Other P4 batteries

[stickybit]

Hello all,

Yesterday I had a "cell error" in one of my batteries. While draining the batterie to charge it back to 100% (just as adviced in the DJI GO 4 app), I was checking on Amazon and other sites for a new battery.
I found that next to the official DJI batteries there are some copies flying around.

Does somebody have experience with these batteries and are they worth it?

 

[DOC 1500]

Do you really want to trust your $1400 + Drone using battery knock-offs.
To me, peace of mind is worth a whole lot more than saving a few bucks on these Japanese knock-off batteries, or wherever they come from.

 

[DOC 1500]

If you do a search in the Forum on aftermarket batteries for p4p there's a lot of info. More than I can post here.

 

[MaxBtmTime]

Ah yes, and when I search the top 10-15 results are all people saying to search and next to no answers.
The drones aren't $1400 now, and paying an extra $100 out of fear, with no proof that one item is pure conjecture.
They could be terrible, or they could be nearly identical.

 

[With The Birds]

Ah yes, and when I search the top 10-15 results are all people saying to search and next to no answers.
The drones aren't $1400 now, and paying an extra $100 out of fear, with no proof that one item is pure conjecture.
They could be terrible, or they could be nearly identical.

You said it- they could be nearly identical- they might even be better. The thing is that the DJI OEM product from one of the several companies that produces the DJI batteries are a known quantity.

 

[DOC 1500]

Ah yes, and when I search the top 10-15 results are all people saying to search and next to no answers.
The drones aren't $1400 now, and paying an extra $100 out of fear, with no proof that one item is pure conjecture.
They could be terrible, or they could be nearly identical.

1400 was just a number...
I'll stick with OEM bats from an authorized dealer, you do what you want.

 

[FlyingUser]

Check the Amazon reviews, probably better than anything else. (ebay feedbacks are as good as useless, they're practically verifying the correct shipment, nothing more).

The problem with "aftermarket" is - which aftermarket? There is no brand, that you could stick to like Patona - you have a mix, where a few types are exceptionally good, others crash your bird.

 

[MaxBtmTime]

Check the Amazon reviews, probably better than anything else. (ebay feedbacks are as good as useless, they're practically verifying the correct shipment, nothing more).

The problem with "aftermarket" is - which aftermarket? There is no brand, that you could stick to like Patona - you have a mix, where a few types are exceptionally good, others crash your bird.

Powerextra makes them - nearly all I see are branded that way.

1400 was just a number...
I'll stick with OEM bats from an authorized dealer, you do what you want.

Absolutely. By the way, I have some titanium reinforced lug nuts for $499 a piece if you're interested. Surely your car is worth way more than the drone - why trust anything less expensive? They're certified by your OEM.

 

[DOC 1500]

Buy whatever you like

 

[stickybit]

Today I bought an original Phantom 4 battery, but the drone-gods don't like me. This is also a dead battery. One cell in error and deviates even more than my other battery which has problems.. :-(.

Now I have to drive back to this store (it's not in my own town, but 90 kilometers away since I was there for one appointment today :-() and return it. I hope the replacement is a working one!

 

[With The Birds]

When do you get the cell error? What charge level? Did you fully charge the battery first? You don’t need to drain the packs fully before recharging.

 

[MaxBtmTime]

Today I bought an original Phantom 4 battery, but the drone-gods don't like me. This is also a dead battery. One cell in error and deviates even more than my other battery which has problems.. :-(.

Now I have to drive back to this store (it's not in my own town, but 90 kilometers away since I was there for one appointment today :-() and return it. I hope the replacement is a working one!

I guess that really proves it pays to pay the premium and go OEM....

 

[stickybit]

When do you get the cell error? What charge level? Did you fully charge the battery first? You don’t need to drain the packs fully before recharging.

I get it at 100% charge level, and yes I did fully charge the battery first.

At this moment it's being charged the second time, just to make sure it's done a complete cycle. It's a pain with batteries for me this week :-(

 

[stickybit]

I guess that really proves it pays to pay the premium and go OEM....

That's true! I noticed one thing.. This "premium" battery was already more than 2 years old. It states "manufactured May 20 2016"... so "premium" will give you old batteries :-(

 

[With The Birds]

What was the state of charge on the battery out if the box. At two years old it may have self discharged to a level where irreversible damage occurs to the cells. I would be looking for a refund and finding a supplier with fresher stock.

 

[stickybit]

Yes, that's my thought also. Or they give me a high capacity battery in return, those haven't been around for long now so can't be that old.

 

[With The Birds]

So.... how many lights on the pack before you charged it?

 

[stickybit]

One... that should have alarmed me right away.. It should have 2 and the third flashing..

 

[With The Birds]

One is better than none. How much cell imbalance are you getting?

 

[stickybit]

One is better than none. How much cell imbalance are you getting?

Cell 1 is starting with 4,11 volt while the other 3 are at 4,37 volt.

Yesterday I drained the battery untill about 8% and recharged it again this morning to 100%. Still the same deviation.

Battery life is at 100% it says when I push the button 5 seconds.