Drone exam · Maintenance and airworthiness

Two batteries both show 100 percent charge. One has twice the cycle count and noticeably greater voltage sag under load. Are they equivalent for mission planning?

Answer

No. State of charge describes current energy, not battery health. The older battery has evidence of reduced power capability and should be assessed against replacement limits.

Explanation

Battery health is a trend across capacity, internal resistance, temperature, swelling, cycle history and in flight behavior.