DJI Phantom 3 charging hub, anyone?

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

I've been having a great time with my P3P, since I bought two extra batteries and a iPad Mini 2.
But the down time for charging three batteries takes forever.

DJI have this battery charging hub, but (as usual) information is next to nothing.
Price is also steep (99 €), but I'd be willing to give it a chance, if the charging time for multiple batteries could be reduced down to 1 hour.

Buy Phantom 3 - Battery Charging Hub | DJI Store

Anyone has one of these, can it be recommended?
How long does it take to charge three (max four) batteries?

jephoto · Oct 6, 2015

You do know that it only charges 1battery at a time right? Plug in up,to 4 batteries , it will charge 1at a time starting with the least discharged battery first , then next etc.
time savings in that you don't need to be aware of when each is done to swap to next.

johngussman · Oct 6, 2015

I have one and love it, it seems to go back and forth between batteries but it is faster than doing it one at a time for sure.

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

I didn't know that it only charges one at a time.... What a shame.

There are other options, like this:

DR25 Multi-function Battery Parallel Charger Board Plate For DJI Phantom 3 Pro

I am not sure about this, is it safe?
And does it charge multiple batteries at the same time?

ab967c9c56f56736c5a6ad1a0df646d7_DR25-DJI%20Phantom%203%20Multi%20Battery%20Parallel%20Charger%20Board%20Plate.jpg

D4T_PoM · Oct 6, 2015

Funny that you mentioned the hub.

I don't care that it charges 4 batteries 1 at a time but I need to get myself 1.

I'm on the process of charging 4 batteries, just finished charging 1 and 2nd on charge as I type.

Time is now 01:10 and all I want to do is go to bed but want to make sure all 4 batteries are fully charged too, so I think I'm going to pull the trigger and order the hub rite now lol

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

D4T_PoM said:
Funny that you mentioned the hub.

I don't care that it charges 4 batteries 1 at a time but I need to get myself 1.

I'm on the process of charging 4 batteries, just finished charging 1 and 2nd on charge as I type.

Time is now 01:10 and all I want to do is go to bed but want to make sure all 4 batteries are fully charged too, so I think I'm going to pull the trigger and order the hub rite now lol

Yeah, it sure is liberating, freeing us from the battery charger swapping.
But for 99€, I would expect a little more.

D4T_PoM · Oct 6, 2015

Luis Costa said:
Yeah, it sure is liberating, freeing us from the battery charger swapping.
But for 99€, I would expect a little more.

Luis, a little more from whom? DJI?

Now, if DJI made a hub that charges all 4 batteries together at the same time, then I'm pretty sure the price tag for that hub would of been near the triple figure mark lol

Lets just be happy with what they gave us as it is an astonishing machinary/quad/drone lol

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

Yes, I agree the drone is amazing for the money, but that multi-charger from ebay costs 10€, and it apparently does the same as the DJI 99€ one.

bobmyers · Oct 6, 2015

Luis Costa said:
I've been having a great time with my P3P, since I bought two extra batteries and a iPad Mini 2.
But the down time for charging three batteries takes forever.

DJI have this battery charging hub, but (as usual) information is next to nothing.
Price is also steep (99 €), but I'd be willing to give it a chance, if the charging time for multiple batteries could be reduced down to 1 hour.

Buy Phantom 3 - Battery Charging Hub | DJI Store

Anyone has one of these, can it be recommended?
How long does it take to charge three (max four) batteries?

There are others available -- I have one blue charger from china that charges 3 at one time and takes about an hour-- I would post the like -- but I don't have it with me and am out of town today-- search the forum for battery chargers the posts will turn up there.. I will try to look it up and post it again.

jephoto · Oct 6, 2015

My question on that one would be-is it safe? How much power does it draw and does it have a circuit breaker?

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

bobmyers said:
There are others available -- I have one blue charger from china that charges 3 at one time and takes about an hour-- I would post the like -- but I don't have it with me and am out of town today-- search the forum for battery chargers the posts will turn up there.. I will try to look it up and post it again.

That would be great!
I'd appreciate if you could help me with a link for that product.

Of course I can not expect the same quality build and electric security from a third party cheap product.

jephoto · Oct 6, 2015

That charging hub uses DJI's own charger. Anyone know if it gets hot while charging 3 batteries? I really would be concerned that it would pull more juice than the DJI charger is rated for.

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

jephoto said:
That charging hub uses DJI's own charger. Anyone know if it gets hot while charging 3 batteries? I really would be concerned that it would pull more juice than the DJI charger is rated for.

That's a pretty valid concern.
The user manual specifies clearly that charging both a battery and the RC at the same time should be avoided, because it can overheat the charger.

D4T_PoM · Oct 6, 2015

Luis Costa said:
That's a pretty valid concern.
The user manual specifies clearly that charging both a battery and the RC at the same time should be avoided, because it can overheat the charger.

I would also order the 180w version of the DJI charger if your too concerned.

bobmyers · Oct 6, 2015

Luis Costa said:
I've been having a great time with my P3P, since I bought two extra batteries and a iPad Mini 2.
But the down time for charging three batteries takes forever.

DJI have this battery charging hub, but (as usual) information is next to nothing.
Price is also steep (99 €), but I'd be willing to give it a chance, if the charging time for multiple batteries could be reduced down to 1 hour.

Buy Phantom 3 - Battery Charging Hub | DJI Store

Anyone has one of these, can it be recommended?
How long does it take to charge three (max four) batteries?

Give this one a try-- works great and you can charge 3 batteries and the transmitter at the same time--- about and hour for 3 batteries.
Multi P3 Battery Charger - Any Real Tested Solutions...?

Luis Costa · Oct 6, 2015

bobmyers said:
Give this one a try-- works great and you can charge 3 batteries and the transmitter at the same time--- about and hour for 3 batteries.
Multi P3 Battery Charger - Any Real Tested Solutions...?

Thanks a lot for the info!

adrian.ahonk · Oct 6, 2015

I have dji hub. It work great. It charge batt one by one if you have 3 batt so charging time would be 3 hours. It really great product.

CapArt · Oct 6, 2015

I bought the 300w BTG 4 in one charger and its been great. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012CF5ND4...d=1444186369&sr=1&keywords=phantom+3+charger#
I've been using it since July with no problems. Love It!

acherman · Oct 6, 2015

I agree - if charging in parallel is what you want, get that blue one. If series charging unattended is your goal, the DJI hub is awesome. I love mine, but I am considering getting the blue multi charger.