DJI Drone Winter Flying Tips

Are you planning to fly your DJI drone this winter? Then you should know the most common drone problems caused by cold temperatures, as well as the safety tips and camera settings to follow before, during and after the flight to keep your aircraft in optimal condition.

Battery and environment

DJI drones are powered by lithium batteries. Cold temperatures can push these batteries out of their comfort zone, decreasing their discharge capacity and increasing the voltage drop during discharge. If the battery voltage drops significantly during flight, the aircraft may not be able to maintain speed at full thrust. Additionally, continuing to fly with a low battery increases the risk of accidental loss of power. Follow the tips below to prepare for a safe flight:

• Make sure the batteries are fully charged before taking off.
• Use a battery preheater or turn on the battery early to preheat it to above 15°C (59°F), thereby reducing the battery's internal resistance.
• After turning on the drone, let the aircraft warm up for about a minute before taking off. This will also help ensure normal performance of the various sensors and dissipate any water vapor on the lens.
• Be sure to press the control sticks gently to avoid battery voltage drops.
• Batteries drain faster in cold temperatures, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on your drone's battery status while flying.

Likewise, don't forget to keep your mobile device warm. At the same time, you need to be careful about frostbite. Using a remote control with numb hands is dangerous; Wear gloves when flying outdoors in the winter months. You can also wear protective glasses to avoid eye damage caused by light reflection.

Another thing to watch for during this time is reduced visibility and wet snow. Always check the weather conditions and avoid strong winds, rain and snow. DJI does not recommend flying in temperatures below 14°F (-10°C) for most drones. Additionally, to avoid malfunctioning of the visual sensors, avoid flying at low altitude (within 5 m) over thick or highly reflective snow.

Remember that humidity can also damage motors. So, avoid contact with snow and instead use a landing pad to take off and land your drone. Finally, before taking off, make sure the GPS signal is strong.

Drone camera settings for winter weather

To capture the beauty of snow in all its glory, you may need to manually set your camera's exposure. This is because the camera's exposure system can sometimes underexpose snow, fooled by its brightness. If the day is sunny, increase the exposure by two stops. On cloudy days, an increase of one stop should be sufficient. You can also take advantage of the automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) feature on your drone to take multiple photos of the same image with different exposure settings. Likewise, you may need to adjust the white balance to get the right color balance for the snowy landscape.

Drone storage in winter

After flying in winter, clean the aircraft immediately to keep it dry. The temperature difference between a warm room and a cold outdoor environment can cause condensation to form on aircraft surfaces, such as those on the battery and lenses. A quick cleaning can be helpful in avoiding damage to electronic components.

However, keep in mind that the performance of your drone may also suffer if it is kept idle for a long time. In this case it is essential to store the aircraft correctly. Make sure you:

• Fully charge and discharge the battery once every three months to maintain its health.
• Remove the propellers and attach the gimbal clamp when storing the drone.
• Store the drone in a dry, indoor environment, at a constant temperature between 41 and 68°F (5-20℃). Avoid storing the aircraft in direct sunlight.

We hope these tips help you capture spectacular winter landscapes with your drone. Good flight!