Drones cost a lot of money. There are few gadgets that we buy that compare to the cost of a drone. To avoid laying out even more money, there are a few simple tips that will help you keep your drone intact and in prime flying condition.
Whether you have a nano quadcopter, or a film-standard camera, drone continual maintenance is a must. Here are five ways to keep a drone in tip-top shape.
1) Propeller Care
The proper care and attention for propellers make a vital difference to a drone’s performance. Experts like Stockton Propeller emphasize that ‘propeller maintenance is not an option’ but a necessity.
Before every flight, you should check the propellers. Depending on the size and quality of the drone and propeller, many things need to be considered:
- The material: Any cracks, dents, or other forms of damage?
- The alignment: Any propellers bent or in any way compromised?
In any of these cases, the propeller should be tweaked ahead of time so it doesn’t affect the engines or cause a failure mid-flight.
As a general rule, you should replace the propeller every 200 flights.Until then, treating them with basic TLC through cleaning never hurts either.
2) Check Batteries
Unlike propellers, it’s harder to gauge the condition of batteries. Unfortunately, we cannot simply look at them to see any damage. Also, since drones use LiPo batteries, they host many unique problems.
Overcharging LiPo batteries can cause overheating and rapid decay of its capacity. This means keeping them at half charge rather than full charge to prevent long-term damage.
Beyond this, all the regular battery rules we know apply:
- Store them in cool dry places
- Make sure they don’t break or leak
- Give them time to cool off!
3) Update Firmware
Most companies release updates for their technology regularly. Like mobile device updates, firmware updates fix bugs and upgrade certain features. However, unlike mobile apps, which we tend to delay, drone updates should happen right away.
Some drones won’t take off without the most recent firmware. If bugs or faults in the firmware exist, they can cause your drone malfunction at your cost.
4) Storage Methods
There are two main types of drone storage to keep in mind:
- At-home storage. This refers to how you protect against permanent threats to your drone’s durability when not using it. With longer-term storage, you protect the drone from moisture, extreme temperature, and prolonged magnetism. Without this type of storage, you’ll have a drone that’s damaged beyond repair.
- Transport. If you are taking your drone out, a backpack or hard-case carrier can protect it from dings and dents. On top of this, having something that stores the batteries alongside the frame of the drone will help you avoid the problems listed above while on-the-go.
5) Cleaning Well
The last and most obvious tip is to clean your drone before and after use.
Before every flight, give it a quick check. After every flight, give it a quick clean. This will remove any debris and unwanted grit that might linger in the motor and damage it.
If your drone has a camera or sensor cleaning, it will also keep these parts functioning at their best. No one wants specks of dirt ruining an aerial shot you had only one shot to catch.
Final Checks
Your drone is an investment that should last for years or a simple gadget that breaks after a few months. The difference lies in maintenance.
Taking these simple tips on board can make your flying time worry-free, letting you enjoy the real reason why you bought the drone in the first place.
Live by these five tips, and you will give your drone a long life!
You can check out our full review of the DJI drones below …
- DJI Mavic Pro vs DJI Spark – Hands-On Review and Comparison
- DJI Mavic Air Hands-on Review
- Drocon Bugs 3 Quadcopter Drone Review
Buy now …
- Buy the DJI Mavic Air
(Fly More Combo $899) from Amazon – http://amzn.to/2FHECtG
- Buy the DJI Mavic Pro
(Fly More Combo $839)
from Amazon – http://amzn.to/2wk4kBq
- Buy the DJI Spark
(Fly More Combo $567) from Amazon – http://amzn.to/2xzWQZI
