Need firmware advise

[Ed209]

The battery is not failing. When running firmware 1.5, the Phantom is allowing (in certain scenarios) the battery to be flown down to 3.0V. That causes the battery to shut off because that's how it's designed to work.

Understood. I called it battery failure but it can called unicorn magic... So what would you call it? "A nominal function" since the battery shuts off?
I'm just kidding.

So has anyone had their battery "shut off as designed" when running 1.4?

 

[msinger]

So has anyone had their battery "shut off as designed" when running 1.4?

It's a 1.5 firmware issue

 

[dirtybum]

From what i understand,yes, it is a 1.5 issue but also I recommend anyone wishing to use a different FW than 1.6 should at very least have someone on 1.6 update all their batteries for them. Because thats where the imporntant change was made

 

[Ed209]

Now this is confusing. FW 1.4 apparently was fine. FW 1.5 had the "issue" with batteries dropping below 3.0v. FW 1.6 fixes the battery issue but also introduces GEO and speed reduction in cold temps. So why not stay at 1.4? I can't remember for certain which FW had battery updates because DJI doesn't keep the release notes on their site.

 

[msinger]

I can't remember for certain which FW had battery updates because DJI doesn't keep the release notes on their site.

1.3.2 and 1.6 have battery updates.

 

[Ed209]

So then the voltage issue was fixed with a FW to the P3 not to the battery?

 

[msinger]

So then the voltage issue was fixed with a FW to the P3 not to the battery?

DJI has not confirmed there is an issue with 1.5 -- nor have they mentioned fixing such an issue in their release notes. Regardless, I recommend you do not use 1.5. Any other version is okay to use.

 

[Ed209]

DJI has not confirmed there is an issue with 1.5 -- nor have they mentioned fixing such an issue in their release notes. Regardless, I recommend you do not use 1.5. Any other version is okay to use.

From the release notes I found on 1.6
http://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_Release_Note_en_12.22.pdf

What’s New： 1. In cold environments, propulsion output is automatically adjusted based on battery temperature and cell voltage. Horizontal and vertical speed is also decreased to avoid triggering battery protection.

I'm assuming that's how they fixed the issue in many were reporting in 1.5

1.5 Release notes here: http://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_Release_Note_en_11.25.pdf
1.4 Release notes here: http://download.dji-innovations.com...antom_3_Professional_Release_Note_en_0907.pdf

 

[Ed209]

What I'm getting at is if nobody was complaining of critical battery issues before 1.5, then did DJI introduce the issue in 1.5 and fix in 1.6? If 1.4 was fine...

 

[msinger]

What I'm getting at is if nobody was complaining of critical battery issues before 1.5, then did DJI introduce the issue in 1.5

Right -- that's what I'm trying to tell you. However, DJI did not admit this issue exists. If only reading the firmware release notes, it appears all they did is make some battery-related improvements.

tl;dr: Don't use firmware 1.5

 

[dirtybum]

They went as far as to say if you update to 1.6 and update all your batteries to 1.6 your welcome to go BACK to 1.5 if you'd like. Reading between the lines will lead you to believe that the important changes were in the battery updates. That coupled with the conversation I had with DJI repair department in California where he stress the importance of having your batteries upgraded to 1.6. They wouldnt admit to 1.5 being bad a company would never volunteer that information. But they also wouldn't put in writing go ahead and go back to it if they thought it was a real issue. That being said my bird fell out of the sky on 1.5 I would not recommend using either!

 

[robbie4200]

So DJI won't honor their warranty if you were running any FW version other than 1.6 when a malfunction occurs?