How does Gimbal handle restrictions to movement. Built in safeguards?

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New P4P plus owner here. I have flown P4P+ a total of four times. Very careful each time and I am still using it in “DJI Beginner Mode”. Yesterday was my first flight in an open field without anyone or obstacles near me. As I am getting ready to fly, lo and behold a guy walks up and ask me a question so I was momentarily distracted. I turned on the P4P but left the clip-on factory Gimbal cover attached. While it was sitting on the launching pad and within a few seconds I realized my mistake and powered down the aircraft. I then carefully removed the Gimbal cover and restarted the Phantom 4 pro plus again. The Phantom 4 pro plus and Gimbal appeared fine after removing the cover so I proceed to fly it and had no issues with the aircraft or the gimbal. The gimbal seemed to have not minded that I had left the cover on while it was trying to going through it’s start-up gyration sequence. After I took the cover off it seemed fine. It doesn’t seem like I hurt or damaged the gimbal.

So that brings up my question, how does the Gimbal handle those situations when it is restricted by something such as a cover or other object. It must have some built-in safeguard or else it seems every other newbie pilot’s Phantom 4 pro plus would be in the shop for Gimbal repair.
 
I do not have an answer for you, however I have mistakenly turned on my P4P with the gimbal cover on more times than I would like to admit. So far I have detected no adverse effects, even though I feel like an idiot every time I do it. I have a sheet of paper which sits on top of my drone when stored which says "remove gimbal cover." Still I occasionally forget. I hope someone gives you an informed answer to your query.
 
Hi Dutiful1, thanks for feedback. When I left the gimbal cover on, at that moment I had a paradigm shift. From this point firward
I will only fly using a pre flight check list. Also considering painting the gimbal cover with orange hi visibility paint. Like you mentioned, I had a paper note reminder but for some reason didn't act on it. Anyway, lessen learned ! Thanks.
 
Think of it like the driveline in a vehicle. Forget to fully release the emergency brake before driving on the rare occasion and you will probably get away with it. Make a habit of it and you are significantly reducing the service life of the friction materials and other components and looking at premature failure. I have never powered up with the guard on however recall cringing on at least 5 occasions when I have seen others do it to one of my phantoms. There has been no apparent ill effect to date.
 

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