Upgrading Your Dji Phantom 3: Camera Battery Replacement Guide

Upgrading the aircraft camera battery of a DJI Phantom 3 is a straightforward process. It involves downloading the latest firmware ZIP file from the official DJI website, unzipping the file, and placing the .bin file onto a formatted SD card. This SD card is then inserted into the Phantom 3 camera, after which the aircraft is powered on. The upgrade process, which may take up to 20 minutes, is confirmed by a beeping pattern of D---D-D. If you have multiple batteries, it is important to upgrade them all to keep the system up to date.

Download the latest firmware ZIP file

To upgrade your DJI Phantom 3, you will need to download the latest firmware ZIP file. This can be done by going to www.dji.com/phantom-3 and clicking on "Downloads".

From there, you will need to unzip the file and place the single .bin file onto a formatted SD card. Ensure that the SD card is formatted correctly, as some users have reported issues with unzipping the file. You may need to try multiple unzipping tools to find one that works for you. Once you have the .bin file, place it onto a formatted SD card.

Next, insert the SD Card into your Phantom 3 camera and power on the aircraft. The aircraft will begin beeping to confirm that the upgrade is in progress. Wait until the beeping pattern is D---D-D to confirm that the upgrade is complete. This process may take up to 20 minutes.

It is important to note that you should not unzip the file before placing it on the SD card. The file is zipped when downloaded from the website, and only the bin file should be copied to the SD card.

Insert the .bin file onto a formatted SD card

To upgrade your DJI Phantom 3 aircraft, you will need to insert a .bin file onto a formatted SD card. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Firstly, you will need to download the latest firmware ZIP file from DJI's website. Go to www.dji.com/phantom-3 and click "Downloads". Here, you will find the latest firmware ZIP file. Download this file to your computer. Make sure that the filename of the BIN file matches the filename inside the ZIP file.

Once you have downloaded the ZIP file, you will need to extract the .bin file. To do this, simply open the ZIP file and drag the .bin file to your desktop or another easily accessible location.

Now, you will need to format your SD card. This will delete all data on the card, so be sure to back up any important files beforehand. Once your SD card is formatted, copy the .bin file to the root level of the card.

After the .bin file has been copied to your SD card, you can insert the card into your Phantom 3 camera. Power on your aircraft, and it will begin beeping to confirm that the upgrade is in progress.

The upgrade process can take up to 20 minutes. Wait until the beeping pattern changes to D---D-D, indicating that the upgrade is complete.

Please note that it is recommended to keep the .bin file on your SD card in case you need to install it on new batteries in the future.

Insert the SD card into the camera

To insert the SD card into the camera of your DJI Phantom 3, follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure that you have purchased a compatible SD card. The Phantom 3 supports Micro SD cards with a maximum capacity of 64 GB. It is recommended to use a Class 10 Micro SD card with a write speed of at least 40 MB/s. Some recommended SD cards include the SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB UHS-I/U3 Micro SDXC, Lexar 633X Class10 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-I, Panasonic 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-3, and Sandisk Extreme 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-3.

Once you have the correct SD card, power off your Phantom 3 aircraft to begin the process of inserting the SD card.

Locate the camera on your Phantom 3 drone. The SD card slot is found at the top of the camera. Gently press on the SD card slot, and it should pop out. If it does not pop out easily, use your fingernail to gently press and release the card slot.

Now, take your new SD card and insert it into the slot with the metal contacts facing downwards. Ensure that the SD card is firmly seated in the slot. Once inserted, gently push the card back into the slot until you hear a soft click or feel a slight resistance.

After inserting the SD card, power on your Phantom 3 aircraft. The drone will now recognise the new SD card. It is recommended to format the SD card before using it for the first time. You can do this using the format option in the DJI Go app.

By following these steps, you have successfully inserted and set up the SD card in your DJI Phantom 3 camera.

Power on the aircraft

Upgrading the camera battery on your DJI Phantom 3 is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to power on the aircraft after the upgrade:

Firstly, locate the power button on the battery of your DJI Phantom 3. This is an important step as the power button on the drone itself is not used to power on the aircraft. Instead, the power button on the battery is what you need to focus on.

Now that you have located the power button on the battery, it's time to start the powering-on process. Press the power button once, very briefly. It is important to press it just once and not hold it down. After pressing it briefly, release the button and then press it again. This is often referred to as a "double-click".

After the double-click, you will need to hold down the power button for a few seconds. The exact amount of time may vary, but generally, you should hold it down for around three seconds. During this time, you may see some blinking lights on the drone. This is a normal part of the powering-on process.

Once you release the power button, the drone should start up. You will know it has started up successfully when all the green lights on the drone come on. At this point, your DJI Phantom 3 is powered on and ready to fly.

It is important to note that this process may vary slightly depending on the specific model of your DJI Phantom 3. Additionally, always refer to the official DJI website and manuals for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding your drone.

Wait for the beeping pattern to confirm completion

Upgrading the firmware of your DJI Phantom 3 is a relatively straightforward process, but it does require some patience. Once you've downloaded the latest firmware ZIP file from the official DJI website and placed the .bin file onto a formatted SD card, you're ready to begin the installation. Insert the SD card into your Phantom 3 camera and power on the aircraft.

Now, here's where you need to pay attention to the beeping patterns. The aircraft will start beeping to confirm that the upgrade is in progress. This is normal and expected behaviour. However, for the confirmation of completion, you need to wait until the beeping pattern changes to a specific sequence: D---D-D. This distinct pattern indicates that the upgrade is complete.

The entire process can take up to 20 minutes, so make sure you give it enough time. During this time, your drone will continue to beep, which can be annoying, but it's a necessary part of the process. Once the beeping changes to the D---D-D pattern, you'll know that your DJI Phantom 3 is updated and ready to fly again.

If you encounter any issues during the upgrade process, such as constant beeping that doesn't change to the completion pattern, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try. First, ensure that your battery is fully charged. You can also try formatting the SD card and repeating the installation process. Additionally, check that you have downloaded the correct firmware file for your specific DJI Phantom 3 model.

Frequently asked questions