Questioning my Flight Times per Batterie

[Barnes_de]

Brand new, my M2P averaged 21 min flight time on one battery (100% -> 20..25%).
6 months old, it’s 17 min.

Is both about normal?

 

[Hegemone]

I am at 10 ish hours flight time and still averaging about 20 mins a flight mostly in P mode.

 

[old man mavic]

check the individual cell readings in the app could be the cells are not taking an even charge, when you say you are running them down to 20-25 percent that is to low to be storing them at ,if left to long at low cell voltages they will loose some of their ability to hold a full charge also you do not say how many charges they have had during that time,unfortunately they will loose some storage capacity after many many charges

 

[parkgt]

40 plus flight on 4 batteries and still have time to fly 19 to 20 minutes with at least 25% left. I typically have tried to avoid going much past 35% before landing.

 

[Thomas B]

check the individual cell readings in the app could be the cells are not taking an even charge, when you say you are running them down to 20-25 percent that is to low to be storing them at ,if left to long at low cell voltages they will loose some of their ability to hold a full charge also you do not say how many charges they have had during that time,unfortunately they will loose some storage capacity after many many charges

However, at 6 months use on my main 4 batteries for my M2P I am still seeing 29-31 min flight time immediately after take-off, but I never set a stopwatch to time it. Many factors: temp, wind speed and direction and AGL altitude vs sea level can all affect the time shortening it. There are several threads on battery care on the forum. It is of note that charge level decline during any single use seems to accelerate once it’s below below 30% charge.

 

[old man mavic]

However, at 6 months use on my main 4 batteries for my M2P I am still seeing 29-31 min flight time. I never set a stopwatch to time it. Many factors: temp, wind speed and direction. And AGL altitude vs sea level can all affect the time shortening it. There are several threads on battery care on the forum.

that is the problem with our lipos,there is no hard and fast rule on battery life,as you say there are many factors to contend with,in the UK where i live we dont get the extremes of cold or heat that other parts of the world get and i think climate is one of the biggest factors effecting battery life

 

[old man mavic]

there is one thing i have noticed on the forum with regards to battery issues,and that is the fact that the mavic 2 seems to have more problems reported,with battery swelling and flight times than the first generation mavics, could this be because they are 4 cell as apposed to the 3 cell but are not much bigger in overall size just a thought,the 4 cell batteries in my Phantom that i used to own were considerably larger

 

[Thomas B]

there is one thing i have noticed on the forum with regards to battery issues,and that is the fact that the mavic 2 seems to have more problems reported,with battery swelling and flight times than the first generation mavics, could this be because they are 4 cell as apposed to the 3 cell but are not much bigger in overall size just a thought,the 4 cell batteries in my Phantom that i used to own were considerably larger

Interesting point.

 

[mavicn00b]

there is one thing i have noticed on the forum with regards to battery issues,and that is the fact that the mavic 2 seems to have more problems reported,with battery swelling and flight times than the first generation mavics, could this be because they are 4 cell as apposed to the 3 cell but are not much bigger in overall size just a thought,the 4 cell batteries in my Phantom that i used to own were considerably larger

If anything I find the Mavic 2 batteries in general run much cooler than MP/P4 batteries - probably because the current draw demands arent as great. The Size difference with MP and M2 batteries appears to be about 8-10mm so approx size for additional 1 cell. Capacities are approx the same.

OP: If you want to get a clearer view of your battery, Litchi will report the batteries remaining capacity in mAh so you know for sure rather than just guess. Flight times will vary with age, cycle count, capacity but also speed flown, wind @ altitude etc

 

[DanMan32]

Two out of my 3 batteries swelled some.
One by 1mm when I measured after just getting home, 2nd by 2mm.
They all flew OK.
Hold on, let me explain.
I didn't notice the swelling on my 2nd battery when I flew with it, but my 3rd wouldn't latch good and that's when I noticed the 2nd had some swelling.
The third one always had a bit weaker latch on the left side.
I flew the third within a soccer field I was in no higher than 10 feet.

Swellings went down at room temperature of about 72 degrees F. 2nd barely shows, 3rd about 1mm or less. I'm going to start securing with velcro.

I had the batteries in my car way too long here in Florida. At least I park in a parking garage at work and in my garage at home.

My P3 batteries from November 2016 are still good. No swelling though one is a tad snug.

 

[Barnes_de]

However, at 6 months use on my main 4 batteries for my M2P I am still seeing 29-31 min flight time immediately after take-off, but I never set a stopwatch to time it. Many factors: temp, wind speed and direction and AGL altitude vs sea level can all affect the time shortening it. There are several threads on battery care on the forum. It is of note that charge level decline during any single use seems to accelerate once it’s below below 30% charge.

This indicates that something is wrong: You have >25min (100% -> 30%), I do have 17,

Of course many factors play a role. This is why I go from average flight durations.

My 3 batteries have 103, 31 and 48 charging cycles. (Another one was replaced after 48 cycles after a crash). There is only a small difference between them in terms of achieved flight times.

 

[Barnes_de]

If anything I find the Mavic 2 batteries in general run much cooler than MP/P4 batteries - probably because the current draw demands arent as great. The Size difference with MP and M2 batteries appears to be about 8-10mm so approx size for additional 1 cell. Capacities are approx the same.

OP: If you want to get a clearer view of your battery, Litchi will report the batteries remaining capacity in mAh so you know for sure rather than just guess. Flight times will vary with age, cycle count, capacity but also speed flown, wind @ altitude etc

I will download Litchi to check. Thx for the hint.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Another reason the M2 batteries stay cooler is that they are not inserted inside the aircraft, unlike all the Phantoms. Sitting on top, wind cooled, allows the heat to quickly dissipate. It also keeps a hot battery from frying internal aircraft components, if left in the aircraft during cooling after flight. My flight times, while flying at a continuous 30mph from 100% to under 10% remaining average around 23 minutes. Might have been a minute longer when new. Would really like to know what type of flying is enabling anyone to average 30-31 minutes every flight. Are these predominantly launch and hover flights, while mostly shooting stills, with very slow flying in tripod mode?