Been experimenting, soldered in an XT60🤭2 half hour batteries found.

Shawn · Jan 14, 2022

I have just tested a Zippy 2200 that I bought 3 years ago and used once. I put it away with a storage charge. From 100% down to 20% hovering in my living room it lasted 15minutes 40 seconds.
Just ordered some Panasonic 3400mAh 18650's. 3 came in at just under £20 and I have all the other stuff already. I should be able to make a 3S battery for it coming in at around 200g. Standard POWER battery I have is 217g.
Will keep you posted

Shawn · Jan 20, 2022

Built the 3400mAh Panasonic Li-ion battery and first flight was not good.
My charger reported putting in 2700mAh.
Same as with the 2200 living room hover.
100%-20%= 8 minutes

100%-3% because they can safely go down to 2.5v and it did 14minutes.
I weighed the cells as soon as they arrived to check they were genuine and they are the right weight.

I thought I would get 25mins as YT vids would suggest. Will charge them and try again may need bedding in. Get some shrink wrap on as well.

Shawn · Jan 20, 2022

Just tested a single cell. Put it through a discharge cycle to take it down to 3volts.
Then charged it at 2amps. Took 2981mAh. Which sounds low but I think they work it out from 2.5v not 3v

mikeexplorer · Jan 21, 2022

I forget offhand what the cutoff voltage is for the original batteries, I think it is either 3.0 or 3.3 volts.

Mike

Shawn · Jan 21, 2022

mikeexplorer said:
I forget offhand what the cutoff voltage is for the original batteries, I think it is either 3.0 or 3.3 volts.

Mike

Just flown it to a forced landing and tested it immediately and it was 3.57v a cell but there is probably some bounce back there with the load removed.

Shawn · Jan 21, 2022

Flown again and although not great, percentage wise it is quite an increase.
100%-20%=11mins30secs
100%-forced landing=17mins

Shawn · Jan 22, 2022

Just carried out a weight test,hover above the bed. Only the Zippy for power and the Panasonic for extra weight(322g total). Really heavy in the hand and I did not think it would work BUT it did.

Found a 4000mAh battery for less than £20 so think I will give that a try now I know it can take its 305g.
For reference the Gifi4000 is said to be 260g(Amazon stat)
and my POWER battery is 217g
EDIT: Just a minute though,the zippy is 158g so 2 of them would be 316g and 4400mAh

plus if it did not work in the field I would still have 2 usable batteries

Shawn · Jan 22, 2022

Just tested the Panasonic 18650 pack again and its a bust for me,failure!
I put each individual cell on a discharge cycle yesterday and took them down to 3volts each. Then balanced charged them to 4.2v. After standing overnight I have just living room hover tested them again and....
97%-20%=9mins30secs
97%-2%=13mins30secs.
So I am not going to go for a massive battery that will give the Bebop a hard life I am going to get some 2200. £15 each and probably 20mins to 5%. Will test my Zippy 2200 down to 5% and report back.

Shawn · Jan 22, 2022

Zippy 2200mAh 25C straight from the charger:
100%-5%=19mins
final cell voltage 3.57

Shawn · Jan 22, 2022

Original 3 year old with only a 2hr total flight time POWER battery. 11.4v 3350mAh perfectly ballanced at 4.2v because thats what they are(fake)from the manufacturer.
100%-5%=19mins30secs.

Shawn · Jan 25, 2022

New from Amazon yesterday:
SUNPADOW 3S 11.1V Lipo Battery 25C 2250mAh with XT60
£15.69
100%-5%=18mins
£/min got to be one of the cheapest.

Shawn · Jan 30, 2022

Shawn said:
Just tested the Panasonic 18650 pack again and its a bust for me,failure!
I put each individual cell on a discharge cycle yesterday and took them down to 3volts each. Then balanced charged them to 4.2v. After standing overnight I have just living room hover tested them again and....
97%-20%=9mins30secs
97%-2%=13mins30secs.
So I am not going to go for a massive battery that will give the Bebop a hard life I am going to get some 2200. £15 each and probably 20mins to 5%. Will test my Zippy 2200 down to 5% and report back.

Seems what you have to do is change the minimum voltage on the drone to get the use of that extra half a volt.

I have seen it done on the Bebop to change the RTH height so I will have to look further. I don't have a Windows machine so I don't know If I can telnet into it. Learning again

Shawn · Feb 3, 2022

Bought on Amazon UK for £19.99 Roaringtop 4000mAh
100%-5%=29mins30secs see photo

Shawn · Feb 3, 2022

This one people will be interested in:
LIHV 4400mAh charged to 4.3v a cell because my new charger doesn't go to 4.35v

100%-5%=33minutes yes 33minutes in hover.
Available UK Amazon=£73.99 for 2
Looks like it would fit in original battery enclosure. I have not tried it as it is something I will not be doing.
Zeee Premium Series 3S Lipo Battery 11.4V 120C 4200mAh Soft Case Battery with Deans T Connector for RC Plane DJI Quadcopter RC Airplane RC Helicopter RC Car Truck Boat(2 Pack)