The last thing that any drone pilot wants is a problem with their batteries mid flight. Best case you’re spending money on a new battery, worst case your drone simply drops to the ground. A drone crash from an altitude of over 300 feet can result in serious component damage and even total destruction. A drone crash in the middle of a 60 mile per hour race can be just as devastating! We don’t want anyone to have to go through this. So we asked ourselves, what is the best FPV racing drone battery out there? Which batteries are dependable and reliable?
Since FPV racing drones are designed for speed they are extremely power hungry and really suck up that battery juice. Most drone batteries are known to take over an hour to charge only to provide a flight of 20-30 minutes (if even). To select the best FPV racing drone batteries, we considered the following battery specifications:
Battery Composition
There are two common battery compositions: Lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) batteries and Nickel-Cadmium(NiCad) batteries. Both are rechargeable batteries and have the same power output potential. All things being equal, a 24V LiPo battery will deliver the same amount of power as a 24V NiCad battery. LiPo batteries on average cost nearly three times the price of NiCad batteries. However, despite their price, LiPo batteries are able to deliver power for a much longer duration then their NiCad counterparts. This is a pretty important characteristic for drones, and the usual preference is LiPo since they are also lightweight and have virtually no self-discharge.
Battery Manufacturer
Some drone manufacturers produce batteries that can only be used in their own drones, forcing you to purchase their batteries when you need a replacement. This is great for the drone manufacturers, but can be a pain in the ass as a consumer trying to get batteries of similar specifications at the price point you need. Depending on the manufacturer, the battery configuration and the types of connectors or plugs used may vary.
If you do not need to buy a custom battery and are able to purchase any battery pack on the market, the manufacturer begins to matter a bit more. Its not uncommon for battery manufacturers to allow their quality to slip over time and if required re-brand and re-introduce a product into the marketplace after a severe consumer backlash. If you’re a serious flyer its important to make sure you’re purchasing a battery from a trusted manufacturer that’s been around longer than a flash in a pan.
Costs of Replacement
When purchasing a replacement battery you probably will also need to consider its cost. Its possible to purchase ready-to-fly drones or drone kits that include batteries in their packaging. In this case the battery pack will usually be under 20 percent of the overall drone price. If you’re buying battery packs without the drone you should probably be aiming for something around that same price point. You can always make the case that there’s no need to go higher than 20% of your drone cost when purchasing a battery for it.
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity is measured in milliamps per hour (mAh). This is the energy stored in a battery and consequently the battery’s lifespan. The higher the battery mAh rating, the longer the battery’s usage time. Here’s a little bit of math for any future battery nerds out there…The energy provided by a 5000mAh battery for one hour is equivalent to 2500mA for 2 hours or 10,000mA for half an hour. Therefore, if you need 1000mA to remain in the air for an hour, a 5000mA battery would theoretically last 5 hours i.e. 5000mA/1000mA*1h=5h
Charge/Discharge Duration/Rate
The time it takes for an FPV drone battery to fully charge depends on the battery capacity and composition. Manufacturers will determine the maximum safe charging and discharging rate of a battery pack. This max. safe charging and discharging rate is referred to as the “c-rating” of a battery. Battery packs usually display the C-rating as 25C, 75C, etc.
To estimate the max charging amperage, the following formula is used.
Battery Capacity (mAh)/1000 x Charging Rate (C) = Charging Amperage (A).
If your battery has 5000mAh capacity and C rating of 2C, then the charging amperage would be 5000mAh/1000 x 2C = 10A. It is recommended to slow charge all batteries to lengthen their lifetime.
If a battery pack indicates a range such as “25C to 75C”, it means the lower number is the nominal discharge rate and the higher number is the maximum burst discharge rate.
It’s usually a good idea to purchase LiPo batteries with high capacity (mAh) for your FPV racing drone. It may be more expensive, but it will provide longer flight time. That being said, you need to take into account the weight and physical size of the battery. A heavier battery increases the weight of the drone, ultimately affecting its flight time negatively.
So without further ado, here is our list of the best FPV racing drone batteries!
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TATTU R-Line 1550mAh 4S 75C LiPo
| Model: | TATTU R-Line |
|---|---|
| Capacity (mAh): | 1550mAh |
| Voltage (V): | 14.8V |
| Continuous Discharge Rate: | 75C |
| Burst Dischage Rate: | 150C |
| Configuration: | 4S1P |
| Net Weight (g): | 177g |
| Size (mm): | 72 x 35 x 36 mm |
| Connector: | XT60 |
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Crazepony/Infinity 1300mAh 4S 100C LiPo
| Model: | AHTECH Infinity/Crazepony |
|---|---|
| Capacity (mAh): | 1300mAh |
| Voltage (V): | 14.8V |
| Continuous Discharge Rate: | 100C |
| Burst Discharge Rate: | 200C |
| Configuration: | 4S1P LiPo |
| Net Weight (g): | 165g |
| Size (mm): | 72 x 31 x 34 mm |
| Connector: | XT60 |
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Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best FPV racing drone batteries on the market than any of the batteries on our list above will give you a great balance of performance, reliability and cost. These batteries are popular and have had extensive use and testing by many experts in the industry. We wish you the best of luck, and happy flying!
If you haven’t decided on the drone you’re going to be pairing with these batteries, or if you’re maybe in the market for a replacement or upgrade, check out our article on the Best FPV racing drone under $300.
Come back some time and check out more of our reviews and best-in-class lists!