Tip for Keeping your batteries warm for cold-weather flying

TyCon · Jan 31, 2017

I found a neat way to keep my batteries warm while I was flying today. Seeing I was only a short distance from my pick up truck, I mounted a spare battery into my iPhone holder that connects to my vent. I put the heat on warm and had it coming out of the vent. It kept the battery nice and warm in till I needed to switch it out. It fit perfectly into the iPhone holder and it allows you to adjust the heat to the perfect temperature.

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Mr. Salty · Jan 31, 2017

That's a good idea.

I had cold batteries on a recent flight. My vehicle was parked with the engine off because I was going to be flying for awhile.

My solution is to use a rechargeable electric hand warmer, which I place in a small soft-sided lunch cooler with the batteries. Plus, the hand warmer can be used to charge the controller or my phone if need be!

Jayfdee · Jan 31, 2017

Nice, thanks for sharing.

tcope · Jan 31, 2017

Here is my question.... on a newer vehicle (last 10 years even), heat can be set to come out of the upper vents? I have automatic but with some manual buttons. Still, I don't know that there is a button for this. Auto heats comes out near the floor only. There is a defrost button but this turns heat to windshield only.

Last year I did have an issue with batteries under 15C. I ended up putting them on the dash. This would not work well while driving so I can see your solution as being a good idea.

TyCon · Jan 31, 2017

I have a 2016 F-150 and I can select the heat to come out of the upper vents, so this does work perfectly for me. I was just surprised, and impressed, that the battery fit perfectly in the spring loaded clamp designed for an iPhone. Seeing I was filming right next to my truck on a 20F degree day, it allowed me to do a quick swap of batteries for the 15-20 minutes of additional filming and never got a cold battery warning.

Now if I could only find a good pair of gloves that keep my fingers warm and still allow me to delicately control the RC!

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