Any way to lose 50g? I think a optional battery would be great. I could live with 8 min flight time to grab a few quick clips and not worry about a $3k fine (Canada). I was really hoping this would fall into the unregulated realm.

I wonder do you have register the spark in USA since it so small . and use as a self cam

Interesting article here:

https://www.recode.net/2017/5/19 ... istration-rules-faa

Xxzorroxx Posted at 2017-6-14 08:04
I wonder do you have register the spark in USA since it so small . and use as a self cam

Yes you have to register it in the US because it weighs more than .55 lbs
EDIT:  I was not aware of the article posted in the previous post.  If it's true then I guess you don't need to register it.  I'm going to do more research.

Lets see.... stage 1 lightweight mod to get <250grams and extra flight times:
Strip the plastic off the battery and just use exposed battery and intelligence chip.
Drill holes into the legs (I am sure DJI has over engineered this part).
Leave the top off or drill perforated holes.

QuanthonyTrang Posted at 2017-6-14 20:55
Lets see.... stage 1 lightweight mod to get

I wondered about drilling holes in the legs probably have to be careful of wires. I was also wondering about leaving the top off but maybe plastic wrapping it or something.

Do you think you could find a lighter battery that would connect? I think batter weight will potentially be the only way to lose 1/6th of the weight. Looking at some videos online it also seemed like actual weights may be a bit more than advertised.

Xxzorroxx Posted at 2017-6-14 08:04
I wonder do you have register the spark in USA since it so small . and use as a self cam

No, if you are in the US, you do not have to register this or any other drone used for hobby purposes. The Supreme Court repealed the whole drone registration thing a little over a month ago. You now only need to register if you are planning on using it for commercial purposes like real estate or construction or something like that.

wricks Posted at 2017-6-14 08:40
Interesting article here:

https://www.recode.net/2017/5/19/15663436/us-drone-registration-rules-faa

THAMK YOU. this help . my other drone i did..

Mr Smith Posted at 2017-6-14 21:18
No, if you are in the US, you do not have to register this or any other drone used for hobby purposes. The Supreme Court repealed the whole drone registration thing a little over a month ago. You now only need to register if you are planning on using it for commercial purposes like real estate or construction or something like that.

I believe the operative term (at least according to the FAA) is "In furtherance of a business".  If you use it for family videos and such, no problem.  No need to register.  If, however, you want to monetize your You Tube channel, film a house for a real estate friend, or any activity that generates $$ for anyone, then yes, you need to register.

DEFINITELY would love to see a way to get Spark under 250g -- in the same boat as you, being in Canada.  

Hope to see some solutions as people get SPark in their hands!  Maybe Spark v 2 will have a lower weight? I really really want to get a Spark now rather than wait...  

SteveW Posted at 2017-6-19 00:07
DEFINITELY would love to see a way to get Spark under 250g -- in the same boat as you, being in Canada.  

Hope to see some solutions as people get SPark in their hands!  Maybe Spark v 2 will have a lower weight? I really really want to get a Spark now rather than wait...

<--- BTW can't find a way to set my location as Canada on this forum...can't see it in my Homepage or settings.

It's not recommended to modify the drone, which may invalid the product warranty. Besides, please fly the drone under local laws and rules to ensure safety.

I too have the same question. I have the Spark combo kit on order and was wondering if I could be able to loose enough weight to be classified as a "toy" and then not be regulated by FAA. I would be able to again fly at night, in my yard without notifying the 2 heliports and ATC

Xxzorroxx Posted at 2017-6-14 08:04
I wonder do you have register the spark in USA since it so small . and use as a self cam

If the  DJI specs are correct, the Spark takeoff weight is 300 Grams or 10.58 oz. To be considered an UAS by the FAA (former requirement to register the UAS) the drone must be .55 lbs (8.8 oz) up to 55 lbs.
If the drone is LESS than .55 lbs (8.8 oz or 249.48 grams) it then is not considered a UAS and not regulated by the FAA. The FAA considers any drone under .55 lbs a toy. By my calculations the Spark needs to shed about 2.9 to be just under the .55 lbs.

wricks Posted at 2017-6-14 08:40
Interesting article here:

https://www.recode.net/2017/5/19/15663436/us-drone-registration-rules-faa

As far as I know even if we don't have to register the drone we still are regulated by the FAA for "UAS" .55 lbs and over regardless of  commercial or recreation use.
I hope folks here can continue this discussion and help get a clear answer. I may try to contact the FAA with this question.

I agree on the legs. I am no engineer but they do seem to be far more solid and heavy than the type of flying a Spark would need them to be. As a Canadian I would be very open to drilling some holes provided a how to that showed me how to avoid damage to wiring.

Of course we can also hold out hope that DJI might consider releasing a half capasity battery. Once practised at the Mavic, I never took much more than 5 minutes to get the landscape shots I wanted when on vacation.

Historically, has anyone ever made 3rd party batteries for DJI Drones?  There are tons of 3rd party batteries for other devices, but I could see a market for a 3rd party vendor making a 1/2 capacity battery to allow the sub 250g limit -- that is making the big assumption that there is 50g to lose in the battery and have it useful at all.  Anyone know how much the SPark battery weights currently?

specs saying about 95g

NTELLIGENT FLIGHT BATTERY

Capacity        1480 mAh
Voltage        11.4 V
Max Charging Voltage        13.05 V
Battery Type        LiPo 3S
Energy        16.87 Wh
Net Weight        Approx. 0.2 lbs (95 g)
Charging Temperature Range        41° to 104° F (5° to 40° C)

You don't really register the drone, so much as yourself.  At least as far as I can tell.  You get the FAA number and paste it to all drones you own.  Granted, with the rules change that is not the case as far as I can tell.  I think I'd like to go commercial, so I'm thinking my registration may carry forward.

Thanks,
Chris

Mr Smith Posted at 2017-6-14 21:18
No, if you are in the US, you do not have to register this or any other drone used for hobby purposes. The Supreme Court repealed the whole drone registration thing a little over a month ago. You now only need to register if you are planning on using it for commercial purposes like real estate or construction or something like that.

" The Supreme Court repealed the whole drone registration thing a little over a month ago. "

No, it wasn't the Supreme Court, it was a ruling  by a DC appellate court.  The FAA, to my knowledge, has not yet decided to appeal the ruling or to redefine "model aircraft".

No need to worry about the Spark. You can even fly a Mavic Pro now. http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/docume ... rone_users_EN_2.pdf

But even if you don't have to register anymore, your still have to follow the rules I guess if the AC is above that weight limit? So the No fly zones still count?

DJI needs to release and lighter battery.

Even if it would get limited to 3-5 minutes flight time it would still be more than enough for me to lift up, take a couple of photos and then land again.

And with half the capacity battery, the battery would become cheaper and you could simple buy more spare batteries.

https://www.change.org/p/dji-lig ... aign=share_petition

Oleost Posted at 2017-7-7 22:51
https://www.change.org/p/dji-light-weight-battery-for-dji-spark-to-get-below-250-grams?recruiter=76217617&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

It would be difficult but not impossible to do this with reducing battery weight only, it all depends on flight time required. Here is my preliminary analysis:

Spark Lipo +ATL, 3.8 Volts, 5.62 Watt Hours
+633360 Q497235FXXXX 990 mah

Total weight 95 gram

        Cells ............74 gram
        Electronics..... 6 gram
        Plastic.......... 15 gram

Challenge reduce weight by 51+ grams leaving 23 grams for battery if replacing battery cells only.

Possible solution 6 gram 250 mah lipo X3, approx 3.75 min flight time + gains from weight reduction

Remove additional 7 grams plastic from battery cover: 10 gram 350 mah lipo X3, 5.6 min flight + gains of weight reduction.

Ideally reduce actual AC by 37 gram for a total of 60 gram weight reduction or 20% thats a lot, that would bring the flight time up to 11.2 minutes + gains of weight reduction.

But my guess is that the the gov simply would change the rules and lower the 250gr limit.

Light weight drones will only get more capable over time, Darpa has a drone that is 37 gram has crappy video, a range of 1km and stays in the air for 30 minutes.

Interesting topic.  I guess time will tell on whether or not DJI will make a spark with longer battery life without adding weight; but then again, it's above the 250g limit for most countries anyways.  Limit meaning, it's above the 250g category requiring either registration and or falling into mandated regulations.

Jimmers Posted at 2017-6-14 09:10
Yes you have to register it in the US because it weighs more than .55 lbs
EDIT:  I was not aware of the article posted in the previous post.  If it's true then I guess you don't need to register it.  I'm going to do more research.

Definitely good to do the research yourself to confirm, as there have been a variety of opinions expressed in the forums on rules and regulations that are really wishful thinking rather than factual.  But yes, at the moment registration with the FAA is optional, not mandatory.

It would of course preclude the use of prop guards at 50 grams, but probably no one cares.

https://woopstore.myshopify.com/collections/all

If for any reason you don't fly under ALL the requirement for "special rule for model aircraft" (weight must be under 55 pounds), then yes, you would have to register the drone.  BUT, as long as you meet ALL the requirements for the special rule, you do NOT have to register the drone, even if it's over 0.55 pounds.

Tie a balloon to it ;-)

I keep checking the forum if anything has come of this yet... won't get a Spark until DJI can do something about <250g

LouisP Posted at 2017-9-29 13:16
Tie a balloon to it ;-)

Tie a balloon and also a tether to the ground...
Where's your $3,000 fine now Transport Canada Mr Marc Garneau?!!!

So lets say you manage to get your Spark under 250g, now what?

You can suddenly fly within 5.5 km of an aerodrome?
You can suddenly fly above 400'?
You can suddenly fly more then 500m away?
You suddenly don't have to put your name, address and phone number on it?

If you do something stupid and cause an accident or damage they're still going to come after you.

I think just using common sense is a better approach. I have no issues with flying my Spark in Canada, but I'm going to stay away from densely populated areas, airports, etc. just like I would anywhere else.

thanks for sharing the information

TranceMist Posted at 2017-10-23 14:47
So lets say you manage to get your Spark under 250g, now what?

You can suddenly fly within 5.5 km of an aerodrome?

In my country, the lower weight would make the spark more usable for what it is good at.

Pilot benefits of drones < 250g:

May fly closer than 100 meters to buildings
May fly closer than 150 meters to railways, and roads with traffic.
May fly closer than 50 meters to manned ships and boats
May fly closer that 50 meters to other people

No matter size and weight, flying in urban settlement is forbidden.

Oleost Posted at 2017-7-7 22:38
DJI needs to release and lighter battery.

Even if it would get limited to 3-5 minutes flight time it would still be more than enough for me to lift up, take a couple of photos and then land again.

seems to me like that would be dangerous try going up with a battery at 30%...

I need this too... real hard...

TranceMist Posted at 2017-10-23 14:47
So lets say you manage to get your Spark under 250g, now what?

You can suddenly fly within 5.5 km of an aerodrome?

They don't consider the crafts under 250 grams to be physically able to inflict any real serious harm nor damages to anyone and anything and yes it is based on science and common sense.

Actually the only contentious point is the fact that the 250 grams was calculated with bolids (rocks and other things that can be thrown away by explosions) and since a drone has less density (therefore a lower terminal velocity) then they should consider an heavier threshold for this exemption of regulations. DJI documented a research on the subject:

https://petapixel.com/2017/03/13 ... 250g-deeply-flawed/

Great Idea!