it's the discharging of the controller battery that is the problem. From what I have seen so far I doubt I'd get 4 flights out of one charge of the controller whereas an I phone gets 4.5 hours according to post #5. If, for an Android-phone/true-USB-connection there must be a small charge could it be limited by a resistor in the +ve ?

 

[scro]

I don't know enough about the details of USB standards to know how much more you could lower the nominal charge current than what it already is. Some people have spliced USB cables together and wired in a power bank to "charge" the phone, taking the strain off the controller battery. I charge my phone fully before going out flying and have always had the controller last longer than the 3x flight batteries.

 

[Deleted member 103366]

I noticed something, the phone has various 'mode' of USB connection, when connected to the controller it selects "charging via USB" or something to that effect, I tried switching it to the various data modes but it keeps reverting to "charging via USB".
Something else came to mind, "fast charging", sure enough fast charging was switched on, I have it switched off now but the controller is charging funnily enough so I can't test the results at the moment.

 

[scro]

Looking thru some of the forums for the bigger mavics, this is an issue for them as well. On the Go4 app it seems there was or is an option to switch off phone charging. Sadly not on the Fly app. Also, some have had success with putting a current limiting resistor in the line, others have put an isolation switch, and some have seen longer RC battery life with fast charging switched off. I've had a play with the various USB connect modes and not had any joy in getting a connection to the RC without charging the phone. Report back on how you get on as I'm sure others will be interested to hear too!

 

[Deleted member 103366]

With the likes of my P3 and either a Samsung Note 4 or S5 the drain is not so noticable, the battery is enormous, however I did stick an ammeter between my P3 controller and the phone Charging current from controller to veiwing device. unfortunately I don't have the cables or can't find them to do it with the mini's controller. I will stick the S6 on my P3 at some point ad see what it draws.

 

[Deleted member 103366]

Just found an appropriate cable to allow me to stick an USB dongle type ammeter in line between the controller and the phone, (Samsung S6) fast charging on or off makes not difference, hhhmmmmppphhhh. The current fluctates between 380mA and 410mA which is pretty much the same as was supplied by the P3's GL300* to whatever Samsung phone I used in that 'test'.



Ooops Homer moment relating to post #11 in the manual on page 7 "If a USB connection propmtappears when using an Android device , select the option to chrge only. Otherwise, it may result in connection error" Whoops duuuhhhh

 

[Deleted member 113929]

I liked the idea and bought one.(Aliexpress).

 

[Deleted member 103366]

They are handy. Be careful of the plug it seems fragile, it sometimes takes some waggling to get a connection. From memory the socket is sound. Goes up to 2A I think.