The Autel X Star Premium drone, known for its impressive camera and flight capabilities, has been discontinued, leaving many owners searching for battery solutions. This article explores a DIY approach to building a replacement battery pack for the Autel X Star Premium, potentially extending flight time beyond the original battery’s capacity. This detailed account documents the process, results, and challenges of creating a custom battery solution.
Extending Autel X Star Premium Flight Time: A DIY Journey
The discontinuation of the Autel X Star Premium battery has presented a significant challenge for drone enthusiasts. Rather than accepting a grounded drone, one user embarked on a journey to create a custom battery solution, pushing the boundaries of flight time. This article chronicles the experimentation, providing insights into building a DIY battery pack for the Autel X Star Premium.
Initial Experimentation: Repurposing Existing Batteries
The initial phase involved utilizing a DJI Phantom 3 4400mAh HV Lipo pack and an iMax B6 mini charger. Charging the Autel X Star Premium battery with the Autel charger yielded approximately 12 minutes of flight time. Using the iMax B6 mini on the HV setting with the DJI battery connected to the Autel BMS board resulted in a slight improvement, reaching around 15 minutes. Pushing the limits further by overriding the “Critical Battery Level” warning achieved a flight time of 16 minutes.
Prototype Development and Refinement
The next stage focused on building a prototype battery pack using DJI Phantom 3 LiPo batteries and adding a balance cable. Charging this prototype with the iMax B6 mini in “HV Balanced Mode” boosted flight time to approximately 15 minutes and 25 seconds.
Further refinement involved incorporating 5100mAh HV LiPo cells charged with the iMax B6 mini in HV Balanced Charge mode. This final prototype, utilizing the original Autel EEPROM and BMS with the TI BQ3055 chip, achieved a flight time exceeding 19 minutes, rivaling the original Autel 14.8V 4900mAh 72Wh battery.
Conclusion: Achieving Near-Original Performance
This DIY project demonstrates the feasibility of building a replacement battery pack for the Autel X Star Premium, achieving near-original flight performance. While the journey involved significant experimentation and investment, the results offer a viable solution for extending the lifespan of this powerful drone. The success of this endeavor highlights the resourceful nature of drone enthusiasts and their dedication to overcoming challenges presented by discontinued products. The final prototype, with its extended flight time, provides a practical and cost-effective alternative to purchasing a new drone. This solution breathes new life into the Autel X Star Premium, allowing users to continue capturing stunning aerial footage.
