1. Avoid fully draining batteries
Try not to regularly fly batteries down to 0–5%. This puts extra stress on the cells.
Good practice:
Aim to land around 20–25% when possible
Treat emergency low-battery landings as occasional, not routine
2. Don’t store batteries fully charged
Leaving batteries at 100% for long periods accelerates degradation.
Most smart batteries automatically discharge to a safer storage level after a few days, but you should still aim to:
Store batteries around 40–60% if not using them for several days
Avoid leaving fully charged batteries sitting unused
3. Let batteries cool before charging
Charging a hot battery increases wear and can cause long-term damage.
Good practice:
Allow batteries to cool to room temperature before charging
Avoid charging straight after heavy flying or hot weather missions
4. Avoid charging immediately after cold flights
Cold batteries behave differently and can be damaged if charged while still too cold.
Good practice:
Let batteries warm naturally to room temperature before charging
Avoid charging batteries straight from a cold vehicle or outdoor environment
5. Use the correct chargers
Always use:
Manufacturer-approved chargers
Official charging hub,s where possible
Suitable power supplies for higher-wattage charging hubs
Poor-quality chargers can cause inconsistent charging and long-term damage.
6. Rotate your batteries
If you own multiple batteries, avoid always using the same one first.
Good practice:
Rotate batteries evenly
Keep cycle counts relatively balanced
Avoid having one heavily used battery alongside newer ones
Storage best practice
If you are storing batteries for more than a few days:
Aim for 40–60% charge
Store in a cool, dry place
Avoid direct sunlight
Avoid storing in vehicles for long periods
Keep away from flammable materials
For long-term storage (weeks or months), these steps become even more important.
Common mistakes that kill drone batteries
These are some of the most frequent causes of premature battery failure:
Leaving batteries fully charged for weeks
Regularly flying to near 0%
Charging batteries while still hot
Storing batteries in hot cars
Using cheap third-party chargers
Ignoring firmware updates for smart batteries
Continuing to use swollen or physically damaged batteries
If a battery shows signs of swelling, damage, or abnormal behaviour, it should be removed from service immediately.
How to spot a degrading battery
Warning signs include:
Noticeably shorter flight times
Rapid drops from 30% to critical levels
Battery errors are appearing in the app
Inconsistent voltage between cells
Physical swelling
Catching these early can prevent in-flight issues.
Battery care is part of professional operations.
For professional operators, battery management isn’t just about cost, it’s about:
Safety
Reliability
Professional standards
Client confidence
Many organisations now treat battery care as part of their formal operating procedures.
Need advice on battery management?
If you manage multiple aircraft or want to improve the reliability of your operation, we can help with:
Battery health checks
Storage and transport best practice
Charging setups for teams
Advice on when batteries should be retired
Good battery management saves money and reduces operational risk.