For years, FPV pilots have had to decide on between LiPo and Li-ion with regards to batteries, and that alternative has at all times include a compromise.
- If you would like most energy, you employ LiPo.
- If you would like most flight time, you employ Li-ion.
Now, NewBeeDrone has launched a brand new battery that tries to bridge that hole: the Nitro Nectar Gold 6S 3000mAh tabless 18650 Li-ion battery pack. On paper, it promise a lot better discharge efficiency than a conventional 18650 pack, whereas nonetheless maintaining the energy-density benefit that makes Li-ion so interesting for lengthy vary flying.
Concerned about lengthy vary flying? Take a look at my information: https://oscarliang.com/long-range-fpv-flying-mini-quad/
The place to Purchase
Purchase this Li-ion battery from NewBeeDrone: https://oscarliang.com/product-48av
Specs
- Configuration: 6S1P
- Cell kind: JP30 high-discharge tabless 18650
- Nominal voltage: 22.2V
- Absolutely charged voltage: 25.2V
- Capability: 3000mAh
- Complete power: 66.6Wh
- XT60 connector
- XT60 wire size (together with connector): 100mm
- Steadiness lead size (together with connector): 50mm
- Weight: round 315g
- Dimensions: 71mm × 38mm × 55mm
Undecided what the specs imply? Take a look at my newbie’s information on batteries: https://oscarliang.com/lipo-battery-guide/
There’s an fascinating discrepancy within the acknowledged discharge rankings.
On the leaflet, it says:
- Steady discharge: as much as 36A
- Pulse discharge (<10s): as much as 80A
- Minimal discharge voltage: 2.8V per cell
However the battery label it says:
- Steady present: 60A
- Burst present: 160A for 10 seconds
- Voltage vary: 2.6V to 4.25V per cell
That could be a fairly significant distinction, and I’d deal with these greater numbers with warning till I see extra real-world testing. 160A for 10 seconds is an especially daring declare, even by LiPo requirements. Nonetheless, even the decrease official ranking would already make this a severe step up over many conventional 18650 FPV packs.
Why Use Li-ion in FPV?
I have already got an article explaining intimately why we use Li-ion in FPV: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/
Right here, I’ll simply summarize the principle causes.
In comparison with LiPo, Li-ion often offers you:
- higher power density (extra capability per measurement)
- longer flight instances
- usually solely a small weight penalty, or generally even a weight benefit for a similar watt-hours
That’s the reason Li-ion packs are so widespread for lengthy vary FPV and cruisers.
The issue has at all times been discharge efficiency.
Conventional Li-ion cells merely can’t ship present as aggressively as LiPo. So whereas they’ll hold you within the air for longer, they often really feel noticeably sluggish. Voltage sags tougher, peak RPM is decrease, and the quad loses that punchy, responsive really feel individuals need for freestyle or racing.
That’s the core weak point this NewBeeDrone pack is making an attempt to repair.
The Cells in This Battery are Higher?
The NewBeeDrone battery pack is constructed utilizing JP30 tabless 18650 cells.
I examined these cells within the Lionbee 1S lengthy vary drone earlier this yr, and I can affirm they have been among the many greatest 18650 cells I’ve examined, backed by actual knowledge: https://oscarliang.com/newbeedrone-lionbee-3inch-1s/#Battery-Nitro-Nectar-Gold-18650-3000mAh
The fundamental declare behind tabless cells is that they’re supposed to supply:
- the identical power density as conventional 18650 Li-ion cells
- with discharge efficiency a lot nearer to LiPo
So it makes good sense to bundle them into bigger, higher-cell-count packs to be used on greater quads like 5-inch or 7-inch, long-range rigs, and stuck wings.
Weight and Measurement Comparability
Let’s examine this battery to a LiPo (Auline XR 6S 1550mAh) and a conventional 18650 pack (Auline V45 6S 3000mAh).
- NewBeeDrone 6S 3000mAh Li-ion: 315.3g
- Auline XR 6S 1550mAh LiPo: 268.6g
- Auline V45 6S 3000mAh Li-ion: 314.0g
So you’re getting virtually double the capability for lower than 20% extra weight, whereas solely being barely bigger in measurement.
Weight and measurement are virtually an identical to different conventional 6S 18650 packs.
As a result of it’s bigger than a traditional 6S LiPo, you’ll in all probability want an extended battery strap. That isn’t an enormous difficulty, however it’s price mentioning.
Testing
Apparently, the NewBeeDrone battery pack confirmed virtually an identical efficiency to the Auline V45 6S 3000mAh pack I examined final yr. I think they could be utilizing the identical cells.
Each the NewBeeDrone and Auline packs are approach higher than different conventional 6S 18650 packs I’ve examined to this point, together with different so-called high-discharge cells just like the Molicel P28A and the Lumenier NAV battery.
With that mentioned, they’re nonetheless not corresponding to typical LiPo batteries.
In flight, each carry out extra like a really outdated LiPo. The quad feels extra sluggish and fewer responsive than when utilizing a correct LiPo. However no less than the voltage doesn’t sag as badly as typical Li-ion packs, which is a large bonus. Nonetheless, should you push them exhausting, they’ll get very heat after a flight. On the plus aspect, they do provide you with virtually double the flight time.
They aren’t actually the very best batteries for freestyle or racing, however for individuals who simply need one thing that provides noticeably longer flight time with out sacrificing an excessive amount of efficiency, that is clearly a terrific possibility.
On the subject of capability, it’s roughly correct. My discharger stops at 2.9V per cell, and it managed to drag 2818mAh from the NewBeeDrone pack. In keeping with NewBeeDrone, you may discharge this battery right down to 2.6V per cell. As a result of limits of my testing tools, I couldn’t discharge it that low, however in actual flight I reckon it ought to get you very near the rated 3000mAh capability.
Remaining Verdict: Is It Going to Substitute LiPo?
Not likely, however it might definitely substitute LiPo in some purposes.
It’s clear that LiPo batteries nonetheless supply a lot greater discharge charges and fewer voltage sag than this battery. That issues as a result of they straight have an effect on:
- motor RPM
- thrust
- acceleration
- general punch
So should you care about pace and energy, LiPo remains to be the higher alternative. But when your objective is long-range cruising, this battery appears to be like extraordinarily promising.
Purchase this Li-ion battery from NewBeeDrone: https://oscarliang.com/product-48av
One factor price noting is that the Auline V45 battery has virtually an identical efficiency and is priced barely cheaper: https://oscarliang.com/auline-v45-6s-3000mah-s70-4500mah-li-ion-battery/.
That mentioned, each of those packs supply the very best efficiency I’ve seen to this point on this class, and you actually can’t go improper with both.
