EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR DRONE BATTERY

Aerial shots are fast becoming a popular request by real estate agents for their listings. Aerial photography is a key point of difference in real estate listings, with their ability to display a variety of property features.

Most photographers are new to the world of drones and the technology behind it. The care and maintenance this expensive equipment is essential, the quickest way to end your drone photography career is to not look after your batteries. Not caring for your drone battery can shorten its lifespan, or even cause them to fail mid-flight, costing you thousands of dollars.

Therefore, we have put together some tips for extending the life of your drone battery:

When Storing Your Battery For More Than 4 Days, Always Store At About 50% Charged.

Charging your battery to 100% might seem like a good idea, but the easiest way to damage a battery over time is to store it fully charged. Storing your battery at 100% will cause the battery to swell and puff which will result with the battery case eventually splitting, it’s best to keep it between 40 to 80%.

Follow The 40-80 Rule.

In the past, it was once considered a good practice to charge rechargeable batteries to full and then drain them completely before recharging again. This is no longer the case!

Drones use lithium-ion batteries to power them, by overcharging or completely draining a battery you are shortening their life. You can easily extend the life of the battery by only charging it halfway, or between 40 to 80%.  Lithium batteries can only be fully charged and drained between 300 and 500 times before it needs to be replaced.

Never Run Your Battery Completely Flat.

Running a battery until it is completely empty, causes irreversible damage. It is best to put it on charge at no lower than 15%.

Charging At The Right Time.

To get the most out of your battery is to charge it just a few hours before you plan on using your drone. A rechargeable battery will lose a percentage of its charge each day that it’s left off the charger.

Store In a Cool Place.

Being considerate of where you store your battery is also important. Temperature can also have an effect on the battery’s life, charging a battery in a hot room can reduce its capacity by 35%.

Flight time can also diminish when batteries are used in very cold temperatures. This can be fixed by warming up the battery with your hand before you use it in the drone. Although the length of time you can fly the drone will be diminished, there will be no permanent damage to the battery.

It is also important to remember to not store your battery in the drone or connected to the charger for long periods of time. This is because of fire risk and the chances of the battery expanding whilst in the drone.

Pick The Best Conditions For Flying The Drone.

Flying your drone in good weather will reduce the pressure on the battery. The tougher the conditions the more the drone must work, which results in more battery power being used.

Caring for your equipment is essential for gaining quality aerial shots. Following these tips will ensure you’re well on your way to a successful real estate photography career.

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