Taking Care of Drone Batteries – Being Mission Ready

Hard-earned, must-have info for public safety agencies adopting a drone program

Drones are unique tools, and so are their batteries. Multirotor drones demand massive bursts of power from batteries that must also be compact and lightweight for maximum flight time. To meet these needs, the industry standard has long been lithium-polymer (LiPo) batteries. While small in size, these batteries are capable of delivering car battery–level amperage, making them powerful but requiring careful management.

The Golden Rule of LiPo Battery Storage

Almost all LiPo flight batteries must be stored at 50% charge, especially if not in use for several days. Storing them at full charge or nearly empty can cause irreversible damage, including reduced flight time, visible swelling, or complete failure. For public safety, this can mean the difference between mission success and failure.

Why Storage and Readiness Conflict

For law enforcement, fire, and EMS drone teams, the expectation is to be mission-ready 24/7. Unfortunately, keeping batteries at 100% readiness can shorten their life dramatically. Fortunately, with the right practices and equipment, agencies can balance readiness with longevity.

Best Practices for Drone Battery Care

• Charge En Route: Store batteries at 50% and top them off while en route to a call using 12-volt drone chargers or true sine wave inverters. This ensures batteries are fresh when you arrive on scene.
• Cycle Batteries: Rotate which batteries are kept fully charged, discharging them back to 50% after three days. This practice keeps at least one battery mission-ready at all times.
• Have Enough Batteries: Public safety missions demand more than one or two packs. At least five batteries are recommended for continuity of operations.
• Tag and Log: Keep a log of battery cycles, charging, discharging, and retirement. Properly maintained LiPo batteries can last up to 300 cycles.
• Budget for Replacements: Treat batteries as consumables. Even well-maintained LiPos generally last 200–300 cycles, meaning annual replacements may be required.
• Allow Cooling: After flight, let batteries cool for at least 10 minutes before charging.
• Handle and Store Safely: Protect from impact, store in fire-safe bags, and never pack LiPos in checked airline luggage. TSA requires they be carried on for safety.

Addendum: Battery Management for Modern Drones

While this article was originally written for earlier-generation drones, the principles remain relevant for today’s public safety drone batteries. Recent advancements now make it easier to manage fleets of batteries efficiently:

• Battery Logging Systems: Modern drones and charging hubs often integrate with cloud-based systems to track charge cycles, temperature, and usage history.
• Inventory Management: Agencies can now assign batteries to individual aircraft and missions, ensuring no single pack is overused or neglected.
• Automated Cycling: Smart charging stations allow batteries to be safely stored, discharged, or topped off to 50% for long-term readiness.

By adopting these practices, agencies can extend the life of their investment, reduce unexpected failures, and maintain mission-ready drone fleets. For the latest public safety platforms and battery systems, see our MAXSUR Drone Collection.

For more information about building a reliable public safety drone program, contact MAXSUR at 314-270-2150 or email ops@maxsur.com.

Best regards,

Jake Lahmann
COO
MAXSUR
EMAIL ME