Power extras and how many?

[noobie]

if everything is peachy, the battery is fine, the reg rec etc etc is all fine is there a suggested maximum common sense limit of electrical add ons?

I'm unlikely to ever use heated clothing but do some use it?

My bike has hid's so has a lower use of eletrickery and has heated grips that I don't like to use.

There must be some in here however who like every electrical add on it the catalogues so is there a limit to the standard charging system?

 

[Centaur]

Yes there is, Noobie.

if everything is peachy, the battery is fine, the reg rec etc etc is all fine is there a suggested maximum common sense limit of electrical add ons?

I'm unlikely to ever use heated clothing but do some use it?

My bike has hid's so has a lower use of eletrickery and has heated grips that I don't like to use.

There must be some in here however who like every electrical add on it the catalogues so is there a limit to the standard charging system?

The sole source of power in a Bbird is the alternator. The battery is there as a voltage stabiliser and a reserve to start the bike. If the charging circuit fails the bike will soon grind to a halt as the battery dies. Ask Andy and many others. The alternator is designed to produce enough power to keep the bike running with standard loads such as lights and ignition ertc. There is also an extra bit built in. Exceed this load and the alternator will have to work harder to keep everything going. Harder work means extra heat in the windings which will cook the insulation and result in failure. I'm not sure of the wattage rating of the Bbird's alternator but I'm sure Jaws will know. :bow: Add extras with care! :-0)

 

[Quiney]

Welcome back Bill

Anything that needs to produce heat will be power hungry, so as you've mentioned heated clothing/grips etc.
Most electronics - MP3, satnav, bluetooth draw a minimal amount of power (otherwise they couldn't be run my small internal batteries)
Changing things like indicator/brake/rear lanps to LED would save more than sufficient power to cover the small electronics.

But as Bill has said, Jaws will know the actual alternator output.

 

[andyBeaker]

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Ask Andy and many others.

please don't!! Too many bad memories:bang:

I used heated grips occasionally, satnav occasionally, had HIDS and LED indicators.

Best mitigation tactic is to carry spare reg/rec, alternator and battery everywhere you go on a Bird. Preferably three of each.:-0)

 

[Centaur]

Replacement "uprated" alternator.

http://www.jaws-motorcycles.com/

Uprated normally by more windings in a given space. The problem with extra loads is if one is stuck in traffic for a long period at low revs. The rotational speed of the rotor is the key to power output so if one has heated clothing and extra lights then it would be wise to turn these off if the revs are being kept low.

 

[andyBeaker]

I do know that an FI Bird will run for between 25 and 30 miles on a fully charged battery when the charging circuit has packed up. Again.