By-passing the circuit board inside Parrot Stock Bebop 2 and Bebop 2 Power battery packs can eliminate several potential problems before it drops your Bebop 2. There are firmware issues that prefer the Power battery's higher voltage 3350mAh 11.4V LiHV discharge rates and this can cause problems for the Bebop 2's using the standard 2700mAh 11.1V LiPo battery packs. Apart from the firmware issues, there are multiple reasons that the internal "protection/balance" circuit board causes batteries to deteriorate and die well before their potential lifetime could permit.
By-pass/Delete of the internal circuit board:
These instructions are for Parrot Bebop 2 and Parrot Bebop 2 Power Stock battery packs.
The Plan...
To by-pass the internal balance circuit board by relocating one wire changing the battery circuit into a typical 3S multi-cell configuration.
To by-pass the internal balance circuit board by relocating one wire changing the battery circuit into a typical 3S multi-cell configuration.
Why?
-removes voltage-metering flight risks.
-prevents the circuit forcing shutdown during flight.
-better charging with aftermarket balance chargers.
-better charge percentage reporting.
-removes voltage-metering flight risks.
-prevents the circuit forcing shutdown during flight.
-better charging with aftermarket balance chargers.
-better charge percentage reporting.
Warnings! Potential Dangers!
-Do Not Allow Metal to bridge wire solder points or any components.
-Battery damaging short circuits! Power exists in circuit and battery terminals.
-Do Not Puncture the foil battery envelopes.
-Cut traces with an abrasive non-metal dremel bit.
-Requires charging with an aftermarket balance charger. Do not use the stock charging setup after modification.
-Do Not Allow Metal to bridge wire solder points or any components.
-Battery damaging short circuits! Power exists in circuit and battery terminals.
-Do Not Puncture the foil battery envelopes.
-Cut traces with an abrasive non-metal dremel bit.
-Requires charging with an aftermarket balance charger. Do not use the stock charging setup after modification.
How?
Steps:
1. Unscrew shell. 16 in B2, 8 in B2P.
2. Pry cells from shell base. Do Not Puncture the battery's foil envelopes.
3. Cut traces with a non-metallic dremel. Do Not use a metal file or scrapper.
4. Apply Liquid Paper to everything except the P- solder point. This is a barrier to prevent solder flow and reduce accidental shorting.
5. De-solder SMD components for kicks.
6. De-solder Black Wire. Do not touch wire to other wires.
7. Solder Black Wire To P- solder point. Do not touch wire to other wires.
8. Add barrier between black and red wires to prevent shorting.
9. Add cells to shell base & secure with 2 screws at connector bulkhead.
10. Add shell top and screws.
11. Relabel "*Modified* Balance Charger Required".
Steps:
1. Unscrew shell. 16 in B2, 8 in B2P.
2. Pry cells from shell base. Do Not Puncture the battery's foil envelopes.
3. Cut traces with a non-metallic dremel. Do Not use a metal file or scrapper.
4. Apply Liquid Paper to everything except the P- solder point. This is a barrier to prevent solder flow and reduce accidental shorting.
5. De-solder SMD components for kicks.
6. De-solder Black Wire. Do not touch wire to other wires.
7. Solder Black Wire To P- solder point. Do not touch wire to other wires.
8. Add barrier between black and red wires to prevent shorting.
9. Add cells to shell base & secure with 2 screws at connector bulkhead.
10. Add shell top and screws.
11. Relabel "*Modified* Balance Charger Required".
Charging Notes:
-Modification requires using an Aftermarket Balance Charger Only. Do not use the stock Parrot charging setup.
-Bebop 2 LiPo packs...Set charger to 3S LiPo and 2.7Amps Balance Charge.
-Bebop 2 Power packs...require a balance charger with LiHV charging capability. Charge with LiHV charge profiles. Do not use LiPo charge profiles for Power packs. Set charger to 3S LiHV and 3.35Amps Balance Charge.
-Use 'Balance Charge' profiles only. Do not use 'Fast-Charge' or 'Quick-Charge' profiles.
-Modification requires using an Aftermarket Balance Charger Only. Do not use the stock Parrot charging setup.
-Bebop 2 LiPo packs...Set charger to 3S LiPo and 2.7Amps Balance Charge.
-Bebop 2 Power packs...require a balance charger with LiHV charging capability. Charge with LiHV charge profiles. Do not use LiPo charge profiles for Power packs. Set charger to 3S LiHV and 3.35Amps Balance Charge.
-Use 'Balance Charge' profiles only. Do not use 'Fast-Charge' or 'Quick-Charge' profiles.
I hope you had fun with modding your batteries...if you want to show me your appreciation by buying me a cup of coffee or a Beer...here's how...click the link below and type in some amount. Its safe and easy as pie!
Thank You!
Modification Video:
I've made a charge harness for charging this batt with my Turnigy charger. Will it still work if I do this mod? Also can the battery be rewired to have a separate balance plug like a "normal" battery by desoldering and reconfiguring wires?
ReplyDeleteColin...yes, the modified battery can be charged with a Turnigy charger. Look at my other blog entries for the answer to the balance cable question you have asked.
DeleteI am curious why charging Power HV batteries to the lower level of Lipo would be an issue. Since you say "Do not use LiPo charge profiles for Power packs"
ReplyDeleteThe note is to minimize a couple of issues that can arise during a flight of a Bebop 2 or Bebop 2 Power using a lower voltage battery. The are 2 contributing circumstances that can cause an early low-battery warning or even a power cutoff during a flight.
DeleteThe same firmware manages both airframe versions and several hardware sub-versions. The firmware has been designed to prefer the higher voltage discharge rate/curve of the stock Power 3350mAh LiHV battery since the Power's release. The firmware uses a voltage percentage conversion table for reporting and to react to voltages it measures from the battery while in flight. The lower voltage LiPo reaches trigger points sooner than the LiHV Power pack...and the lower LiPo voltage spread through the higher capacity of the LiHV doesn't utilize the potential of the LiHV when charged as a LiPo. The second issue is the circuit board inside the stock batteries. The Power baytery's circuit board is set to manage the output of the 3 cells and if it sees voltages drop below thresholds that should be higher for a LiHV it triggers at different points during discharge. This can result in a power outage during flight when the p.circuit cuts power to save the battery...but sacrifices the Bebop. The odds of this happening are even greater when the LiHV is charged as a LiPo and even moreso as cells are weak with internal resistance or cold.
Bypassing the circuit boards can remove one risk to flight. Using a LiHV as a LiPo does not improve odds of successful flights. There are several variables at play. The mix can work out fine or end a Bebop.
For the best chance of long safe flights...a battery's health and performance needs to be known and trusted. Any cutbacks only add more risk of failure. Enough Bebop users have a hard time as it is just dealing with standard kit issues.
Where are you buying the balanced connectors and core cells?
ReplyDelete