What would you buy?
a second battery or the car charger?
It seems a silly question but we generally use the Phantm far from home, so just 20 mins couldn't be enough to get the right video/shot or the right time...
Don't say both because is too easy!

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I will tell you what I do, then make up your own mind. I have three batteries, and I also carry a small  cheap car charger I bought on eBay for about $25 and that does me for all my work. Quite often I fly all 3 batteries, and on rare occasions I need to fly more, but in most cases I am moving to a new location, so I recharge one of the batteries in the car on the way.

Having one battery is very limiting and I would always advise at least two batterys.  I have 3 and most times I will use at least 2. If I know I will use all 3 - I will put first used onto car charger while I fly the next two. By time I have flown those - first is full charged.

A car charger ... I bought for less than $10 of ebay and it works as good as any other charger.

So to the OP ..... I apologise - but have to say - buy another battery AND a car charger ...

Yeah that is what I do but just with two batteries..but I don’t trust cheap chargers...

I have a small 1200watt pure sine wave generator for remote work, 1.5 gallons runs 9hrs, that's better than running your car and wasting several gallons to charge 1 battery.
I have 5 batteries. I could fly 24hrs a day if needed. paid $150US
seriously, get yourself a small portable pure sine wave generator 1200watts or more.

Thought about that! But with less watt

Manu P4P Paris Posted at 11-22 13:20
Yeah that is what I do but just with two batteries..but I don’t trust cheap chargers...

The 'cheap charger' is not an issue, all the charging circuitry and intelligence is in the DJI battery anyway. The cheap charger that Solentlife and I use works just fine.

I agree with Solentlife - get both.  Sometimes you need to do two flights quick.  Other times you might need to do a half dozen flights with one car drive.  You need both items or be willing to not fly when you want/need to fly.  

Sick Dawg Posted at 11-22 13:28
I have a small 1200watt pure sine wave generator for remote work, 1.5 gallons runs 9hrs, that's better than running your car and wasting several gallons to charge 1 battery.
I have 5 batteries. I could fly 24hrs a day if needed. paid $150US
seriously, get yourself a small portable pure sine wave generator 1200watts or more.

The guy is looking for a sensible economic solution.

There is no need to run the car engine to charge 1 DJI battery ...

Even if you were to charge multiple batterys - because the average car alternator pumps out serious amps - why do you need to run engine continuous ?  You could charge a couple of DJI batterys ... run car engine for 5 mins and put it all back ..

I've been RC flying and playing with electrics for many years ... I have to sort such on my yachts let alone RC ... and you get to learn about battery management. Generators are usually last resort ...

Since an inexpensive car charger wouldn’t work for me,
I bought a second DJI 100W charger.

With four flight packs, this arrangement cuts my charging period in half.


RedHotPoker

RedHotPoker Posted at 11-25 02:20
Since an inexpensive car charger wouldn’t work for me,
I bought a second DJI 100W charger.

Just out of curiosity .... how do you power your DJI charger in the car ?

OP was I understand it - looking for a 'field' solution.

solentlife Posted at 11-25 06:40
Just out of curiosity .... how do you power your DJI charger in the car ?

OP was I understand it - looking for a 'field' solution.

That’s a simple answer. I rYde a Can Am SpYder RS-S Roadster, with a simple trickle power outlet, with only enough juice for charging/recharging my iPad, and yes, the motor must be running.

For thee OP’s solution, My suggestion, is buying an extra flight pack or three. ;-)

Besides, Charging DJI batteries takes way too long, to be doing it while ‘up’ in the strawberry fields.


RedHotPoker

I've got five batteries & had P4P for a couple of years. Used the car battery charger once but well worth it.
Suggest additional battery & the car charger - so long winded way of saying I agree with Solentlife

4 Batteries is enough for my time in the field as i have 3 dogs waiting at home, BUT, i did get the el cheapo car charger off of ebay and i have used it once, maybe twice in about 3 years

thanks...my question was more like a survey...for personal use, and for work, I only use extra batteries..charging them while I use the other...never had a car charger but I think I'm gonna buy it soon...

The car charger is well worth the few euros .... and you can find good ones for a lot less than branded. Remember its only really a Step UP DC to DC regulated power supply ... (P3 : 17.4v from 12v) ... The battery itself does the control bit of charge.