In my real world experience with and 83 550, the following loads are in play: headlight 55w/65w two forward running lights 40w(?) all instrument lights 20w(?) tail/license plate light 15w(?) coils (?)
the following "complicatoins" are also in play: poor harness adds resisntance to most plugs/sockets/switch contacts poor design of alternator circuit allows for weakened outputs and low amp/volt generation below 2000rpm. my bike iwth a brand new battery will go 1.75 hours before the battery is so drained that it won't energize the coils enough to run. so while the theoretical outputs of the alternator and the load rerquirements shoulld mean that the bike won't die, the reality id that it is too close for comfrt, and minor losses in the system can erode output enough to cross over to the dischrage v. charge situation. the litmus test is how much to your lights dim when you roll offf from 2500 rpms to idle. if it is a lot, then you can run into the danger of the battery not having enough juice to keep the low output of the alternator from killing the bike. On Feb 28, 8:53 am, Joey Kelley <[email protected]> wrote: > Kurt and all, > Keep in mind of course - that the battery's purpose is to allow > the bikes electrical systems to continue to run when the alternator is > not able to produce enough current - along with starting. When idling, > it is normal for there to be a drain on the battery since the > headlight, tail light etc will be on. > In short - a 10 amp drain, even if that figure is accurate, > isn't necessarily a problem - depending of course on how long it > lasts. > Without some serious electrical problem - the alternator > should be able to keep a charge in the battery without any trouble. > -Joey > > > > > > On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:37 AM, Kurt Nolte <[email protected]> wrote: > > Also, apparently my take on normal light wattages was wrong too; seems most > > lamps these days are 45/60w lamps, which would be a 45/12v or nominally > > 3.75A instead of the 3A I'd mentioned earlier. High beams would be > > 60w/12v=5A. > > > -Kurt > > > On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:37 AM, Kurt Nolte <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > >> Sheesh... and here I thought that I was going big for the Fox when I was > >> thinking about putting a 75a alternator in it when I went to the 3 > >> cylinder... that's a project that's on hold, but gearheads here might enjoy > >> that swap process. :D > > >> Good grief. > > >> -Kurt > > >> On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:34 AM, Joey Kelley <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>> Kurt, > >>> Thats what I said: > > >>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-HONDA-HIGH-OUTPUT-ALTERNATOR-GOLDW... > > >>> Note to self: if I ever get an Aspencade and have to put a 95 > >>> amp alternator on it - its time to remove a few electrically run toys > >>> from the bike. Do I really need a mobile HAM + CB + Satellite radio > >>> and subwoofer? > >>> Just a thought. > >>> -Joey > > >>> On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:24 AM, Kurt Nolte <[email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>> > A /95 amp alternator/ on a /motorcycle/? > > >>> > Dear sweet light of life. > > >>> > I don't even have an alternator that big in my /car/. > > >>> > -Kurt > > >>> > On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Joey Kelley <[email protected]> > >>> > wrote: > > >>> >> Pardon me as I correct myself: > >>> >> On eBay there is a GoldWing stock alternator with a 40 amp > >>> >> capacity - and that was for the 1500 cc Goldwing - a few models ago > >>> >> now. I did see someone offering a 95 amp one - as an aftermarket > >>> >> upgrade. > >>> >> On another note - I have put over 10,000 miles on an 1982 > >>> >> 450 Nighthawk and I've never had an electrical issue besides replacing > >>> >> batteries. I've done some short commuter rirding - its about 3 miles > >>> >> to my work place - I've done long rides - its never given out on me. > >>> >> -Joey > > >>> >> On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:04 AM, Joey Kelley <[email protected]> > >>> >> wrote: > >>> >> > Sefano, > >>> >> > Allow me to throw some more info at you: > >>> >> > The alternator in many small cars is between 55 and 75 > >>> >> > Amps > >>> >> > capacity - and thats max - at idle - the actual amount going into > >>> >> > the > >>> >> > battery can be significantly less than the max capacity. > >>> >> > Bikes have a significantly lower capacity electrically > >>> >> > than cars do - and I am not aware of any bike that has an alternator > >>> >> > / > >>> >> > generator that has a capacity that exceeds 50 Amps - (someone > >>> >> > correct > >>> >> > me if I'm wrong) and if the bike had an alternator say in the 30 Amp > >>> >> > range (likely) a 10 Amp drain would be 1/3 of the max capacity. > >>> >> > Somehow that strikes me as a bit high. > >>> >> > I think Kurt just volunteered to be a test subject :-) > >>> >> > -Joey > > >>> >> > On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 9:53 AM, Stefano Ascari > >>> >> > <[email protected]> wrote: > >>> >> >> Excellent. > >>> >> >> That puts my mind at ease. Batteries are still somewhat of a > >>> >> >> mystery to > >>> >> >> me > >>> >> >> but I'm reading up on them! > >>> >> >> Stefano > > >>> >> >> -- > >>> >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >>> >> >> Groups > >>> >> >> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > >>> >> >> To post to this group, send email to > >>> >> >> [email protected]. > >>> >> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> >> >> [email protected]. > >>> >> >> For more options, visit this group at > >>> >> >>http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > >>> >> > -- > >>> >> > -Joey Kelley > >>> >> > JoeyKelley.com - My Life Online > >>> >> > JoeyFixesComputers.com - Its What I Do! > >>> >> > JoeyKelleyPhoto.com - Photographing Today, For Tomorrow > > >>> >> -- > >>> >> -Joey Kelley > >>> >> JoeyKelley.com - My Life Online > >>> >> JoeyFixesComputers.com - Its What I Do! > >>> >> JoeyKelleyPhoto.com - Photographing Today, For Tomorrow > > >>> >> -- > >>> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >>> >> Groups > >>> >> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > >>> >> To post to this group, send email to > >>> >> [email protected]. > >>> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> >> [email protected]. > >>> >> For more options, visit this group at > >>> >>http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > >>> > -- > >>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >>> > Groups > >>> > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > >>> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >>> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> > [email protected]. > >>> > For more options, visit this group at > >>> >http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > >>> -- > >>> -Joey Kelley > >>> JoeyKelley.com - My Life Online > >>> JoeyFixesComputers.com - Its What I Do! > >>> JoeyKelleyPhoto.com - Photographing Today, For Tomorrow > > >>> -- > >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > >>> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> [email protected]. > >>> For more options, visit this group at > >>>http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > -- > -Joey Kelley > JoeyKelley.com - My Life Online > JoeyFixesComputers.com - Its What I Do! > JoeyKelleyPhoto.com - Photographing Today, For Tomorrow- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. 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