PF-07 · Field production

Camera & Drone Power Planner

Build one bounded energy budget for a remote photo, video, or drone mission. The planner totals battery refills, laptop work, lights, and other known energy—then keeps battery capacity, continuous output, and surge as three separate checks.

Wh mission energyW continuous outputSurge verify separately

Build the shoot power budget

Start from a fixed scenario or enter the numbers printed on your own batteries and chargers. Results update only from validated values.

Editable starting points

These are fixed assumptions, not product promises or recommendations. Every number loads into the form for review before you use the result.

Named preset source: DJI lists its Mavic 3 Intelligent Flight Battery at 77Wh. The counts, laptop draw, and output figure are PowerPreflight starting assumptions, not DJI claims. DJI Mavic 3 Classic specifications, checked August 4, 2026.

Battery refills

Camera battery (Wh)

Full-equivalent charges

Use the pack's Wh label. Two half refills equal one full-equivalent charge. Set both fields to 0 if camera refills are not part of the mission.

Drone battery (Wh)

Full-equivalent charges

Enter the aircraft battery's energy, not advertised flight minutes. Set both fields to 0 when no drone charging is planned.

Continuous-use gear

Laptop average draw (W)

Laptop time (hours)

Prefer a measured average. If you only know the charger rating, using it here is a conservative upper-bound estimate. Set both fields to 0 when unused.

Lighting draw (W)

Lighting time (hours)

Add the average draw of lights that run together. Set both fields to 0 when unused.

Other known mission energy (Wh)A bounded bucket for phones, audio, monitors, or controllers. Add their known Wh; no notes or names are stored.

Output, conversion, and reserve

Maximum simultaneous AC/DC draw (W)Add only the chargers, laptop, and lights that could run at the same moment. This is the continuous-output gate; startup surge is checked separately.

Primary conversion pathThese percentages are editable planning assumptions—not guarantees for any station or charger.

Planning efficiency (%)

Planning reserve (%)

PF-07

Mission power receipt

Conservative planning target

255.9Wh

Under 300Wh

Delivered mission energy174Wh

Minimum rated battery204.7Wh

Continuous output gate≥ 65W

Where the energy goes

Camera battery refills: 84Wh
Drone battery refills: 0Wh
Laptop use: 60Wh
Lighting: 0Wh
Other known energy: 30Wh

Energy gate · Wh

Shop at or above 255.9Wh rated capacity for this mission and reserve.

Output gate · W

Continuous AC/DC output must be at least 65W. Verify every charger/light startup or surge requirement separately.

PATH ACEFF 85%RSV 20%REF CR-45E59B77

The shopping target rounds upward to 0.1Wh; other screen totals round to the nearest 0.1Wh. The receipt keeps entered values to three decimals and calculated values to six decimals.

Save or share this exact numeric plan

Production plan link

The link always uses powerpreflight.com, contains only bounded numeric inputs, and does not replace this page's address.

Review the deterministic receipt

PowerPreflight Creator Mission Receipt · Calculator v2
Reference: CR-45E59B77

DELIVERED MISSION ENERGY
Camera batteries: 14Wh × 6 = 84Wh
Drone batteries: 0Wh × 0 = 0Wh
Laptop: 30W × 2h = 60Wh
Lighting: 0W × 0h = 0Wh
Other bounded energy: 30Wh
Mission total: 174Wh

BATTERY CAPACITY
Conversion path: AC at 85% planning efficiency
Minimum rated battery: ≈ 204.705882Wh
Planning reserve: 20%
Planning battery (calculated): ≈ 255.882353Wh
Conservative shopping target: 255.9Wh (Under 300Wh)

OUTPUT GATE
Continuous output requirement: at least 65W
Startup/surge requirement: not estimated; verify every charger and light against the product specifications.

FORMULA
Mission Wh = camera Wh × charges + drone Wh × charges + laptop W × h + lighting W × h + other Wh
Minimum rated Wh = mission Wh ÷ efficiency
Planning Wh = minimum rated Wh ÷ (1 − reserve)
Entered values retain up to three decimals; calculated values are shown to six decimals and division results are approximate. The shopping target rounds upward to 0.1Wh.

Planning estimate only. Measure your gear and verify current manufacturer ratings before buying.

The math

Capacity and output answer different buying questions

First, the planner adds energy delivered to every battery and continuous-use device. It then divides that mission total by your conversion efficiency to find the minimum rated battery. The reserve is applied last to create a planning target.

mission Wh = camera Wh × charges + drone Wh × charges + laptop W × h + lights W × h + other Whminimum rated Wh = mission Wh ÷ efficiencyplanning Wh = minimum rated Wh ÷ (1 − reserve)

Battery capacity · watt-hours

This determines whether the stored energy lasts through the planned mission. More watt-hours buy more refills or hours; they do not raise a weak output limit.

Continuous output · watts

This determines whether all simultaneously connected chargers, laptops, and lights can run. Compare the result with the station's continuous AC and DC/USB limits as used.

Startup or surge · separate check

This planner does not invent a surge figure. If a light, charger, or accessory lists a startup peak, compare that published number with the station's matching surge rating.

Travel boundary

A mission-sized station is usually a ground-transport tool

FAA guidance says spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in carry-on baggage; batteries from 101–160Wh require airline approval, and stand-alone lithium battery generators over 160Wh are forbidden on passenger aircraft. Airlines can be stricter.

Check thecurrent FAA Airline Passengers and Batteries guidance and your airline before travel. Official source checked August 4, 2026; the FAA page was last updated April 16, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the planner ask for both watt-hours and watts?

Watt-hours size the battery capacity; watts size the output electronics. A station can store enough energy and still fail if its continuous output is below the chargers and lights running at the same time. Startup or surge is a third check that must come from the equipment specifications.

What is a full-equivalent battery charge?

It is one complete battery refill expressed as energy. Two half refills count as one full-equivalent charge. Multiply the watt-hours printed on the battery by the total full-equivalent charges planned for the mission.

Should I enter a charger rating or measured laptop draw?

A measured average draw is the better estimate. A charger rating is a conservative upper bound, not a promise that the laptop pulls that power continuously. Keep the maximum simultaneous draw separate and use the charger rating there when it could be running at full power.

Can I take the recommended power station on a passenger plane?

Usually not. FAA guidance says spare lithium batteries and power banks must be carry-on, 101–160Wh needs airline approval, and stand-alone lithium battery generators above 160Wh are forbidden on passenger aircraft. Check the current rule and your airline before travel.

Calculations are estimates only. Real runtime depends on battery age, inverter efficiency, device behavior, temperature, surge loads, manufacturer limits, and actual measured wattage. Always verify product specifications before buying or relying on a setup.