When it’s chilly within the winter, your LiPo batteries endure — you’ll see extra voltage sag, much less punch, and noticeably shorter flight instances. The chemistry inside merely doesn’t carry out nicely when temperature drops. The answer? Heat your packs earlier than flying. iFlight simply launched a heated battery case designed precisely for that objective, making it simpler to maintain your batteries within the optimum temperature. After testing, I can see why this may grow to be a helpful winter accent for some FPV pilots.
Study flying FPV drone within the chilly winter on this information: https://oscarliang.com/fly-fpv-winter/
The place to Purchase
Get the iFlight Heated Battery Case from these distributors:
Specs
- Enter Connectors: XT60 and USB-C
- Enter Voltage:
- DC (XT60): 7.4V–30V (helps 2S–6S LiPo/Li-ion)
- USB-C PD Enter: 9V/12V/15V/3A, 20V/5A (100W Max)
- Heating Energy: Max 50W
- Temperature Vary: 30°C–60°C (adjustable)
- Show: HD TFT shade display
- Temperature Monitoring: Sure (inside case)
- USB Output Energy:
- PPS: 3.3V–11V/3A, 3.3V–16V/2A (30W Max)
- PD3.0/PD2.0: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A, 20V/1.5A (30W Max)
- QC3.0: 3.6V–20V (30W Max)
- Dimensions: 313×255×118 mm
- Weight: 883g ±5g
What Is the iFlight Heated Battery Case For?
This isn’t only a case — it’s a purpose-built heating answer for LiPo packs. Chilly LiPos don’t simply lose flight time — additionally they sag more durable below load, making your quad really feel sluggish. The best working temperature for LiPos is round 30°C–35°C, and this case can carry your packs as much as that vary earlier than you are taking off.
Construct and Design
From the surface, it appears like a typical zippered equipment case. Inside, nevertheless, is a black plastic temperature management module constructed into the lid.
The management unit contains a show and three buttons for menu navigation and altering settings. The display can show the present temperature, goal temperature, enter voltage, and cutoff voltage.
On the underside of the management unit, there’s a plug that appears like a steadiness connector, it gives energy to the heating components.
Inside, there’s a mesh pocket for smaller equipment.
The case presents beneficiant storage, able to becoming 20 6S 1000mAh LiPo batteries. The interior house is roughly 29x20x10cm
Powering the Case
You’ll be able to energy the heated case in two methods:
- XT60 Enter (7.4V – 30V) — Works with 2S–6S LiPo or Li-ion packs.
- USB-C PD Enter (positioned on the best)— Works with a PD-capable energy financial institution or wall adapter (100W Beneficial).
Further USB Energy Output
The left-side USB port is a 30W energy output — helpful for charging your telephone and GoPro. It’s additionally helpful for dumping charged LiPo power into your units on the finish of a session so no power is wasted.
How It Works
Since there’s no handbook within the field, I’ll attempt to clarify the best way to function it. Notice that this isn’t the official instruction, simply my private expertise how I exploit it.
Turning On/Off
Maintain the center button for two seconds, then maintain once more when prompted.
To energy down, repeat the identical course of.
Setting Cutoff Voltage
On the house display (the place you see 2 packing containers), use + or – to set cutoff voltage.
Necessary: When the enter voltage drops under the cutoff voltage, the heated case will beep, however it doesn’t cease heating, so you should unplug battery manually to forestall over-discharge.
Coming into Work Mode
On the house display (with 2 packing containers), press the center button to enter work mode (with 4 packing containers).
For those who keep on the house display (two packing containers), it powers down after a couple of seconds.
Disabling Cutoff Voltage Alarm
Press + and – collectively to mute quickly.
Setting Goal Temperature
Maintain center and – buttons for two seconds, then modify with + or –. It’s in Celsius by the way in which.
Efficiency Testing
Voltage Accuracy
The enter voltage studying appears to be barely under-reported. For instance, when my battery was at 25.0V, the case displayed 24.7V. At 20.5V, the case learn 20.3V. This small discrepancy isn’t an enormous subject for my part — it simply means you may get a low-voltage warning just a little early. Nonetheless, it might be good if the voltage might be calibrated or made extra correct from the manufacturing facility.
Energy and Present Draw
When the case is heating:
- 6S battery enter: 2.23A at 25V (~55.75W)
- USB-C enter: as much as 55W (20V, 2.75A)
A completely charged 6S 1000mAh pack might present round 20 minutes of steady heating, however in real-world use (with a average temperature setting), the heater cycles on and off as soon as the goal temperature is reached. In winter (say 0°C), with the goal set to 30–35°C, a 6S 1000mAh pack ought to simply final over an hour.
Temperature Accuracy
Temperature readings are fairly correct. In comparison with my thermometer:
- Thermometer: 26°C → Case: 27°C
- Thermometer: 43°C → Case: 44°C
Notice that the temperature sensor is positioned contained in the management unit (black field), so temperature management is predicated on that time’s studying.
How Quick Does It Warmth Up?
With the goal temperature set to 60°C, I measured the temperature each 5 minutes. The thermometer was positioned in the course of the case (not touching something) and related to an exterior monitor so I might document readings with out opening the case and dropping warmth.
- Begin: 26°C
- 5 min: 37°C
- 10 min: 47°C
- 15 min: 50°C
- 20 min: 50°C
The heating charge is spectacular — an 11°C enhance within the first 5 minutes and one other 10°C over the following 5 minutes. Heating from 0°C to 30°C would possible take solely about quarter-hour at this charge.
Nevertheless, the temperature plateaued at 50°C as an alternative of reaching the 60°C goal. That is possible as a result of the temp sensor is positioned within the management unit which already hit 60°C (presumably because of additional warmth from the voltage regulator), inflicting it to prematurely cease powering the heating components, although the air temperature contained in the case was solely 50°C.
This isn’t a deal-breaker for me, as I wouldn’t warmth LiPos to 60°C anyway for security causes.
Freezer Take a look at – Temperature Holding Potential
It’s at the moment summer season right here with room temperatures round 26°C, so to simulate winter situations, I examined the case in my freezer at roughly -10°C. I set the goal temperature to 35°C and left the case inside for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, my thermometer confirmed the inner temperature holding regular at 31°C, which is sort of good given the acute chilly.
Limitations
No product is ideal. Listed here are a couple of minor drawbacks:
- Dear for what it’s
- Doesn’t mechanically cease discharging when voltage drops under the cutoff voltage
- No directions included
- Enter voltage can’t be calibrated and reads barely low (not an enormous deal)
- Temperature unit in Celsius (°C) solely
Conclusion
Not gonna lie — at $59.99, the value for this easy heated iFlight battery case feels a bit steep. You possibly can in all probability construct one thing comparable for much less. Moreover, for a lot of pilots, it’s not a necessary accent (I’ve personally been flying for a decade with out a battery heating case). That stated, in case you’re severe about efficiency — particularly in chilly climate — this case is a superb comfort merchandise that works proper out of the field. It retains your batteries heat and at optimum situation throughout your flight session.
Get the iFlight Heated Battery Case from these distributors:
It’s additionally extra versatile than it appears. Along with storing and heating batteries, it may operate as a battery discharger, letting you safely carry down the cost of absolutely charged LiPos you resolve to not fly. Simply bear in mind: it gained’t cease discharging mechanically when it reaches the cutoff voltage. It could beep to warn you, however it should proceed to empty your battery till it’s utterly useless. You need to manually unplug the battery when the alarm goes off — so it’s vital to solely use this case when you’re round.
