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Cut the throttle

Power limits are how INAV holds the throttle down so the pack stays under a current and a power you choose. The footer says the flight controller lowers throttle to stay under these limits, and that 0 means no limit.

Continuous current and burst current both start at 0 A. In the picture a 40 A draw with that 0 A limit leaves the throttle at 100 percent. Set a continuous value under the draw and the picture cuts the throttle.

The numbers are saved in the active battery profile, and they need a working current sensor. Limiter P, I and the output filter are marked as applying to every profile.

Free. Hardware connections need Chrome or Edge on a computer; phones use the FlySpark app.

  • Free
  • Nothing to install
  • Demo without hardware

In short

INAV power limits lower the throttle so current and power stay under the values you set. The demo starts at 0 A, which the footer calls no limit. A working current sensor is required.

Key facts

  • Power limits are on the INAV Power tab, and only when the board has a continuous current setting.
  • Continuous current and burst current start at 0 A. The footer says 0 means no limit. Each runs from 0 to 400 A.
  • Burst time and the ramp down stay hidden while burst current is 0. Both start at 0 seconds, from 0 to 300.
  • Continuous power and burst power start at 0 W, from 0 to 4000 W, in steps of 10.
  • Limiter P and I start at 100, from 0 to 10000, in steps of 10. They apply to every battery profile.
  • The limiter output filter starts at 1.2 Hz, from 0 to 100, in steps of 0.1.
  • The current and power numbers are saved in the active battery profile. The footer says a current sensor is required.
  • Chrome or Edge uses USB or Bluetooth. iPhone has no USB host.
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Try it

Pass the limit

The demo limit is 0 A, which is no limit. Set a continuous current and throttle is cut once the draw passes it.

No limit

Throttle 100%

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Features

  • 01

    0 A is no limit

    Continuous current starts at 0 A. The footer says 0 means no limit. The field runs from 0 to 400 A, in steps of 1.

  • 02

    A cut above the line

    Once continuous current is above 0, a draw past it is over the limit. The picture then shortens the throttle.

  • 03

    Burst starts hidden

    Burst current also starts at 0 A. Its time and ramp-down fields stay hidden until that burst value is not zero.

  • 04

    Power in watts

    Continuous power and burst power start at 0 W, from 0 to 4000 W, in steps of 10. 0 is no limit there too.

  • 05

    P and I at 100

    Limiter P and I start at 100, from 0 to 10000, in steps of 10. P is how hard the throttle is cut on an overshoot.

  • 06

    One active profile

    Current and power limits are stored in the active battery profile. Switch profiles only while disarmed.

Under the continuous current

Continuous current is shown in amps with one decimal, from 0 to 400, in steps of 1. The demo is 0. The footer says 0 means no limit, and that the flight controller lowers throttle to stay under the limit when one is set. It also says this needs a working current sensor. Without that sensor the limit has nothing to measure.

The picture is that rule and not the limiter's own loop. Draw starts at 40 A and continuous starts at 0, so the lamp says no limit and the throttle stays at 100 percent. Set continuous to 40 A and the same draw is still inside. Set the draw to 80 A and the picture cuts the throttle to half, 40 divided by 80. A draw that only equals the limit is still inside. The cut starts once the draw passes it.

Burst current uses the same 0 to 400 A range and also starts at 0. The hint says it is allowed for a short time above the continuous limit. While it is 0, Burst allowed for and Ramp down to continuous over are hidden. Those two are in seconds, from 0 to 300, in steps of 0.5, and both start at 0. The ramp hint says that time is the last part of the burst.

The same idea in watts

Continuous power and burst power are whole watts, from 0 to 4000, in steps of 10. Both start at 0, and 0 is no limit, the same as current. Burst power's time and ramp stay hidden while burst power is 0, and those times use the same 0 to 300 seconds.

You can set a current limit, a power limit, or both. The footer treats them as the limits the throttle is held under. A pack that sags in voltage can hit a watt limit before it hits an amp limit, and the other way around on a fresh pack. Leave a limit at 0 when you do not want that one applied.

Limiter tuning sits under the limits and is labelled for all battery profiles, not only the active one. P and I start at 100 and step by 10, from 0 to 10000. The P hint says it is how hard the throttle is cut on an overshoot. The output filter starts at 1.2 Hz, from 0 to 100, in steps of 0.1. The picture does not model those gains. It only shows the cut once the draw is past a continuous current you set.

Which profile holds the numbers

The limits footer says the current and power values are saved in the active battery profile. The profile card is the row of profile numbers on the same Power tab. Switching is refused while armed. The line on that card says to disarm to switch battery profiles.

Each profile has its own cell count, cell voltages and capacity, plus idle, hover, cruise and failsafe throttle. With battery profile auto-switch on, the flight controller picks the profile whose cell count matches the pack when it is plugged in. The limiter P, I and filter are the exception marked for every profile.

A limit of 0 does not protect the pack. Set the continuous current to what the wires and the cells can hold, then save that profile. The Betaflight calibration page is a different scale, on a different firmware. Do not paste an INAV amp limit into a Betaflight vbat scale.

Where you set it

Open Power on INAV and find Power limits. The card is there when the board has the continuous current setting. Chrome or Edge connects over USB or Bluetooth. Android adds Wi-Fi. iPhone uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and has no USB host.

Confirm the current sensor agrees with a meter before you trust the cut. A sensor that reads low will let the pack past the number you typed. Props stay off while you only change the fields.

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Set a continuous current limit

  1. Open Power limits

    On INAV, open Power and find Power limits. The card needs the continuous current setting.

  2. Read the zero

    Continuous current starts at 0 A. The footer says 0 means no limit.

  3. Set the amps

    Type the continuous current the pack can hold. Burst stays hidden until its own value is not zero.

  4. Save the profile

    The numbers are stored in the active battery profile. Disarm before you switch profiles.

Troubleshooting

Common problems and fixes

  • Problem

    The Power limits card is missing

    Fix

    The board has no continuous current setting. The card is drawn only when that setting exists.

  • Problem

    The throttle never cuts

    Fix

    Continuous current starts at 0 A, and 0 is no limit. Set it above 0. The cut also needs a working current sensor, which the footer requires.

  • Problem

    Burst time is not on the card

    Fix

    Burst allowed for and the ramp down stay hidden while burst current is 0. They appear once that burst value is not zero, and they start at 0 seconds.

  • Problem

    The limit changed after a pack swap

    Fix

    The numbers live in the active battery profile. Auto-switch can pick another profile when the cell count matches the pack. Disarm before you change profiles yourself.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an INAV power limit?

A current or power ceiling. The flight controller lowers the throttle to stay under it. 0 means that limit is off.

What does 0 A mean?

No limit. Continuous current and burst current both start at 0 A, and each can be set from 0 to 400 A.

When does the throttle get cut?

When a limit is above 0 and the draw passes it. In the picture, 80 A through a 40 A limit shows half throttle.

What is burst current?

A higher current allowed for a short time above the continuous limit. It starts at 0 A, and its time fields stay hidden until it is not zero.

How long can a burst last?

Burst allowed for starts at 0 seconds, from 0 to 300, in steps of 0.5. The ramp down is the last part of that time, and it starts at 0 as well.

What about watts?

Continuous power and burst power start at 0 W, from 0 to 4000 W, in steps of 10. 0 is no limit.

What do limiter P and I do?

They start at 100, from 0 to 10000, in steps of 10, and they apply to every battery profile. P is how hard the throttle is cut on an overshoot.

Which profile is saved?

The active one. Switching profiles needs the craft disarmed. P, I and the filter are marked for all profiles.

Does this need a current sensor?

Yes. The footer says the limits need a working current sensor. A sensor that reads low will not cut when you expect.

Can I set this in Chrome?

Yes, on INAV. Chrome or Edge uses USB or Bluetooth. Android adds Wi-Fi. iPhone uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and has no USB host.

References

Sources

The official documentation behind the background facts on this page.

  1. INAV WikiINAV on GitHub · github.com
  2. INAV ConfiguratorINAV on GitHub · github.com
  3. Betaflight WikiBetaflight · betaflight.com

Tools

See every FlySpark tool

  • 01FlySpark logo

    FlySpark

    Energy left for home

    Set the INAV battery reserve and the cruise power used to judge when a return should start. The demo reserve starts at just 5% on a fresh board.

    Learn more
  • 02Betaflight logo

    Betaflight

    Match the meter

    Match a Betaflight voltage scale to a multimeter. The demo board reads 16.00 V at scale 110, and 16.8 V on the meter raises that scale to 116.

    Learn more
  • 03Betaflight logo

    Betaflight

    Betaflight battery settings

    Set the Betaflight battery meter: voltage source, current source, cell warning voltages and pack capacity, then scale the sensor on the Power tab.

    Learn more
  • 04FlySpark logo

    FlySpark

    Wait, then come home

    Set the INAV failsafe when the receiver link drops. The demo waits half a second, then return to home climbs back. With no GPS fix it lands instead.

    Learn more

Ready to try it?

Free. Hardware connections need Chrome or Edge on a computer; phones use the FlySpark app.