DJI Neo: Accessories
More flight time, manual control, and take it anywhere.
The DJI Neo comes complete with everything it needs, but there are a few accessories that could make the quadcopter more convenient and/or enjoyable to fly:
- Extra batteries – additional flight time,
- External charger – charging multiple batteries, and
- Physical remote controller – tactile control.
Neo Intelligent Flight Battery
One battery came with the Neo. Our expectation is that the one battery will give us 10-15 minutes of flying time. In order to have more time in the air, we purchased two additional Neo ‘Intelligent’ batteries and an external charger.
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DJI calls it an ‘intelligent’ battery because the battery communicates with the Neo, providing it with status information concerning the level of remaining power and any potential issues. Also, when stowed, it will automatically discharge to a safe storage level after a period of inactivity, which helps extend the battery’s longevity.
The 1435mAh Li-ion Neo battery is rated for up to 18 minutes of flight time/charge. Those are likely IDEAL times under lab conditions (no wind, at sea level, etc). The actual flight times have been reported to be between 10 and 15 minutes. The battery is also rated for 20+ consecutive palm takeoffs and landings.
Neo Battery Charger Hub
There are a lot of charger options (single, duo, etc.) for powering up the Neo batteries. We opted for an aftermarket unit from Yx that can charge up to three batteries sequentially. It was about five times less expensive than the OEM charger!
The charger came with all the necessary USB cables, but no wall power plug, which was good, as who needs another AC adapter??? Better to keep the cost than to include an item that everyone already has too many of!
The charging hub can accept one, two, or three Neo intelligent flight batteries, and can fully recharge them in about an hour when using a 45W power adapter. With just one battery inside the charger, the hub can double as a power bank, providing power to recharge other devices.
RC-N3 Remote Controller
Instead of having to rely solely on the preset/built-in modes on the DJI Neo, the quadcopter can be flown/controlled directly via an app on the smartphone. It can also be flown using a remote controller.
The advantage of using a controller such as the RC-N3 instead of a smartphone is that the controller has physical joysticks for a better feel and a built-in battery for a longer flying time. The RC-N3 can also be used to power other devices (HUD, smartphone, etc), extending their time before needing a recharge.
We will have more to say about the RC-N3 once we have had some hands-on time with it. Look for that later in the Summer/early Fall.
Carrying Case & Flight Log
There are custom-fitted cases available for the DJI Neo, and we had considered getting one. However, we found something lying around that was sized just right for the Neo, controller, and two batteries. How amazing is that?!?!
Why have a flight logbook?
Logging drone flights is helpful for safety, maintenance, tracking, regulatory compliance, and performance analysis. Detailed records help with troubleshooting, understanding flight performance, and potentially prevent future issues. They also serve as evidence of safe operation and adherence to regulations.
There are dedicated flight logs available, but we happened to have picked up something at a tradeshow that will work perfectly for that purpose.
Links to items mentioned:
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