Another P3P down! Battery Error
- Thread starter vmp
- Start date
I think there are lots of users reporting it, which might suggest that it's easy for people to incorrectly seat the battery. Not so much a flaw, you can't out-design carelessness (no offence to the people who have had this happen to them - it's easy to forget when you're eager to get flying. I forgot to calibrate the compass first time I flew!) . But, I think most people are careful. I myself check the battery, double check, then triple check it, but then again I'm super paranoid. I almost always drive off then stop and check my boot has all my kit because I'm worried that I forgot something at the site I was flying at, which is probably verging on OCD but hey at least I never lose my stuff
Sounds like something else is going on here and not just pilots forgetting to seat the battery properly. How else do you explain this error with a confirmed properly seated battery. I think some of us don't want to acknowledge the truth!
I can't see velcro being much use since it only needs move out about 1mm.
With my P2 one of the three batteries was inclined to not click fully home if you didn't put it in carefully.
The first time I realised it was important there was a sudden low battery warning a minute after starting at 100%
With my P2 one of the three batteries was inclined to not click fully home if you didn't put it in carefully.
The first time I realised it was important there was a sudden low battery warning a minute after starting at 100%
If possible, I'd put that battery back into the P3 and start everything up. Then go in the battery option and check the 4 cells. I can't see how this is pilot error and sounds like a cell error. Does the lipo feel swollen? Most drone batteries don't come in such a slick package. One of the basic indicators of the health of a battery is swelling. So do the gray bits feel puffy and do they flex?
I'm shocked with this result - P3 don't measure voltage on motherboard, but only believes what the battery says. I of course check it every time, but in future the "data connection" maybe loose... DJI should use tighter connector, but now we can do is to cleanup the contacts sometimes...
This appears to be the common response.
Well, that appears to be the common issue.
Seating does appear to be the common reason why this error was observed. If there was no chance for repair, I would perform some drop test of the P3 with the battery unseated and seated. But that would just damage the device more at this point.
I sent an email to DJI in LA and will be waiting for a response from them. Hopefully we can all learn from this experience.
Side story:
I bought a new car a couple of year ago and 6 months after buying it, the car battery died. Which was very unusual as far as I know. I called the dealership and they said they could tow to dealer, but if battery was fine, then I would have to pay for the tow charges.
I had the battery charged at Autozone and they said battery was okay. I was glad that I didn't take to dealer because it would been costly. Anyways, a couple of months later it happens again. I called the dealer and they said it was my fault. That I probably left some lights on or something. I got it charged again and took the blame for it. A couple of months later it happens again.... Long story short, after the dealership telling me that it was my fault and that nothing was wrong with the battery, they released a recall for the car due to an issue with the software causing batteries to drain quicker than usual and not allowing them to start.
So honestly, I expect DJI to blame me for this. We will see once everything is said and done.
Exactly the same happen for me, and I had to restart it to get the warning of. You deskribe in all details the same and I am glad that it was not in the air.
VMP,
Firstly, thank you for posting and I am truly sorry for your loss.
If anything, this incident reminds us to be more diligent in our pre-flight checks.
Even though the sudden failure of the battery is possible, but based on the facts that are presented, it is MORE PROBABLE that the battery came loose in mid flight.
I did some testing after reading your posts and have the following observations.
- liked you have demonstrated and also some of the other posts, IT IS possible to have the battery not completely put in and the phantom still powers up. It is a fine line, but when you are flying, it become a completely random event that can happen by chance.
- I can duplicate the critical battery error by not inserting the battery properly and wiggling the battery pack when it is on the ground without the propellers.
- If you insert the battery slowly, there is actually 2 clicks especially if you insert it with a slight angle. So if you hear the first click and stop, you are in trouble.
- Once it is LOCKED in with both to and bottom, it is almost impossible to shake it out without damaging the housing and the battery clips.
The evidence you presented is totally consistent with the theory of a partial inserted battery, that is
- your battery is lying outside of the craft at the crash site.
- you are able to power up the the craft again afterwards. Usually, if there is an intermittent connection WITHIN the battery, a drop like that will LIKELY make the connection worse and you will lose power completely.
- PULLING THE STICK ALL THE WAY BACK AT 26 MPH IS DEFINITELY NOT THE THING TO DO.
This sudden change in direction will make the battery come out even more and the backward flying will tilt the battery downwards causing it to come loose.
I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.
Is this a DJI design fault - PARTIALLY.
Will I or anyone do exactly the same thing under these circumstances as you did. VERY LIKELY before reading your posts.
WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS INCIDENT IS THAT IF THIS IS TO HAPPEN TO ME IN MID AIR, PUT IT DOWN AS SLOWLY AS YOU CAN AND IF SAFE TO DO SO, RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT.
So thank you for sharing again and hope that you do not give up on the phantom 3.
Firstly, thank you for posting and I am truly sorry for your loss.
If anything, this incident reminds us to be more diligent in our pre-flight checks.
Even though the sudden failure of the battery is possible, but based on the facts that are presented, it is MORE PROBABLE that the battery came loose in mid flight.
I did some testing after reading your posts and have the following observations.
- liked you have demonstrated and also some of the other posts, IT IS possible to have the battery not completely put in and the phantom still powers up. It is a fine line, but when you are flying, it become a completely random event that can happen by chance.
- I can duplicate the critical battery error by not inserting the battery properly and wiggling the battery pack when it is on the ground without the propellers.
- If you insert the battery slowly, there is actually 2 clicks especially if you insert it with a slight angle. So if you hear the first click and stop, you are in trouble.
- Once it is LOCKED in with both to and bottom, it is almost impossible to shake it out without damaging the housing and the battery clips.
The evidence you presented is totally consistent with the theory of a partial inserted battery, that is
- your battery is lying outside of the craft at the crash site.
- you are able to power up the the craft again afterwards. Usually, if there is an intermittent connection WITHIN the battery, a drop like that will LIKELY make the connection worse and you will lose power completely.
- PULLING THE STICK ALL THE WAY BACK AT 26 MPH IS DEFINITELY NOT THE THING TO DO.
This sudden change in direction will make the battery come out even more and the backward flying will tilt the battery downwards causing it to come loose.
I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.
Is this a DJI design fault - PARTIALLY.
Will I or anyone do exactly the same thing under these circumstances as you did. VERY LIKELY before reading your posts.
WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS INCIDENT IS THAT IF THIS IS TO HAPPEN TO ME IN MID AIR, PUT IT DOWN AS SLOWLY AS YOU CAN AND IF SAFE TO DO SO, RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT.
So thank you for sharing again and hope that you do not give up on the phantom 3.
One of my battery is 1 click type and the other one is 2 click type. The first one I got whith the PH3P is the 2 click type.
I use Phantoms since 2.5 years, since the P1s and i had a preorder Phantom2 as well. The early Phantom2s had huge battery problems and many crashed because of a bad code from DJI. There copy protection was sometimes to harsh and the Phantoms went down like stones. I just doubt it that you can insert the smart battery wrong. The Phantom2 wouldnt even start its motors when you see 0.0V in the iOSD screen. I had this problem many times with my P2, after cleaning the data pins before every flight i never had this problem again.
The only thing i realized is that the P3 smart battery is way easier to remove compared to the P2. Even with the correct technic it is sometimes a bit hard to remove the P2 battery, without the correct technic it is nearly impossible sometimes. The P3 is totally different here, i think it is because the plastic shell of the P3 is more flexible.
The only thing i realized is that the P3 smart battery is way easier to remove compared to the P2. Even with the correct technic it is sometimes a bit hard to remove the P2 battery, without the correct technic it is nearly impossible sometimes. The P3 is totally different here, i think it is because the plastic shell of the P3 is more flexible.
Hmm. If the battery only popped out a wee bit, only the data pins would disconnect? Surely the main power pins would be in contact? The OP reckons that the props stopped totally.
Now unless the battery was hanging half out of the compartment, would that happen!
I don't know.
Now unless the battery was hanging half out of the compartment, would that happen!
I don't know.
Thank you very much for running those tests. I am sure that this information will be valuable to others also.
I agree with you that pulling back full throttle was not the smartest thing to do... It was the first thing that came to mind and didn't put too much thought behind it because I was afraid that it was going to drop right out of the sky. I know better now.
What bothers me a bit is the fact that I can put the battery in, hear it click, turn on the P3 with all of the checks being okay and still run into a problem like this. IMO, the P3 should have a sensor that knows when the battery is completely secure and that sensor provides some type of status to the DJI Pilot app so that it is not able to take off without the battery status being okay.
I have no plans on giving up on the P3, because if it was a design or hardware flaw, I would expect the manufacturer to handle this appropriately. And if it was my fault, then it is on me. I just find it difficult to swallow that after being so careful with this device, it still happened. I am not sure what I could have done differently.
I got 6 batteries coming on Tuesday. I will test them out to see if they are the one click vs two click. I wonder if they noticed that the two click can cause problems and they re-designed that part of the battery to prevent accidents from happening.
Yeah, they did stop in mid air. It was really weird when I saw it happen. I literally stood there with a blank stare in my face while it plunged down to the ground.
The battery was next to where the P3 landed. It did not come out of the P3 while it was free falling.
That "Cat Teacher" needs to learn to spell "you're"
Oh hughie, you can't help yourself!
4 Batteries Checked 2 One Click and 2 are 2 Click
Looking over closely I cannot see the difference?
Has anyone with better eye's seen what makes the two click different?
And yes it was the new batteries I received that were 2 clickers.
