Solo doesn't charge GoPro, but all other functions work fine.

Pedals2Paddles · May 1, 2016

I've just noticed the GoPro battery was nearly empty after several flights. It is not getting charged by the Solo. Everything else seems to work fine. It powers on and off as it should. Recording and settings work fine. It just doesn't charge. The charging function worked fine on my old Solo before the warranty replacement. It appears to not work with this one. The gimbal is the same though, it was not replaced. GoPro and Solo are all on the latest and greatest firmware. Suggestions?

mudman · May 1, 2016

Was the gopro left turned on after a flight?
I don't think solo provides enough power to "top up" the battery just enough to run gopro and maintain the charge.

You could try powering up without a battery in the gopro and see if it powers on.

Norman21 · May 1, 2016

I don't think the solo charge the gopro bc the gimbal is conected to hdmi no to the charging port just make sure that your gopro is full charge i honestly fly my solo around like 1hr and i have 3 batteries and my gopro still have charge

Jubalr · May 1, 2016

Norman21 said:
I don't think the solo charge the gopro bc the gimbal is conected to hdmi no to the charging port just make sure that your gopro is full charge i honestly fly my solo around like 1hr and i have 3 batteries and my gopro still have charge

A small trickle charge is supplied through the expansion port in the back. I have not charged my GP in months.

Marich · May 1, 2016

Pedals2Paddles said:
I've just noticed the GoPro battery was nearly empty after several flights. It is not getting charged by the Solo. Everything else seems to work fine. It powers on and off as it should. Recording and settings work fine. It just doesn't charge. The charging function worked fine on my old Solo before the warranty replacement. It appears to not work with this one. The gimbal is the same though, it was not replaced. GoPro and Solo are all on the latest and greatest firmware. Suggestions?

Yep, I recollect when I installed my second gimbal. GoPro had about 50% charge, and now after a whole bunch of flights it has about a... 50% charge!

mudman · May 1, 2016

Jubalr said:
A small trickle charge is supplied through the expansion port in the back. I have not charged my GP in months.

The gimbal won't recharge a dead GoPro battery, when the gimbal first came out the charge light used to come on indicating the GoPro charging. There was a update in the fall that changed this, there was a few discussions about the GoPro charging or not and as far as i know the gimbal won't recharge a dead battery but as along as its in solo the GoPro battery level should stay the same.

Pedals2Paddles · May 1, 2016

That explains exactly what's going on then. I remember the light used to be on, but that could have been two versions ago. The GoPro never died, I just happened to notice today that it wasn't full and thought something must be wrong. Thanks guys.

RolandS888 · May 1, 2016

The GP charging red light doesn't come on any more, but if you look closely at the battery symbol on the LCD screen, the segments are pulsing as though it is charging.
My GP battery went flat once, but I know it does charge, so it must have not been seated properly because I haven't had the problem again.

SPP · May 2, 2016

Actually GoPro not charging while on gimbal is better, it runs cooler.
Black3+ can suck up to 0.95 amps ( no wifi n LCD bacpac ) during recording. Its USB chip is also its charging controller, and based on Hero3+ Black chip, it is rated only 1.5Amps. I would think a Black4 will suck 10% more than that.

If power is injected at the back expansion port of GoPro ( installed on gimbal ), I would think it is not charging, it would be priority power supply. If one attaches a GP battery Bacpac, we get this Icon which tells the Battery BacPac is supplying power and when its at approx 20% or so, power suplly source is switched to the camera own battery. So its not parallel power or charging.... I think

jibcamera · May 10, 2016

my GP4B is also not being charged..I guess it just maintains whatever charge you already have, which is fine by me for reasons stated above...another thing Ive noticed in my first 2 weeks with solo is that the "camera roll" record function doesnt seem to be working on my Nvidia Shield?? Its turned on in Solo app settings but no dice....alas, here is first somewhat "produced" little demo reel (best viewed 1080/60)