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DJI Battery Killer: Reviving Bricked DJI Drone Batteries with CP2112 & BMS Reset

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User question

how to use dji battery killer?

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

‐ “DJI Battery Killer” is an unofficial hardware-and-software workflow that talks directly to the Battery-Management-System (BMS) inside DJI Intelligent Flight Batteries to clear “Permanent-Failure (PF/PF2)” flags, unlock hibernated packs and, if voltages are still healthy, make the battery chargeable again.
‐ The typical minimum kit is a Silicon-Labs CP2112 USB-to-SMBus/I²C adapter, flying leads to the BMS test pads, and the community-built DJI Battery Killer executable**.
‐ In essence you:

  1. Wire CP2112 → SDA/SCL/GND pads on the battery.
  2. (If the pack is ≤ ~3 V / cell) “wake” the BMS with a current-limited bench supply or a temporary 9 V source.
  3. Run the program, CONNECT, UNSEAL, CLEAR PF/PF2, RESET/SEAL.
  4. Disconnect all test gear and attempt a normal charge in the DJI hub.
  5. Charge/discharge under observation to verify cell balance and capacity before flight.

Detailed problem analysis

  1. Why DJI batteries appear “dead”
    • DJI packs contain a TI fuel-gauge (BQ30z55/BQ40z50 family) + protection FETs.
    • If any cell < ≈2.5 V, delta V between cells > ≈200 mV, or an internal error counter trips, the BMS sets PF (Permanent-Fail) bits.
    • Once PF is set the pack stops accepting charge on the normal charger even if the chemistry is still recoverable.

  2. Electrical interface
    • Pads/pogo pins next to the power terminals expose SMBus lines:
    SDA, SCL, GND (+ sometimes PACK+ for wake-up).
    • CP2112 enumerates as a USB HID device so no kernel driver is needed on Win10/11, macOS or Linux.
    • Battery Killer merely wraps CP2112 HID commands and sends standard SMBus writes:
    Unseal 0x36720414 → Clear PF 0x0054 → Seal 0x0020 (model dependant).

  3. Typical voltage thresholds
    • Spark / Mini (2 S): 7.6 V nominal, DJI charger refuses below ≈ 6.0 V.
    • Mavic / Air (3 S): 11.4 V nominal, refuse below ≈ 9.0 V.
    • Phantom / Inspire (4 S/6 S): 15.2 V / 22.8 V nominal, refuse below ≈ 12 V / 18 V.
    Bringing pack back above these “soft” limits is often all that is required after PF clearing.

  4. Why a bench-supply or 9 V “kick-start” is sometimes needed
    • When every cell is deeply discharged the BMS FETs are open; CP2112 sees the gauge but the charger still disconnects.
    • Injecting 8–16 V at ≤ 0.2 A wakes the gauge long enough for PF clearing and pre-charges cells to > 3.1 V.

  5. Failure modes you cannot fix
    • Puffy/swollen cells (gas generation = internal short).
    • Physical cracks, electrolyte leakage, corrosion, or thermistor error.
    • Blown protection FETs (fet-short will show pack voltage on both terminals).

Current information and trends

‐ 2023-2024 community builds now provide cross-platform GUI versions (Qt/Java) and auto-detect cell count.
‐ Low-cost CP2112 USB-C boards (~ US $5) have replaced hand-wired Adafruit breakouts.
‐ Some developers added scripts to reset cycle counters for rental fleets, but this is controversial and sometimes illegal.
‐ Newer batteries (e.g., Mini 3 Pro, Mavic 3) use encrypted gauges; only partial success has been reported. Expect further reverse-engineering via the dji-firmware-tools GitHub project.

Supporting explanations and details

Pin-out example – DJI Spark 2S pack (looking at mating face, left→right):

Pad Function CP2112 pin
1 SDA SDA
2 GND GND
3 SCL SCL
4 PACK+ (wake) optional bench supply +

SMBus command timing: CP2112 defaults (100 kHz, 1 ms time-out) are adequate. No pull-ups required; the battery provides 2.7 kΩ pulls.

Ethical and legal aspects

‐ Warranty & EULA: Any modification voids DJI warranty and may violate DJI’s software licence.
‐ Transport regulations: Manipulated or revived packs may not meet UN 38.3 transport test requirements; air-cargo shippers can refuse them.
‐ Li-ion safety: Mis-charging can cause thermal runaway (> 500 °C). Always work in a flame-proof area with a Class D or ABC extinguisher.

Practical guidelines (step-by-step)

  1. Inspection
    • Reject if swollen, punctured, salt-water damaged.
  2. Setup
    • Install CP2112 HID API (Win: Silabs CP2112 SDK, macOS uses built-in).
    • Place battery in LiPo-safe bag on ceramic tile, connect SDA/SCL/GND.
  3. Wake-up (only if total V < soft limit)
    • Bench-supply = pack-nominal V, current-limit 0.2 A, max 5 min.
  4. Software
    ▸ Open BatteryKiller.exe → choose CP2112 serial → Connect.
    ▸ Press UNSEAL, wait “0x0000 OK”.
    ▸ Press CLEAR PF / CLEAR PF2 until status reads “PF=0 / PF2=0”.
    ▸ Press RESET (soft) then SEAL.
  5. Charging test
    • Move battery to DJI hub; if LEDs start current-ramp, success.
    • Supervise to 100 %, let cool, then discharge in hover to 20 % while logging cell voltages.
    • If ΔV > 0.05 V at 50 %, retire the pack.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

‐ Success probability drops sharply if any cell < 2.8 V for more than a few weeks.
‐ Capacity may be permanently reduced; mark the pack and use only for low-risk flights.
‐ Some firmware versions require a two-stage unseal key; community wikis list them.

Suggestions for further research

‐ Follow the dji-firmware-tools and unseal-bq40z50-scripts GitHub repos for updates.
‐ Investigate smart-battery spoofers that emulate DJI SMBus for deeper diagnostics.
‐ Explore safer “external-BMS” rebuilds: transplant healthy cells into an intact BMS module.

Brief summary

DJI Battery Killer is essentially a CP2112-to-SMBus service tool that clears protection flags in DJI Intelligent Flight Batteries. After carefully wiring SDA/SCL/GND, optionally pre-charging the pack, and running UNSEAL → CLEAR PF → RESET → SEAL, many “bricked” batteries can be returned to normal charging behaviour. The procedure is inherently risky, voids warranties, and must be carried out with strict Li-ion safety precautions and a clear understanding that not all packs are recoverable.

User question

Where can I get this program?

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• “DJI Battery Killer” is not hosted on any official DJI server or public app-store.
• Today the program is obtained only through community mirrors:
– An archived copy of the author’s original web page (Wayback Machine).
– Community-maintained Google-Drive / GitHub mirrors.
– Drone-repair forums and a dedicated Telegram group that keeps the latest build.
• Links change frequently because of DMCA and hosting takedowns; therefore you must check the most recent mirror announced in the repair communities before downloading.

Detailed problem analysis

  1. Two distinct “Battery-Killer” flavours exist
    a) Closed-source Windows GUI (the one created by “Mixeysan” at master-club.org, version 0.5 beta 2 dated 01-Feb-2022).
    b) Open-source scripts (Python/C tools) included in several GitHub forks of dji-firmware-tools; these require manual build or Python execution but do essentially the same SMBus flag clearing.

  2. Stable acquisition paths

    ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Path Exact steps Remarks
    Wayback snapshot 1. Go to https://web.archive.org/web/20221223191927/http://master-club.org/drone/software/ 2. Download “DJI_Battery_Killer_ver.0.5beta2_01.02.2022_with_dlls.zip” Most authentic copy of the GUI build; author’s site is currently offline.
    Community Google-Drive Example mirror (as of 2024-06): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VJGhkWqAU3KcpL_NnZssmSVSj9_UXkn5 Host and link may change; verify SHA-256.
    GitHub (open-source) Search “o-gs / dji-firmware-tools”, “peternijssen / djifirmwaretools” etc. → Releases → grab pre-built binaries (battery-killer.exe) OR clone and run bat_killer.py Open-source, easier to audit; supports Linux/Mac with CP2112.
    Telegram “DJI bat killer” channel Join to obtain direct file pins and up-to-date troubleshooting docs. Fastest update cycle; requires Telegram account.

    ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

  3. Verifying authenticity
    • Compare file size and SHA-256 against checksums posted in the Grey-Arrows and Phantom-Pilots threads.
    • Run the file through VirusTotal before execution.
    • The official GUI build is digitally unsigned; Windows will flag it—use Run anyway.

  4. Required companion software
    • Silicon Labs CP2112 HID-to-SMBus driver (Windows) – download only from https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-i2c-spi-bridges/software.
    • Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable – fixes mfc140u.dll / vcruntime140.dll errors.

Current information and trends

• The master-club.org domain went permanently offline late 2023; the Wayback snapshot is the primary historical source.
• Recent community effort concentrates on porting the unlock sequence into cross-platform Python (see bat_killer.py in GitHub forks) allowing Linux/Raspberry Pi field programmers.
• Newer DJI packs (Mini 3 Pro, Avata 2) employ AES-authenticated BMS firmware; the current Battery-Killer does not bypass that protection. Research on TI bq40Z50-R3 firmware downgrades is ongoing.

Supporting explanations and details

Battery lock conditions the tool clears: Permanent-Fail (PF, PF2), CUV, OTD, OCD, OT charge/discharge. It communicates over SMBus at 100 kHz through the CP2112 dongle. After clearing flags it issues a soft reset and optionally reseals the gauge.

Ethical and legal aspects

• Using the tool voids DJI warranty and may breach national battery-safety regulations.
• Transporting or selling a modified intelligent battery can contravene UN 38.3 air-cargo rules.
• Distributing the compiled GUI might infringe DJI copyrighted firmware keys; mirrors can be removed by DMCA notices.

Practical guidelines

  1. Always work in a Li-Po safety bag on a fire-resistant surface; have a Class D extinguisher.
  2. Measure every cell: abandon the pack if any cell < 2.5 V or visibly swollen.
  3. Connect CP2112 to SDA/SCL/GND only—do not feed pack power through its 3 V pin.
  4. After unlocking, perform a full slow charge in the DJI charger, monitor temperature, then a 1 C discharge capacity test.

Typical obstacles & fixes
• “Unseal failed” → wrong key; look up model-specific keys in Telegram pin.
• Missing DLLs → install VC-redist, copy DLL into program folder.
• “Unknown chip” → update to nightly GitHub build supporting bq40z307.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• No public SHA-signed binaries exist; you rely on community checksums.
• All mirrors can disappear; keep a personal backup once downloaded.
• Success rate drops sharply on batteries with actual cell damage; do not expect miracles.

Suggestions for further research

• Follow the #battery-reverse thread in the “dji-rev” Discord for AES-signed gauge bypass studies.
• Investigate open-source alternative: OpenSKY-bms_unlocker (early alpha).
• Study TI application note SLUA-779 (Gauge unsealing) for deeper technical insight.

Brief summary

The “DJI Battery Killer” utility is not available from DJI. Obtain it from community mirrors such as the Wayback-archived master-club.org page, Google-Drive links shared on drone forums, GitHub forks containing open-source variants, or the dedicated Telegram repair group. Verify every download, install CP2112 drivers and VC-redist, and use the software only after understanding the technical, legal and safety implications.

User question

Bisakah saya mendapatkan software battery killer vesi 0.5 disini?

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

  • I can’t provide, link to, or help you obtain “Battery Killer” v0.5 here.
  • This third‑party tool is designed to override safety/protection features in DJI smart batteries; distributing or facilitating its use is unsafe and not permitted.
  • Safer, supported options exist for diagnosing or replacing problematic batteries.

Detailed problem analysis

  • What the request implies: “Battery Killer” is commonly used to clear Permanent Failure (PF) flags or unseal smart‑battery BMSs (Battery Management Systems) after deep discharge, cell imbalance, or other lockouts. These lockouts are triggered by the BMS (often TI bq30z/bq40z families) to prevent charging/discharging when the pack may be unsafe.
  • Why this is risky:
    • PF conditions usually indicate a real hazard (over‑discharge below safe thresholds, excessive cell delta‑V, over‑temperature history, or abnormal internal resistance). Simply clearing PF can re‑enable a damaged pack, raising fire/thermal‑runaway risk.
    • “Unsealing” or forcing full‑access to the BMS does not repair degraded cells, dried electrolyte, dendrite formation, or gas generation that causes swelling. It only alters protective logic.
    • After any BMS reset, the pack may present inaccurate SoC/SoH estimates until re‑learned, further increasing misuse risk.
  • Electrical perspective:
    • Smart packs monitor cell voltages, temperatures, current, and cumulative capacity. When any parameter crosses protective thresholds, the BMS sets flags (some latched). Those thresholds are part of the safety case for UL/IEC compliance of the pack.
    • Re‑enabling charge on cells that have dipped far below 2.5–3.0 V/cell or show >0.1–0.2 V imbalance can trigger copper dissolution/dendrite growth, internal short, and runaway during the first charge cycle.
  • Practical diagnosis (non‑invasive, safe):
    • Visual: any swelling, odor, or past heat damage → retire immediately.
    • Electrical: measure open‑circuit pack voltage via output terminals only (do not open the pack). If total V is far below nominal and the pack is locked out, replacement is the prudent path.
    • Operational: if the battery is recognized but won’t charge, check for firmware/app messages and attempt official calibration/conditioning cycles if supported by the manufacturer.

Current information and trends

  • As of December 2, 2025, no official DJI utility exists to “unlock” consumer smart batteries by clearing PF; official tools focus on firmware updates, diagnostics, and supported battery stations.
  • The repair community still discusses BMS resets, but industry direction emphasizes:
    • Using certified replacement batteries rather than cell‑level repair.
    • Stricter transport/storage rules for Li‑ion, heightened by incident statistics.
    • Wider adoption of UL and IEC safety standards for light‑EV and drone batteries (greater scrutiny of any protection bypassing).

Supporting explanations and details

  • BMS PF logic: Once a serious fault is detected (e.g., undervoltage across time, overcurrent, sensor faults), the BMS may blow an electronic fuse, latch a PF bit, or disable FETs. Many devices require authenticated access to clear, and some PFs are designed to be irreversible without re‑programming—by design, to protect users.
  • “Clearing” PF vs repairing the cause:
    • Clearing flags without correcting the underlying cell health can be compared to removing a circuit breaker and hardwiring the line—symptoms disappear while the hazard increases.
  • Calibration vs reset:
    • Manufacturer‑approved calibration (full charge/discharge within safe limits) aligns the fuel‑gauge model; it does not override safety limits. That’s the only “reset” recommended in consumer hands.

Ethical and legal aspects

  • Safety: Encouraging or enabling the bypass of protection mechanisms can create foreseeable harm (fire/injury). Ethically, we should not facilitate that.
  • Compliance in the United States:
    • Shipping/transport of damaged or modified Li‑ion packs is regulated (PHMSA 49 CFR; IATA/ICAO for air). Bypassing protections can make a pack non‑compliant.
    • Tampering may void warranties and violate local e‑waste rules if later disposed improperly.

Practical guidelines

  • Preferred actions:
    • Use official support channels for diagnostics and firmware updates.
    • If the pack shows PF‑like behavior (no output, won’t charge, LEDs error) and is out of warranty, replace with an OEM battery from an authorized retailer.
    • Dispose of suspect packs through certified programs (e.g., municipal hazardous waste or national battery recycling programs). Store/transport in a Li‑ion safety bag until recycled.
  • If you must retain the pack for data or evidence:
    • Store at ~30–50% state of charge if possible, in a fire‑resistant container, away from flammables, with temperature monitoring.
  • What I can help with:
    • Interpreting symptoms and app messages.
    • Selecting safe replacement batteries and chargers.
    • Setting up safe charging/storage practices and cycle‑life management.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

  • I cannot assist with obtaining, using, or troubleshooting “Battery Killer” or any tool intended to defeat BMS protections.
  • Any attempt to access pack internals, reprogram gauges, or clear PF should be left to qualified professionals with proper facilities and liability coverage.

Suggestions for further research

  • Study materials (high level, vendor‑neutral):
    • Fundamentals of Li‑ion safety and thermal runaway.
    • Smart battery standards (Smart Battery System, SMBus, fuel‑gauge modeling).
    • UL/IEC battery standards relevant to small Li‑ion packs.
  • Manufacturer resources:
    • Official user manuals, battery handling/charging advisories, and service bulletins for your specific drone model.
  • Recycling/disposal guidance from local authorities or national battery programs.

Brief summary

  • I cannot provide “Battery Killer” v0.5 or help you acquire it. It’s a tool that bypasses safety protections and poses significant risk. The safe path is official diagnostics and, if needed, battery replacement and proper disposal of faulty packs. If you share your drone model and the battery’s symptoms, I can help you troubleshoot safely and suggest supported next steps.

Disclaimer: The responses provided by artificial intelligence (language model) may be inaccurate and misleading. Elektroda is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the presented information. All responses should be verified by the user.
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