Turn off GoPro charging?

Troiano27 · Nov 21, 2015

If this is in the manual and I missed it, im sorry.

Is there a way to turn off GoPro charging? I have multiple batteries for both my hero4 and 3+. I know with the gimbal everyone is lucky to get 15 minute of flying. I'm wondering if turning off charging would add some extra flight time?

Chuck · Nov 21, 2015

From what I understand, the GP charging can't be turned off. My flight times have not changed too much at all before the gimbal versus after, so the draw doesn't seem too much. I rotate my GP batteries and make sure each is fully charged before installing them. Don't know if this helps you, but good luck.

RolandS888 · Nov 21, 2015

If the GoPro battery is fully charged, it does not draw any more power from the Solo to charge a battery that is already full.

Chuck · Nov 21, 2015

That's what I thought. Starting with a full battery means Solo is only charging back what is being used for video and pics.

RolandS888 · Nov 21, 2015

Just for the sake of the excercise, lets say GoPro was flat, and charging for the whole flight.
Gopro charges at 5v @ 1 amp for the whole 15 min flight, so thats 5 x 1 x .25hr = 1.25WHrs.
Solos battery is 14.8v x 5.2AHr = 76.96 WHrs
If Solo flys for 15 min, thats 76.96WHrs / 15 = 5.13WHrs per minute.
If Solo is using 5.13WHrs per minute and GoPro uses 1.25WHrs to charge, then GoPro is stealing (1.25WHRs / 5.13WHrs x 100 = 24% of one minute) = 14.4 seconds.
Or alternatively 1.25WHrs / 76.96WHrs x 100 = 1.624% of 15 min = 14.6 seconds.
But whos counting.

Del · Nov 21, 2015

RolandS888 said:
Just for the sake of the excercise, lets say GoPro was flat, and charging for the whole flight.
Gopro charges at 5v @ 1 amp for the whole 15 min flight, so thats 5 x 1 x .25hr = 1.25WHrs.
Solos battery is 14.8v x 5.2AHr = 76.96 WHrs
If Solo flys for 15 min, thats 76.96WHrs / 15 = 5.13WHrs per minute.
If Solo is using 5.13WHrs per minute and GoPro uses 1.25WHrs to charge, then GoPro is stealing (1.25WHRs / 5.13WHrs x 100 = 24% of one minute) = 14.4 seconds.
Or alternatively 1.25WHrs / 76.96WHrs x 100 = 1.624% of 15 min = 14.6 seconds.
But whos counting.

Good way to break it down Roland...

SkycamJoe · Nov 21, 2015

Good logical and scientific analysis Roland. It is a pain to worry about the battery on the GoPro. As everyone has mentioned, start with a fully charged GoPro.
There is something else going on if you're only getting 15 minutes flight time. Your Solo battery is old enough to be in decline yet. Is this shorter time the same for all your Solo batteries?

RolandS888 · Nov 21, 2015

Just using 15 min as an assumption for the calculation Joe.
I do get more than that, but some are getting less.

SkycamJoe · Nov 21, 2015

In the old days (2 yrs ago), I was happy to get 9 to 11 minutes (2,800 ma battery) which was perfect as a filmmaking tool. Of course this batteries only cost $55 vs. the current crop of smart batteries!