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Leaving Drone in Cold Car
4506 17 2018-12-25
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BrianKushner
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Is there any adverse effects to leaving your drone in a cold car overnight if you bring the batteries inside?

2018-12-25
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Manxmann
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Australia
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How cold is "cold" I wonder ?
2018-12-26
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BrianKushner
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Manxmann Posted at 12-26 01:34
How cold is "cold" I wonder ?

Well for me 20's and 30's F
2018-12-26
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solentlife
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Not really ... as long as the atmosphere in the car is not overly humid before it cools down ..

But to be honest - I have various RC models of mine stay in my Renault Van ready for any flight session I may go to ... with temps dropping to -10C and lower with no ill effects at all.



I also have a 35ft mobile home guest house at bottom of garden next to river ... that has a large number of RC models in as well ... in winter that also falls to similar temps as its unheated.

The main concern as you have already realised - is to not have LiPo batterys freeze or at least if the do - let them warm up before charging / use.

Nigel
2018-12-26
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ALABAMA
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BrianKushner Posted at 12-26 01:56
Well for me 20's and 30's F

You'll be fine in those temps.
2018-12-26
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DJI Stephen
DJI team
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Hello and good day. Thank you for the inquiry. The recommended storage temperature for the aircraft would be between 22° and 28° C. You could visit our website to know more about the safety guidelines when in terms of storing your drones and batteries. You may refer to the link below. Thank you for continued support.

https://www.dji.com/phantom-4/info#downloads
2018-12-26
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RedHotPoker
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Canada
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That’s not cold. Hahaha


Barely freezing...


You could use a cooler, with some heat packs, or a plug in heat mat...

RedHotPoker
2018-12-26
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BrianKushner
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DJI Stephen Posted at 12-26 07:08
Hello and good day. Thank you for the inquiry. The recommended storage temperature for the aircraft would be between 22° and 28° C. You could visit our website to know more about the safety guidelines when in terms of storing your drones and batteries. You may refer to the link below. Thank you for continued support.

https://www.dji.com/phantom-4/info#downloads

Is this correct? 72-84 degrees F is the min storage temp? Pretty high no?
2018-12-26
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Aardvark
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BrianKushner Posted at 12-26 11:54
Is this correct? 72-84 degrees F is the min storage temp? Pretty high no?

In the P4 notes pointed to above (manual P66) the operational temperature is 32-104F or 0-40C for the aircraft.
For storage purposes lower temperatures should not adversely affect the electronics themselves. Just let it warm up slowly before taking indoors into a warmer environment where you would get condensation formed.
2018-12-26
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RedHotPoker
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After getting it cold in the wilds, I leave my drone in the case and don’t open it for several hours. Until acclimated some what.

You could remove the sd card in the field, if you need to access your recorded files immediately upon reentering the warm home front.




RedHotPoker
2018-12-26
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Manxmann
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BrianKushner Posted at 12-26 11:54
Is this correct? 72-84 degrees F is the min storage temp? Pretty high no?

Surely not   22 - 28C ??  Are you sure you don't mean 22-28F ?
2018-12-27
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Manxmann
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In any event I would think that as long as you allowed the drone to warm up gradually before flying it would be OK.  Surely the battery temp is the main concern ?
2018-12-27
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BrianKushner
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Thanks everyone for the replies.
2018-12-27
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solentlife
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DJI specs are 'conservative' at the best !!

As not only I have pointed out - flying in below 0C / 32F conditions are fine ... storing AC in such also not a problem - batterys are another matter though.

But I will say this ... I have fixed wing such as my FW190 with 4stroke motor up front ... the Rx battery in that is a 1500 3S LiPo and that model sits out there in the Guest home through winter down to -20 ... -25C at times ... all I have to remember is that when I want to fly her ... she is in the warm van to get battery etc. warmed up before use.

It is all down to sensible husbandry ...

I do ask though : Why if you can take batterys indoors, do you leave AC out there ?

Nigel
2018-12-27
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Mark The Droner
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United States
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I have a tailgate box for... guess... tailgating.  It's got camp-quality silverware and various cooking utensils in it.  If I keep it in the house, it's fine.  If I keep it in the shed, the metal things in the box start to get rusty.

...

I'm gonna keep my drones in the house.  Thank you very much.  
2018-12-27
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ALABAMA
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I agree with #9. Condensation would be a factor if warmed up too quickly.
2018-12-27
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solentlife
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ALABAMA Posted at 12-27 04:58
I agree with #9. Condensation would be a factor if warmed up too quickly.

True .. unfortunately it works both ways !

Take a warm bird into the cold - the cooling atmosphere inside the camera / gimbal / shell will drop its moisture  ..

Take a cold bird into the warm - the warm atmosphere that touches the cold bird will drop out moisture. This time is more external.

The question being which is worse ?

Nigel
2018-12-27
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Filip Kyzek
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Czechia
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I think as long as the batteries are in warm conditions its ok!
2018-12-30
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