What are the 4 spring loaded pins in the battery compartment?

[DoomMeister]

I assume these pins are for monitoring the individual cells of the battery pack while in use, but haven’t found any docs that really say for sure.

I have a P3 Standard that has issues with the camera, but no batteries for the P3S. Wondering if I can use a bench power supply to do some testing by connecting to the main power stabs.

Hoping for replies from our gurus.

 

[captainmilehigh]

After looking at my Standards, it looks like an easy test with both tabs easily accessible. I'd try to limit inbound power to at or near the 15.2 volts required.

Also, you might need to hook up the power in the same sequence of a normal startup procedure. Don't know how it would act if powered up 'early'.

 

[Oso]

I assume these pins are for monitoring the individual cells of the battery pack while in use, but haven’t found any docs that really say for sure.

Even since I've been a member here (2015) we have referred to them as the "spring loaded data pins." I have accepted it as fact all these years.

When people have reported that the AC starts up normally but there is no info in the app about battery charge levels, etc, those pins are one of the first thing to check. Especially following a crash or shell repair when physically reconnecting those data pins has often been overlooked during the rebuild. Once reconnected, or when the battery is fully inserted to make contact with those pins, battery data in the app often returns.

Anecdotal evidence yes, but likely that's the purpose as you assumed.

 

[DoomMeister]

After looking at my Standards, it looks like an easy test with both tabs easily accessible. I'd try to limit inbound power to at or near the 15.2 volts required.

Also, you might need to hook up the power in the same sequence of a normal startup procedure. Don't know how it would act if powered up 'early'.

So the P3S uses a 4S and not a 3S battery pack?

 

[DoomMeister]

Even since I've been a member here (2015) we have referred to them as the "spring loaded data pins." I have accepted it as fact all these years.

When people have reported that the AC starts up normally but there is no info in the app about battery charge levels, etc, those pins are one the first thing to check. Especially following a crash or shell repair when physically reconnecting those data pins has often been overlooked during the rebuild. Once reconnected, or when the battery fully inserted to make contact with those pins, battery data in the app often returns.

Anecdotal evidence yes, but likely that's the purpose as you assumed.

In that vein of thought it could be that they are serial data between the F/C and the internal battery management chip.

 

[captainmilehigh]

So the P3S uses a 4S and not a 3S battery pack?

Not sure what you're talking about,....but my P3S Standards use P3S batteries.....LiPo, 15.2 volts, 4480 mAh, model #PH3. Just regular 'ol DJI OEM's.

 

[DoomMeister]

Not sure what you're talking about,....but my P3S Standards use P3S batteries.....LiPo, 15.2 volts, 4480 mAh, model #PH3. Just regular 'ol DJI OEM's.

Thanks Capt! I got off my duff and did a search for the battery specs after that post, and found what you posted. They do use a 4S pack which is 4 LiPo cells in series to obtain the 4480mAh 15.2V pack.

I’ll try using some other 4S packs I have to see if I can at least bench test it. I won’t try flying without an OEM pack in the bird.

 

[captainmilehigh]

Thanks Capt! I got off my duff and did a search for the battery specs after that post, and found what you posted. They do use a 4S pack which is 4 LiPo cells in series to obtain the 4480mAh 15.2V pack.

I’ll try using some other 4S packs I have to see if I can at least bench test it. I won’t try flying without an OEM pack in the bird.

Yep. I'm only really familiar with Standards(P3S's), so everything else is just a guess.

I ALWAYS bench test with the props OFF the bird. You don't want any surprises.

 

[DoomMeister]

I ALWAYS bench test with the props OFF the bird. You don't want any surprises.

Where’s your sense of adventure Cap?

Thanks for looking out for me though! Appreciate it.

 

[WV. Rootman]

I hope I remember right. I had a p3 with no battery to test it. I used a power supply, but I had to use the electronics from a dead battery to keep it operating. Otherwise it would shut down. It worked for me. I got everything operating, then bought a battery and flew it.

 

[DoomMeister]

I hope I remember right. I had a p3 with no battery to test it. I used a power supply, but I had to use the electronics from a dead battery to keep it operating. Otherwise it would shut down. It worked for me. I got everything operating, then bought a battery and flew it.

I powered it with an unsmart 4S LiPo, but it won’t arm the motors due to not having the smart battery electronics.

It is being donated as a parts drone in the very near future. The self test shows the GPS, Compass, and IMU to be functional. Hoping this will help the person get theirs up and running.