A DJI drone is one of the coolest accessories to have. After all, there’s so much you can do with it! Unfortunately though, like any other electronic device, your DJI drone can see issues popping up, particularly with the battery. One common issue you see from a lot of users is that there is a flashing light on the DJI battery – the question is, what does this flashing light mean?
In most cases, a flashing light on the DJI battery shows that there is an issue with it. This can be related to the current, voltage, charger, or temperature. The best course of action, in this case, is to stop charging, address the issue by identifying the number of flashes your drone has, and then go back to charging once the problem has passed.
Do you want to learn more about the LED indicators on your DJI battery? And, aside from that, do you want to understand how you can keep it safe from damage and degradation? Keep reading this article for a detailed look at what you can do when you see a light flashing on your DJI battery!
What Is A DJI Battery Flashing Light Indicating?
When your DJI battery is flashing lights, there could be several things going wrong that you should keep in mind.
The answer lies in the understanding of what indicator is blinking, and how many times it blinks within a second.
However, there are some general things you should consider when you see a flashing light on your battery. For one, check if the battery is working as it should. Sometimes, batteries can go through current and voltage fluctuations, which can damage your DJI drone.
In other cases, the issue can lie with the charger and its voltage or current. Using third-party chargers can be extremely detrimental to the longevity of your battery, and even to the drone itself.
Finally, you should make sure that the temperature is in the range described by the DJI instruction manual. For example, the manual may ask you to charge between 10-30 degrees celsius.
That way, you will know the best times to charge your battery and in what temperature ranges you should stop. However, if you really want to get to the bottom of this issue, we will be discussing the LED indicators on your battery in the next section.
Understanding LED Indicators And What They Mean
If you have a DJI battery, you must have noticed that there are four LED indicators on the batteries. You need to be able to identify which indicators are flashing so you know what error they are showing. Here is a look at the common errors you can come across on your battery.
| LED | Flashes Per Second | Meaning |
| 2 | 2 | Overcurrent |
| 2 | 3 | Short-circuit |
| 3 | 2 | Overcharge |
| 3 | 3 | Over-voltage Charger |
| 4 | 2 | Temperature Too Low |
| 4 | 3 | Temperature Too High |
Let’s look at each situation in detail in the rest of this section.
LED 2 Blinking Twice In One Second
If the LED labelled as 2 blinks two times in one second, this is a sign that there is an overcurrent being detected by the battery. An overcurrent is when the current going into or out of the battery is too high.
This can be caused by a faulty ESC or a problem with the motors. You will need to check each of these components to see which one is causing the problem.
You can also have a look at the instructional manual to understand what is causing the overcurrent and how to fix it. One simple method to do so is to pause charging and try again later, or to try a different outlet where there is no risk of fluctuating currents.
LED 2 Blinking Three Times In One Second
When you see that LED 2 is blinking three times in one second, you should immediately be able to pick up that the battery has short-circuited. This is what happens when the current going through the battery is too high and causes a spark or fire.
The most common cause of this is when you have damaged batteries, so it is important to always check your batteries before using them. If you see any signs of damage, such as cracks or missing wires, do not use the battery.
You can also get a short circuit if you try to charge the battery too quickly. Always use the recommended charger for your battery and do not charge it faster than the recommended rate.
LED 3 Blinking Twice In One Second
In the situation that the blinking LED is LED 3, you should note how many times it blinks within a second. If the answer is twice in a second, then this is a sign that there is an overcharge detected on the battery.
This is an error you can get when you are using a charger that is not meant for your battery, so make sure you are using the right charger. It can also be caused by using a power source that has too much voltage going into the battery.
You will need to find a new power source and make sure that the voltage is at the correct level before you try charging again. You don’t want to overcharge your battery as that can affect its ability to work effectively moving forward.
LED 3 Blinking Three Times In One Second
When LED 3 on the battery blinks three times in one second, the issue at hand is a charger that is overvoltage. An over-voltage charger is one that is putting out more voltage than what the battery is able to take.
This can cause damage to the battery cells and potentially lead to a fire. As with the other errors, make sure you are using the correct charger for your battery. You should also check the power source to ensure that the voltage is at the correct level. Once you have done that, you can try charging the battery again.
Once again, the best course of action is always to use the official DJI battery charging hubs as they are perfectly tailored to meet the voltage and current requirements of the battery. Using third-party chargers can cause irreparable harm.
LED 4 Blinking Twice In One Second
When LED 4 is blinking on your battery, that is a sign that there is an issue to do with temperature. Specifically, when the blinking happens twice in one second, that means the charging temperature is too low.
When this happens, the battery will not be able to charge effectively. For most batteries by DJI, the minimum charging temperature is around 10 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is below this, this can impede the charging process because the battery may not be able to maintain the necessary chemical reaction to create power.
To fix this, you should try and find a place where the temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius. Once the battery has warmed up, you can then try charging it again. Sometimes, if the temperature is too low, the battery will not show any lights at all. In this case, you will just need to wait until the battery has warmed up before you can start using it.
LED 4 Blinking Three Times In One Second
In the event that LED 4 is blinking three times in a second, that means the temperature is too high and the battery needs to cool down. The maximum temperature that you can charge a DJI battery at is around 40 degrees Celsius.
If the temperature is any higher than this, it can cause the battery to overheat, which places it at risk of explosions and fires. This is an extremely dangerous situation that you want to avoid at all costs.
To fix this, you should try and find a cooler place to charge your battery. Once the temperature has dropped down to a safer level, you can then start charging the battery again.
What If Your Battery Is Not Switching On?
In some cases, you may see a flashing light on the battery, but because it is not working, there is nothing you can do to rectify the issue. However, short of giving up because the battery is simply not switching on, you can try this method to run another charging cycle.
Check The Status Of The Battery
One of the first things you should do is check the status of the battery. Luckily, when you use a DJI product, you get access to an app that can help you identify core issues with the battery and see what the battery levels are.
In normal conditions, all of the batteries should show up looking green and with a complete charge. If there are any warnings for this battery, keep them in mind. However, if all looks well, you can try draining the battery and recharging it to prepare for a new cycle.
Drain It Out
By draining the battery to 10 or 15%, you can get it ready for a new charging cycle. If your battery is not connecting to the DJI drone at all, you can try using a testing light to drain the battery. Just connect the testing light to the battery and leave it until you can see that the charge on the battery is low enough for a new recharging cycle.
Recharge The Battery
When your battery level is down to 10-15%, you can try charging it again. Charge it until the battery is full, and then try using it again. If the issue at hand was just a glitch because of the low battery, you should get the battery working again. However, if this method does not work, you will, unfortunately, have to replace the battery as this one may be dead.
How To Keep Your DJI Battery Safe
As a DJI drone owner, you know that batteries are one of the most important parts of your investment. Not only are they expensive, but they are also essential to keep your drone in the air. Here are a few tips to help you keep your DJI battery safe and prolong its life.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Temperature is one of the biggest factors in battery life. Too high or too low a temperature can damage a battery. High temperatures can cause the battery to overheat, while low temperatures can cause the battery to lose power. This is why it is important to avoid extreme temperatures when flying your drone.
When the temperature is too high, the battery will start to overheat. This will cause the battery to deteriorate more quickly and could lead to a fire. When the temperature is too low, the battery will not be able to hold a charge as well. This could lead to your drone crashing in mid-air.
To avoid these dangers, it is important to keep your drone batteries in a moderate temperature range. This means keeping your batteries somewhere between 10 and 35 degrees Celsius. You may also want to consider using a thermal drone battery case to protect them from extreme temperatures.
Store In A Dry Place
The best way to store your drone battery is to store it in a dry place. This can help keep the battery safe and in good condition. When batteries are stored in a moist or humid environment, this can cause corrosion on the battery’s terminals.
This can then lead to a decrease in the overall lifespan of the battery and also decreased performance. So, it is important to store your drone battery in a dry place. If you don’t have any space to store your battery indoors, you could always try storing it in a cool, dry place outside, like under a porch or deck.
Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather and bring it inside if there is any chance of rain or excessive humidity.
Regularly Charge The Battery
The main reason to regularly charge your DJI battery is to keep it safe. If you don’t charge the battery frequently, the chemicals inside will start to degrade. This can cause the battery to overheat and potentially catch fire. By charging the battery regularly, you can keep it healthy and safe.
Another reason to charge your drone battery frequently is to maintain its performance. A degraded battery will not last as long or perform as well as a healthy battery. So, by charging it regularly, you can ensure that your drone will always be ready for action.
Finally, regular charging can also help prevent damage to the battery itself. If a battery isn’t used for an extended period of time, it can become damaged. Charging it every few months can help prevent this from happening.
Use Official Charging Hubs
Using an authorized DJI charger is important for the safety of your drone battery. If you use an unauthorized charger, you could damage the battery and void your warranty.
Authorized DJI chargers are specifically designed for DJI batteries and include features that help keep your battery safe. For example, they have built-in protection against overcharging and over-discharging.
If you use a non-authorized charger, you may not get these protections, and could damage your battery. This could result in a shorter lifespan for your battery or even a fire. So it’s important to always use an authorized DJI charger when charging your drone battery.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can help keep your drone battery safe and prolong its life. Remember to avoid extreme temperatures, store in a dry place, regularly charge the battery, and use an authorized DJI charger. By taking these precautions, you can ensure that your drone is always ready for action.
