Horizon v-3 split power mod

FredzMaxxUAV · Mar 13, 2016

Good luck. Never got more than 28.5 mins with this mod (to 10%). A pity:-(

KyleMaxxUAV · Mar 13, 2016

I know most people don't think so, but I think the "magic" is the balance lead & charging procedure.

" I think ", that if you let the smart master battery charge the whole setup like @dirtybum it calibrates the smart board in the battery, allowing it to learn that it now has double the capacity but same voltages. The way DJI seems to get % and flight times is through approximation algorithms.

When you just plug in an extra battery without letting it learn / watch (while it's charging), it uses what it knows to tell you what's left.
For example I put 4500 mah in , I'm at 50% and that has always = 2250 mah, I usually use 225mah per min so = 10 mins so I'm going go tell the app it has 12 min (numbers are just examples)

But if you let it watch and learn by charging through the smart cap it knows that there is a larger capacity and will adjust accordingly
For example " oh hey, I put 9000mah in so 50% should be around 4500 mah . For some reason I'm using 300 mah a min (added weight) so I should have 15 mins left

I hope that makes sense .
again the numbers are just for example to explain my thoughts)

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app

dirtybum · Mar 13, 2016

Fredz said:
Good luck. Never got more than 28.5 mins with this mod (to 10%). A pity:-(

I consistently hit 6.5 and turn around at the 45-50% mark ending with aver. 22 min. W/ lipo's.
So to me 28 min would mean 8.5
No pity in that Fredz

FredzMaxxUAV · Mar 13, 2016

dirtybum said:
I consistently hit 6.5 and turn around at the 45-50% mark ending with aver. 22 min. W/ lipo's.
So to me 28 min would mean 8.5
No pity in that Fredz

Depends what lipos of course...

Ed209 · Mar 13, 2016

P3P Canada said:
I know most people don't think so, but I think the "magic" is the balance lead & charging procedure.

" I think ", that if you let the smart master battery charge the whole setup like @dirtybum it calibrates the smart board in the battery, allowing it to learn that it now has double the capacity but same voltages. The way DJI seems to get % and flight times is through approximation algorithms.

When you just plug in an extra battery without letting it learn / watch (while it's charging), it uses what it knows to tell you what's left.
For example I put 4500 mah in , I'm at 50% and that has always = 2250 mah, I usually use 225mah per min so = 10 mins so I'm going go tell the app it has 12 min (numbers are just examples)

But if you let it watch and learn by charging through the smart cap it knows that there is a larger capacity and will adjust accordingly
For example " oh hey, I put 9000mah in so 50% should be around 4500 mah . For some reason I'm using 300 mah a min (added weight) so I should have 15 mins left

I hope that makes sense .
again the numbers are just for example to explain my thoughts)

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app

I know you mentioned this theory in the other thread and it makes perfect sense but my tests so far proved that the smart cap isn't doing any such thing. When I charge G6 2400s or 1800s on a separate charger my flight times increased. They did with the split 2x2S too but just not as proportionate for the weight/capacity that was added. If I check voltage of the cells after flight, I see that all 3 batteries are around the same voltage, so we know the batteries are drained evenly.

It will be interesting to see other peoples results with this mod. I think you may be right about some calculations done by the smart cap. For example, I think it may measure the amount of power put in during charge which could be used for other metrics. But I just don't get how my numbers aren't drastically off when connecting external batteries that are not charged through the DJI charger and connected to it with balance leads.

KyleMaxxUAV · Mar 13, 2016

Ed209 said:
I know you mentioned this theory in the other thread and it makes perfect sense but my tests so far proved that the smart cap isn't doing any such thing. When I charge G6 2400s or 1800s on a separate charger my flight times increased. They did with the split 2x2S too but just not as proportionate for the weight/capacity that was added. If I check voltage of the cells after flight, I see that all 3 batteries are around the same voltage, so we know the batteries are drained evenly.

It will be interesting to see other peoples results with this mod. I think you may be right about some calculations done by the smart cap. For example, I think it may measure the amount of power put in during charge which could be used for other metrics. But I just don't get how my numbers aren't drastically off when connecting external batteries that are not charged through the DJI charger and connected to it with balance leads.

Hmm, the plot thickens. I'm going to need to investigate further.

What firmware are you on fredz / dirtybum /ed209 ?

And Ed, so yours is setup just like horizons ? All the same balance connectors which tie into the smart cap ?

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app

dirtybum · Mar 13, 2016

I'll be running my 1.6 here when rain lifts! Its faster than my 1.19

FredzMaxxUAV · Mar 13, 2016

I am on 1.4.1 with new motors.
@dirtybum: how is 1.6 faster than 1.1.9 in GPS mode? From what I heard, 1.1.9 is the only firmware not to limit GPS speed...

Ed209 · Mar 13, 2016

I'm on 1.1.9 with new motors

dirtybum · Mar 13, 2016

Fredz said:
I am on 1.4.1 with new motors.
@dirtybum: how is 1.6 faster than 1.1.9 in GPS mode? From what I heard, 1.1.9 is the only firmware not to limit GPS speed...

This was my experience. The return trip is slow on my 1.19
I thought 1.19 was faster??

FredzMaxxUAV · Mar 14, 2016

So still no one else has tested the V3 or similar split pack mod, except me, Unknown Caller and Ed209?

FredzMaxxUAV · Mar 14, 2016

Ed209 said:
I'm on 1.1.9 with new motors

How did you manage to get 1.1.9 on a bird with new motors? Was it delivered like that?

UnknownCaller · Mar 14, 2016

dirtybum said:
This was my experience. The return trip is slow on my 1.19
I thought 1.19 was faster??

You let it stay in return home mode the whole way back? Why not fly it yourself on the way back much faster?

UnknownCaller · Mar 14, 2016

1.32 + 1.19 are the fastest GPS mode all the way through you cannot sustain a speed over 37 miles an hour in any firmware higher than 1.32. In GPS mode you might break it for a second but it always goes back down.

UnknownCaller · Mar 14, 2016

UnknownCaller said:
You let it stay in return home mode the whole way back? Why not fly it yourself on the way back much faster?

You're talking about with the wind behind you on the way back it's kind of strange does a Tailwind on 1.6 is faster than the Tailwind on 1.19.

FredzMaxxUAV · Mar 14, 2016

UnknownCaller said:
1.32 + 1.19 are the fastest GPS mode all the way through you cannot sustain a speed over 37 miles an hour in any firmware higher than 1.32. In GPS mode you might break it for a second but it always goes back down.

That's what I thought as well. Anyone know if there is a speed difference between 1.32 and 1.1.9?

dirtybum · Mar 14, 2016

UnknownCaller said:
You let it stay in return home mode the whole way back? Why not fly it yourself on the way back much faster?

Fredz said:
So still no one else has tested the V3 or similar split pack mod, except me, Unknown Caller and Ed209?

I'm charged up ready to try the v-3 rain all **** day yesterday, so foggy this morning i cant see across the yard.

Unknown, i know everything thats "supposed" to be true about firmwares, speed restrictions, gps vs atti vs rth! But i can only report what MY equipment does for me.
When i fly out its INTO the wind( if it above 12 i usually wont bother) with my p3a, when i get out to the 50-45% i turn back by hitting rth button all the while leaving my throttle on full. 9 outa 10 times i'll leave it in "smart rth mode because with the winds help in smart rth mode i get 45-50 mph WITH the convience of guided return. If i cancel smart rth while its returning at 45-50 and rely on gps it drops down to 35-40, if i switch to atti it goes faster 50-60
So on my 1.6 the smart rth is a good balance between return in gps or atti. Its been this way since i placed it on 1.6 ( i even started a thread bout it back then) it very consistant and dependable, to where i dont mind being 6+ miles out and letting it go down to 45%!
But (and i'll test more) my p3p 1.19 just ISNT that fast and it DOES NOT do the fast smart rth.
I had high hopes for the 1.19 bit so far its not consistent. You know better than anyone, when u go that far you need to be able to predict EXACTLY how your equipment will behave!