Flying FPV drones within the winter presents distinctive challenges, each for the pilot and the plane. Low temperatures may even result in such profanity as “good climate for flying, however it’s too chilly to go outdoors”! As somebody who’s been flying within the winter for over a decade, I’d wish to share some sensible suggestions that will help you and your RC fashions survive these freezing winter FPV periods.
Additional Studying: Right here’s an inventory of helpful instruments and spare for constructing and repairing FPV drones.
Battery Efficiency in Chilly Climate
Chilly temperatures have a big impression on battery efficiency. Whereas they stop elements from overheating and make the denser air extra environment friendly for propellers, they’ll trigger batteries to carry out poorly. That is very true for LiPo and Li-ion batteries, which function finest at round 35°C (95°F). Under 18°C (64°F), you’ll discover a marked lower in energy and shorter flight instances.
Preserving batteries heat earlier than and through flights is important. Spare batteries in your pocket and used LiPos as hand heaters are sensible options. Throughout flight, fixed amp draw from the drone will assist the battery preserve its temperature.
To show this idea, I carried out an experiment at round 10°C. I flew my drone round a race course a number of instances and recorded the utmost output energy of the battery. As evident from the graph, the utmost output energy regularly builds up, peaking mid-flight because the battery warms up, however then slowly declines because the battery cost depletes.
In actual fact, the identical precept applies to any battery sometimes utilized in any digital units, together with these used within the GoPro cameras. They gained’t final as lengthy within the chilly both. Usually, you would possibly get 10 flights from a battery, however in winter, this would possibly drop to solely 7 flights earlier than it shuts down. A helpful trick is to have a number of spare batteries and rotate them for every flight. Putting them in a heat spot (e.g. your pocket) earlier than inserting into the GoPro can considerably enhance run time. Particular GoPro batteries designed for chilly temperatures are additionally obtainable.
In case you plan to fly long-range or take prolonged flights, contemplate including a thermal wrap (resembling bubble foil insulation) across the battery throughout flight to assist it preserve temperature.
Heated Battery Case
The colder it will get, the more serious your batteries carry out. To maintain them heat, think about using a heated battery case just like the one from iFlight, which I reviewed right here: https://oscarliang.com/iflight-heated-battery-case/
It may be powered by a LiPo, Li-ion battery pack, or perhaps a energy financial institution. The temperature is adjustable from 30°C to 60°C, making it each handy and efficient.
Get it right here:
Heated Gloves
Chilly climate impacts dexterity and makes your fingers stiff and numb, which makes exact management tough. Heated gloves have been a game-changer for my winter flying.
Designed for performance and luxury, these gloves are versatile, sturdy, and have a grip-enhancing palm sample for a safe maintain in your transmitter or gear. They run from a easy 5V energy supply and ship environment friendly heat—round 45–50°C throughout the again of your palms—inside minutes. The very last thing you need is shaking palms since you’re freezing and may’t management the drone correctly. Study extra in my overview: https://oscarliang.com/heated-gloves-battery-powered/
Get them right here:
There are additionally primary fingerless gloves (with out heating), which some pilots favor. I attempted them, and personally I don’t discover them heat sufficient—my fingers nonetheless find yourself stiff and numb. However for those who dwell someplace milder, they could possibly be an acceptable choice.
Transmitter Gloves
Earlier than I found heated gloves, transmitter gloves had been my go-to winter resolution for years. They cowl your entire radio and your palms whereas nonetheless providing you with a transparent view of the display. You will get them right here:
They match most full-size transmitters, together with the Radiomaster TX16S, Boxer, Zorro, Pocket, Jumper T20S, and T-Lite. One factor to be careful for: the plastic prime cowl can sag and intervene along with your sticks. I merely insert a bit of cardboard to maintain it propped up.
Disposable Hand Heaters
Get your disposable hand heaters right here, Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VRawtP.
Priced at simply $0.5 a pack, with every pack lasting about 8 hours (examined and confirmed), these are seemingly essentially the most cost-effective solution to hold heat for individuals who don’t fly typically. How heat are they? They really feel barely hotter than a LiPo after an intense flight on a 5″ FPV drone, however not sizzling sufficient to burn your palms.
These disposable hand heaters resemble outsized tea baggage and are extremely straightforward to make use of. Merely take them out of the bundle, and so they begin to heat up inside a couple of minutes.
Superb not only for FPV, these hand heaters are additionally nice for outside walks within the chilly. I particularly like putting one inside my transmitter glove and pocket for distinctive heat, a bit like a cup of Irish espresso however to your palms 😀
Rechargeable Hand Hotter
For frequent flyers in winter, a chargeable hand hotter is usually a cheaper resolution than the disposable ones. Some fashions double as energy banks, able to recharging your GoPro and smartphone within the discipline, which is sort of handy.
You may place these hand heaters within the palms of fingerless gloves to forestall your fingertips from freezing. Nonetheless, it’s necessary to decide on hand heaters which might be skinny sufficient to suit comfortably contained in the gloves.
Flying From Inside Your Automobile
One efficient solution to keep heat whereas flying FPV in winter is to fly from inside your automobile with the heater on.
Flying from inside a automobile does weaken the sign and cut back vary, as a result of your car basically acts as a metallic cage. Inside brief to average distances, this normally isn’t a difficulty; loads of pilots fly car-chase footage from contained in the automobile with out issues. Nonetheless, for those who plan to fly longer distances (e.g. past half a mile), begin cautiously to grasp how a lot the automobile impacts your hyperlink and alter accordingly.
To maximise sign efficiency, attempt to place your automobile so the windshield faces your drone’s important flight route. The windshield is generally glass, which causes far much less RF attenuation in comparison with the metallic surrounding the remainder of the car.
If you wish to fly at larger distances, a extra superior resolution is extending your antennas or putting exterior receivers on the roof of the automobile.
For instance, you should utilize an SMA extension cable with a magnetic base to your radio transmitter. These work with each 900MHz programs (Crossfire, ExpressLRS) and a pair of.4GHz programs (ExpressLRS, Ghost, FrSky). Simply do not forget that lengthy coax runs introduce sign loss. Another choice is mounting your entire transmitter module outdoors the automobile, although that’s a bit extra complicated and technical.
Buy an SMA Extender with magnetic base (3 meters):
For the video hyperlink, you’ll be able to place an exterior video receiver on prime of your automobile and run an extended AV cable to your goggles. The FuriousFPV Dock-King was once a preferred resolution due to its built-in magnet, however it’s now not produced. Alternatively, you’ll be able to DIY one thing like I did right here and get it 3D printed.
Goggle Fogging Up
FPV goggles can steam up in winter because of temperature variations. I’ve discovered pre-warming them earlier than use, resembling putting them in your brow or simply depart them plugged in for 10 minutes, may also help.
Flying at Night time
Days develop shorter within the winter, for folks with a 9-to-5 job would possibly miss the chance to fly in the course of the day. You can nevertheless fly FPV at evening with a very good low mild succesful digicam. Take a look at this text the place I clarify find out how to fly at evening, and in contrast a couple of nice FPV cameras for evening flying. The cameras I examined in that put up are principally analog, for those who use digital system, listed here are different choices.
For DJI, the Caddx Polar and Runcam Wasp are the most effective:
Discover the Caddx Polar from these distributors:
Get the Runcam Wasp right here:
For Walksnail, the Avatar Professional is the most effective:
For analog, the most effective evening cam is the Runcam Night time Eagle:
In case you want a Nano measurement digicam for evening time flying, the Toothless 2 Nano starlight is a fairly good selection. Ensure that to get the Starlight model for low mild although. Purchase Foxeer Toothless 2 Nano Starlight:
Issues Break Extra Simply
Chilly temperatures make plastic components like propellers and TPU extra brittle, tape and glue can even lose stickiness, growing the chance of breakage. Take extra spare with you!
Nylon prop locknut doesn’t work effectively within the winter…
FPV Simulators
Too chilly outdoors? FPV simulators are nice for working towards indoors.
There are actually so many choices in the case of FPV sim, with tons of tracks and maps you’ll be able to apply on. They are going to hold you entertained and motivated for a very long time earlier than you get bored.
Take a look at our overview on all the favored FPV simulator choices.
Flying within the Residing Room
You will get a tiny whoop and fly in the home, they’re tiny and enjoyable (till you fly it into your spouse’s hair)! In case you are questioning which Tiny Whoops to get, take a look at my tiny whoop purchaser’s information which I clarify all the favored choices and associated equipment.
Conformal Coating and Waterproofing
Waterproofing your electronics is essential not just for flying over water but additionally for safeguarding in opposition to moisture from snow, or condensation from transitioning between locations of various temperatures, which may trigger a brief and harm the electronics in your drone. It’s important to maintain your mannequin dry after every flight session.
As a very good apply, place every thing in a bag earlier than bringing it indoors. Make sure the bag is closed to retain the chilly, dry air inside. This prevents condensation in your electronics from indoor heat, moist air. As soon as every thing warms as much as room temperature, you’ll be able to take away them from the bag.
In case you crash into snow, shake the snow off as quickly as potential (or use canned air) earlier than they soften could be very best.
For my part, the easiest way to forestall moisture is to waterproof the electronics by way of conformal coating. This isn’t mandatory for the motors, as they gained’t brief circuit when moist. Nonetheless, contemplate making use of conformal coating to your flight controller, ESC, video transmitter, receiver, and probably your FPV digicam. Be cautious when making use of the coating; keep away from getting it on buttons, USB connectors, barometers, and digicam picture sensors, as it could possibly harm these elements.
Right here’s my tutorial on waterproofing FPV elements.
Keep in mind, many digital elements can cease working and even burn out upon contact with water, particularly salt water, which is extra electrically conductive than recent water. Waterproofing can defend your elements when flying or crashing in moist environments.
Additionally, bringing a touchdown mat is usually a easy but efficient resolution to maintain your drone clear and dry. Be conscious of the place you land – keep away from puddles, mud, and snow as a lot as potential.
Get A Discharger
Caring for your LiPo batteries is important, even when not flying.
In case you’re not planning to fly for an prolonged interval (e.g., a month or longer), retailer all of your batteries in a fireproof container and guarantee they’re discharged to round 3.8V and three.85V (the storage voltage) to maximise their lifespan.
You probably have totally charged batteries left after a session, use a discharger to convey them again to storage voltage conveniently.
Conclusion: Winter Does Not Imply Taking a Break from FPV!
Flying FPV drones in winter is an exhilarating expertise that presents distinctive challenges. By getting ready your tools, understanding the environmental results, and adjusting your flying methods, you’ll be able to take pleasure in protected and memorable flights. Keep in mind, winter flying would possibly cut back your drone’s effectivity, however the scenic magnificence and the crisp air could make your flights extremely rewarding. Keep heat, keep protected, and take advantage of the quieter skies in the course of the winter season.
Edit Historical past
- 2015 – Article created
- 2017 – Added data about LiPo efficiency, Waterproofing, FPV simulator, and warmth pack
- 2018 – Added data about “flying from contained in the automobile”, up to date article
- 2020 – Up to date
- 2021 – Up to date
- 2022 – Up to date, shortened URL
- 2023 – Up to date article and product hyperlinks
- Nov 2024 – Up to date product hyperlinks
- Nov 2025 – Up to date article
