2nd post having resolved my first issue (thanks to Steve an AH-1G). I've been flying for over a week now with no issues, but I do have a question about battery life.
I use the two Yuneec batteries that came with the Q5004K (I swap them over for each flight so they are getting equal usage). I have a standalone balance charger to charge them both at the same time with a display showing the charge is balanced across the three cells. I also have a separate GLEO tester to verify/check the voltage at any time I choose.
I charge to FULL (12.6 volts). GLEO says 12.5, but that is close enough for ratifying.
I then fly, take pictures etc and when the voltage shows 10.7 on my ST10+ I land. However, as soon as I turn off the props, the voltage shows around 11.1 on the battery. When I got back in the house I retested the battery with the GLEO and it said 11.4. Now 11.4 is still plenty of juice to fly around for a little longer, so did I need to come in early?
I live in England, Autumn is here and Winter is knocking on the door and I know that the cold can influence the battery life. Clearly colder outside (about 7 degrees centigrade) than inside, I assume the difference between the 11.1 I got after landing and the 11.4 I got when indoors was simply to do with the change in the ambient temperature.
What I want to know though is:
Is 10.7 on the RC a set in stone rule to get the Q500 on the floor ASAP, and if I land, see the voltage jump back to 11.1, can I fly again (keeping distance and height to a minimum just in case I need to get back super quick) until I see 10.7 again. I have done this a couple of times and probably had about an extra minute or two, and everything was OK. Nevertheless I don't want to try and be clever and then come unstuck with the drone in pieces and me saying to myself, "if only I heeded the warnings". I haven't seen the second warning on the RC yet and have never seen less than 10.7 on the RC.
Bottom line is I want to get the most out of the battery, and whilst recharging time is irrelevant if your looking at a smashed up drone, if I recharge at 11.1(ish) and am I likely to shorten the life of the battery, a bit of a Catch 22? I know 11.1 is 3.7 and 11.4 is 3.8 per cell and I have seen it written that 3.8 per cell is a good voltage level to put into storage. 10.7 for real would be 3.56, so is this too low for storage and need to put a bit of juice back in? I would rather ask for the forum's expertise to make sure I can make the best informed decision possible.
I assume when I get to the Spring/Summer and the temperature improves into the high teens and 20s (centigrade) I will notice the difference in my favour (i.e. 10.7 may really be 10.7 and I will have had a longer time in the air anyway).
Thanks in advance.
I use the two Yuneec batteries that came with the Q5004K (I swap them over for each flight so they are getting equal usage). I have a standalone balance charger to charge them both at the same time with a display showing the charge is balanced across the three cells. I also have a separate GLEO tester to verify/check the voltage at any time I choose.
I charge to FULL (12.6 volts). GLEO says 12.5, but that is close enough for ratifying.
I then fly, take pictures etc and when the voltage shows 10.7 on my ST10+ I land. However, as soon as I turn off the props, the voltage shows around 11.1 on the battery. When I got back in the house I retested the battery with the GLEO and it said 11.4. Now 11.4 is still plenty of juice to fly around for a little longer, so did I need to come in early?
I live in England, Autumn is here and Winter is knocking on the door and I know that the cold can influence the battery life. Clearly colder outside (about 7 degrees centigrade) than inside, I assume the difference between the 11.1 I got after landing and the 11.4 I got when indoors was simply to do with the change in the ambient temperature.
What I want to know though is:
Is 10.7 on the RC a set in stone rule to get the Q500 on the floor ASAP, and if I land, see the voltage jump back to 11.1, can I fly again (keeping distance and height to a minimum just in case I need to get back super quick) until I see 10.7 again. I have done this a couple of times and probably had about an extra minute or two, and everything was OK. Nevertheless I don't want to try and be clever and then come unstuck with the drone in pieces and me saying to myself, "if only I heeded the warnings". I haven't seen the second warning on the RC yet and have never seen less than 10.7 on the RC.
Bottom line is I want to get the most out of the battery, and whilst recharging time is irrelevant if your looking at a smashed up drone, if I recharge at 11.1(ish) and am I likely to shorten the life of the battery, a bit of a Catch 22? I know 11.1 is 3.7 and 11.4 is 3.8 per cell and I have seen it written that 3.8 per cell is a good voltage level to put into storage. 10.7 for real would be 3.56, so is this too low for storage and need to put a bit of juice back in? I would rather ask for the forum's expertise to make sure I can make the best informed decision possible.
I assume when I get to the Spring/Summer and the temperature improves into the high teens and 20s (centigrade) I will notice the difference in my favour (i.e. 10.7 may really be 10.7 and I will have had a longer time in the air anyway).
Thanks in advance.
