Recommended Battery for DJI 550

[Jim in Massachusetts]

Hi, I'm new to RC and I'm in the process of building my DJI 550. I won't use the supplied props. I have a set of Graupner 1326.9x5.

I have a battery which I think will be too heavy. It is a Pulse 4S 35C 6600 mAh. (this battery was given to me and it's brand new)

( battery= 737 grams)

I plan to attach a GoPro Hero to the ship (underneath.) I'll be adding some lightweight legs for landing gear to keep the ship above the GoPro.

My concern with the battery mentioned above is that it is so heavy I'll be adding more vibration and stress on the ship since I'll need more throttle to fly. I also don't know exactly how weight will affect handling.

I understand this Pulse 4S 35C 6600 mAh will give me longer flight times... but I think I need a lighter battery. What are your thoughts?

What is a good balance of weight to flight time.. type battery?

BTW I plan to aquire a second and third battery anyway...

Thanks in advance for your input.

Jim.

 

[Roger Ramjet]

Hi Jim,

I do not think that this battery is too much for your F550. DJI provide the following specs for the F550: weight ready to fly: 1200 grams (1.2 Kg) and max take off weight: 2400 grams (2.4 Kg).

It means that if you take off with a max weight of 2400 grams, your weight to thrust ratio will be such as to allow you to get of out of sudden, unexpected situation (mostly wind gusts and downdrafts), with the proper and timely stick corrections of course... You can safely exceed these limitations (+ 10 - 15%) but you have to make sure that the wind is light and that you do not perform extreme or sudden accelerations (No hot dog flying overweight!).

Back to your heavy battery, no problem if it remains within the 2400 grams limitations. Since you are NOT using heavy landing gears and servo stabilization platform, you will get away with it and indeed, get super long flying time! Do not start adding up other items and you will be fine.

I fly my F550 with a gopro2 + Wifi back pack + X468 landing gear + 2 servos for video stabilization and take off at 2100 grams. My battery pack weights 460 grams (nano tech 3s, 6000 mAH). It is all a matter of overall weight, doesn't matter where it comes from.

Hoping this helps you!

Rodge