In-The-Field Power Pack

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With most people only having a single battery for their Phantom 3 units, has anyone looked into or tried a portable power pack to charge you batteries while in locations that don't have power available? I used to use this type of thing many years ago to keep my VHS camcorders going, but those were relatively low wattage compared to the LiPo batteries in our quads.

Canadian Tire (in Canada) currently has a sale for 600a/400w power pack for 35% off ($199 down to $129) and might be a handy accessory.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/automotive/batteries-accessories/power-packs/power-packs.html.
 
My dad hypothesizes (since I don't know much about this stuff) that you could get a lighter and cheaper setup by using a 12V battery and then an inverter in order to charge the batteries.

According to him it should cost $25 for the 12V battery and $40-$50 for the inverter, putting your total at $65-75.

Best of luck.

EDIT:

Here's an inverter for $22.59 shipped from the United States.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Car-Po...759?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fd04449f

And here's a 12V battery + charger for $33.50 shipping from Illinois

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lowrance-el...410?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9a27eb3a

So for $56.09 you can have the setup you need to charge batteries in the field.
 
Last edited:
Harbor freight inverter 700 watt - 44 bucks and three DJI power chargers. Two deep cycle batteries I already own for helis. that's what I'll be doing.
 
My dad hypothesizes (since I don't know much about this stuff) that you could get a lighter and cheaper setup by using a 12V battery and then an inverter in order to charge the batteries.

According to him it should cost $25 for the 12V battery and $40-$50 for the inverter, putting your total at $65-75.

Best of luck.

EDIT:

Here's an inverter for $22.59 shipped from the United States.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Car-Po...759?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fd04449f

And here's a 12V battery + charger for $33.50 shipping from Illinois

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lowrance-el...410?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9a27eb3a

So for $56.09 you can have the setup you need to charge batteries in the field.

I didn't even think of a more DIY solution. The size, weight, and price are all dramatically less than the ready made solutions. A little more research needs to be done to come up with something optimum, but to compare what you have that I can pick up locally (all in Canadian dollars):

MotoMaster 200W Mobile Power Outlet and Inverter - $28.79
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-200w-mobile-power-outlet-and-inverter-0111847p.html

or

MotoMaster 300W Mobile Power Outlet and Inverter - $35.99
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-300w-mobile-power-outlet-and-inverter-0111870p.html

and

12-Volt 7AH SLA Battery - $34.99
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/12-volt-7ah-sla-battery-0102038p.html#.VWfGh0aYFnk

Thank you so much @NickCopter, and thanks to your father for making me think instead of just walking into a store and buying a shelved product!
 

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