Hello,

On page 2 of the Spark Quick Start Guide, there is Number 5 "External Charging Contact".  I could not find out what is it and what is its usage?  PLease let me know.

Thanks a lot.
Thenhan

It will be available to charge the battery via the External Charging Contact in the future. Here is pic about the External Charging Contact.

DJI Diana Posted at 2017-8-1 02:45
It will be available to charge the battery via the External Charging Contact in the future. Here is pic about the External Charging Contact. [view_image]

when will this device be available? will there be a car charger as well?

A car charger kit would be nice for this little drone.  

Lucas775 Posted at 2017-8-1 03:12
A car charger kit would be nice for this little drone.

Just use a (ideally QC3.0 compatible) cigarette lighter charger and charge the battery inside the spark.

Am I the only one thinking about autonomous return to charging point on a sentry type mode? Offt

Lucas775 Posted at 2017-8-1 03:12
A car charger kit would be nice for this little drone.

Just search DJI Spark Car Charger on ebay...

fans9133fc27 Posted at 2017-8-1 08:00
Am I the only one thinking about autonomous return to charging point on a sentry type mode? Offt

That was my thought when I first saw the batteries (and the external contacts).  That it could (like a Roomba) navigate back to a charging port and land autonomously.  That would be extremely cool!

i also wonder when the contact charger would be out

Connect a second battery to those contacts to increase flight time.

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 03:30
Just use a (ideally QC3.0 compatible) cigarette lighter charger and charge the battery inside the spark.

the hub would be a lot quicker and i tried a 2.4 amp charger. it didn't work at all. im going to have to find a higher current output or maybe an inverter?

Thor1 Posted at 2017-8-1 09:16
the hub would be a lot quicker and i tried a 2.4 amp charger. it didn't work at all. im going to have to find a higher current output or maybe an inverter?

Yes, the hub would be quicker. But it can only be powered by an AC-source. You should look for a 12V/1.5A charger for the car. This is the cheapest way to charge to battery as fast as possible without buying an expensive converter or ac-PowerBank. Takes about 70min for a full charge. This is totally okay for me when traveling.

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 09:42
Yes, the hub would be quicker. But it can only be powered by an AC-source. You should look for a 12V/1.5A charger for the car. This is the cheapest way to charge to battery as fast as possible without buying an expensive converter or ac-PowerBank. Takes about 70min for a full charge. This is totally okay for me when traveling.

thanks dirk52 but i think i am going to try this! its only $25 cad

https://www.amazon.ca/Bapdas-Inv ... p;keywords=inverter

Look on my charger.. Its very cheap only 10USD.. I paint dock and printed on 3D printer. Electronic I use CC/CV power supply and Step-Up converter from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-D ... :g:tZ4AAOSwo4pYP~22 , http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Adjustable-Step-up-boost-Power-Converter-Module-XL6009-Replace-LM2577-/371054648639?epid=1166822817&hash=item5664949d3f:g:nx0AAOSwGvhUJ3NQ .. Voltage set to 13,05V , current set to 1,6A... Charger work from 10V to 15V (charging in a car).

Thor1 Posted at 2017-8-1 09:45
thanks dirk52 but i think i am going to try this! its only $25 cad

https://www.amazon.ca/Bapdas-Inverter-Laptop-Tablets-iphone/dp/B01H2U9DE4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501608292&sr=8-2&keywords=inverter

I don't know that it matters, but I purchased a pure sine wave inverter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DP9 ... obq5i1T3CdzmTNQBLsg $35).  I was concerned (overly paranoid????) that a modified sine wave inverter would play havoc with the charger or batteries.

Charles Adams Posted at 2017-8-1 09:59
I don't know that it matters, but I purchased a pure sine wave inverter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DP9JE18?aaxitk=F04obq5i1T3CdzmTNQBLsg $35).  I was concerned (overly paranoid????) that a modified sine wave inverter would play havoc with the charger or batteries.

i cant see why it would hurt your batteries but i am not an expert!

Thor1 Posted at 2017-8-1 10:04
i cant see why it would hurt your batteries but i am not an expert!

Yep, not certain it would.  But I've had past experience with chargers that would get hot and fry when on a modified sine wave adapter.  I've no evidence or reason to believe that the DJI products would fare poorly, but I figured that a few bucks extra in the inverter wouldn't hurt.

Charles Adams Posted at 2017-8-1 09:59
I don't know that it matters, but I purchased a pure sine wave inverter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DP9JE18?aaxitk=F04obq5i1T3CdzmTNQBLsg $35).  I was concerned (overly paranoid????) that a modified sine wave inverter would play havoc with the charger or batteries.

You are overly paranoid .. Spark charger not use transformer but switching power supply.. Switching power supply have rectifier first on primary side.

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 09:51
Look on my charger.. Its very cheap only 10USD.. I paint dock and printed on 3D printer. Electronic I use CC/CV power supply and Step-Up converter from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-D ... :g:tZ4AAOSwo4pYP~22 , http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Adjustable-Step-up-boost-Power-Converter-Module-XL6009-Replace-LM2577-/371054648639?epid=1166822817&hash=item5664949d3f:g:nx0AAOSwGvhUJ3NQ .. Voltage set to 13,05V , current set to 1,6A... Charger work from 10V to 15V (charging in a car).

For what is the first module? The red one?

Charles Adams Posted at 2017-8-1 10:04
Yep, not certain it would.  But I've had past experience with chargers that would get hot and fry when on a modified sine wave adapter.  I've no evidence or reason to believe that the DJI products would fare poorly, but I figured that a few bucks extra in the inverter wouldn't hurt.

my only advice is to read reviews and get the the least costly with the best reviews but since you probably already know that i wont insult your intelligence

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 10:06
You are overly paranoid  .. Spark charger not use transformer but switching power supply.. Switching power supply have rectifier first on primary side.

Guilty as charged :-), and I love my spark so I baby it!

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 10:10
For what is the first module? The red one?

This is DC-DC Step-UP converter... Without Step UP converter, charger work only on 15V. http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Ad ... :g:nx0AAOSwGvhUJ3NQ

Charles Adams Posted at 2017-8-1 10:12
Guilty as charged :-), and I love my spark so I baby it!

I understand you

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 10:10
For what is the first module? The red one?

Im sory !!! I mistake You .. Red module is CC / CV power supply !!! Http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-D ... sh=item1ecc203a26:g : I80AAOSwV0RXqFU7

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 10:23
Im sory !!! I mistake You .. Red module is CC / CV power supply !!! Http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-DC-DC-Step-down-Adjustable-CC-CV-Power-Supply-Module-Converter-LED-driver-/132273682982?epid=512962757&hash=item1ecc203a26:g : I80AAOSwV0RXqFU7

Do I need this?
What would happen when I connect a 12V 2A DC powersource to the step up and set it to 13.05V.
All the charging electronic is build in the battery...so need for this, or?

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 10:30
Do I need this?
What would happen when I connect a 12V 2A DC powersource to the step up and set it to 13.05V.
All the charging electronic is build in the battery...so need for this, or?

Battery not have Current limiter !! You must limit the current with CC / CV power supply .. Trust me, I tested it with Lab Power Supply. If you Over current to 2.5A battery blinking Over current protection, and if set Over 13.1V battery blink Over voltage protect ..

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 10:44
Battery not have Current limiter !! You must limit the current with CC / CV power supply .. Trust me, I tested it with Lab Power Supply. If you Over current to 2.5A battery blinking Over current protection, and if set Over 13.1V battery blink Over voltage protect ..

I believe you, I just want to understand. This is why I asked what happened when connecting a 12V 2A supply? It can’t deliver more than 2A. So why do I need to regulate it? That you have to step up the voltage to 13.05V is clear.

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 10:49
I believe you, I just want to understand. This is why I asked what happened when connecting a 12V 2A supply? It can’t deliver more than 2A. So why do I need to regulate it? That you have to step up the voltage to 13.05V is clear.

Theoretically your idea can work, but DC-DC step-up converter working in Current limitation is not good electro solution. Clear solution uses CC / CV power supply.

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 10:59
Theoretically your idea can work, but DC-DC step-up converter working in Current limitation is not good electro solution. Clear solution uses CC / CV power supply.

I don’t plan to let the step up work as a current limiter. The current is limited by the powersupply which is rated with 2A max output.

Do you know for what the two others squares are? I saw that the DJI charging station uses all 4 connectors, and not just two of them.

Dirk52 Posted at 2017-8-1 11:13
I don’t plan to let the step up work as a current limiter. The current is limited by the powersupply which is rated with 2A max output.

Do you know for what the two others squares are? I saw that the DJI charging station uses all 4 connectors, and not just two of them.

It is data link.. It's marked as D+ and D- on battery PCB.

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 11:20
It is data link.. It's marked as D+ and D- on battery PCB.

Ahh, thank you nice to know.

Arcicorsa Posted at 2017-8-1 11:20
It is data link.. It's marked as D+ and D- on battery PCB.

Hi Arcicorsa,

You still listening to this old thread?

I am wondering what the board inside the Spark charging hub does. From what you found out I‘d say the power supply provides a constant 13.05V. Current limiting must be done in the charging hub as per your experiment the battery doesn‘t limit the current. Instead it only detects overcurrent. So is this a correct summary:
-power supply‘s job is to provide a constant and stable 13.05V
- charging hub does the current limiting to 2.5A on each slot
- battery does the balancing and parameter checking (temp, current, voltage min/max)

Do you know what protocol is spoken throught the D+/D- ports. And do those ports correspond to the outer most pins of the battery connector? I reckon this is how the battery exchanges information about temp, cell voltages, total voltage etc with the charging hub and Spark. Am I right?

Thanks,
Michael